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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): April 27, 2021

 

 

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Pennsylvania 001-38629 83-0516635
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)  
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2200 Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

15317
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (724) 271-7600

 

 

 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

¨ 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 Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value ETRN New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the Company) held on April 27, 2021 (the Annual Meeting), following the approval and recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board), the Company’s shareholders approved amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Articles) and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) to eliminate the 80% supermajority voting requirements for shareholders to, as applicable:

 

(i) approve certain amendments to the Articles;

(ii) approve certain amendments to the Bylaws; and

(iii) remove directors outside of the annual meeting process.

 

Such amendments are further described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2021 (the Proxy Statement).

 

The Articles also were amended by the Board, for matters that did not require shareholder approval, to: (i) incorporate the rights, preferences and privileges of the Equitrans Midstream Corporation Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares, no par value, as set forth in the Statement with Respect to Shares that was filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the Department) on June 17, 2020; and (ii) remove a provision related to the separation of the Company from its former parent company that was no longer applicable. The Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Restated Articles) of the Company were filed with the Department on, and specified an effective date of, April 28, 2021. The Bylaws also were amended by the Board, for matters that did not require shareholder approval, to include certain clarifications, updates and other non-substantive changes, with such amendments effective as of April 28, 2021.

 

Clean and marked copies of the Restated Articles and the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Restated Bylaws) are filed herewith as, with respect to the Restated Articles, Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 and, with respect to the Restated Bylaws, Exhibits 3.3 and 3.4. The foregoing descriptions of the Restated Articles and the Restated Bylaws do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Restated Articles and Restated Bylaws, respectively, filed herewith and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders considered four proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Proxy Statement. The final vote results for each proposal were as follows:

 

Proposal 1*   Shares
For
   

% Cast

For

    Shares  Against    

% Cast

Against

    Shares
Abstained
    Broker Non-Votes  
Elected the individuals set forth below to the Board of Directors to serve a one-year term expiring at the 2022 annual meeting:                                    
·   Vicky A. Bailey   372,737,789     97.49%     9,290,588     2.43%     269,578     25,795,035  
·   Sarah M. Barpoulis   378,765,007     99.07%     3,261,068     0.85%     271,880     25,795,035  
·   Kenneth M. Burke   373,680,304     97.74%     8,318,593     2.17%     299,058     25,795,035  
·   Patricia K. Collawn   317,532,125     83.05%     64,474,312     16.86%     291,518     25,795,035  
·   Margaret K. Dorman   369,926,601     96.76%     12,101,714     3.16%     269,640     25,795,035  
·   Thomas F. Karam   367,461,190     96.11%     13,733,990     3.59%     1,102,775     25,795,035  
·   D. Mark Leland   377,030,728     98.62%     4,967,080     1.29%     300,147     25,795,035  
·   Norman J. Szydlowski   372,271,099     97.37%     9,743,680     2.54%     283,176     25,795,035  
·   Robert F. Vagt   375,569,140     98.23%     6,429,238     1.68%     299,577     25,795,035  

 

2

 

 

Proposal 2*   Shares
For
    % Cast
For
    Shares
Against
    % Cast
Against
    Shares Abstained     Broker
Non-Votes
Approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for 2020.   375,697,068     98.27%     6,106,598     1.59%     494,289     25,795,035

 

Proposal 3*   Shares
For
    % Cast
For
    Shares
 Against
    % Cast
Against
    Shares Abstained     Broker
Non-Votes
Approved amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to remove the supermajority voting requirements.   380,847,183     99.62%     1,205,714     0.31%     245,058     25,795,035

 

Proposal 4*   Shares
For
    % Cast
For
    Shares
Against
    % Cast
Against
    Shares Abstained     Broker
Non-Votes
Ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.     407,282,547     99.80%     559,803     0.13%     250,640     N/A

 

 

* For purposes of all proposals above, abstentions, broker non-votes and the failure to vote were not votes cast and, accordingly, had no effect on the outcome of such proposals.

 

Item 9.01.      Financial Statements and Exhibits.  

 

(d) Exhibits.  

             

Exhibit No.    
3.1   Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Equitrans Midstream Corporation.
     
3.2  

Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (Marked Version). 

     

3.3

 

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Equitrans Midstream Corporation.

     
3.4  

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Equitrans  Midstream Corporation (Marked Version).

     
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File-the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL. document

 

3

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

  EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION
         
Date: April 28, 2021   By: /s/ Kirk R. Oliver
    Name: Kirk R. Oliver
    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF
EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

(As amended through April 28, 2021)

 

First: The name of the Company is EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION.

 

Second: The location and post office address of its current registered office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is c/o CT Corporation System, Allegheny County.

 

Third: The purposes for which the Company is incorporated under the Business Corporation Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are to engage in, and to do any lawful act concerning, any or all lawful business for which corporations may be incorporated under said Business Corporation Law, including but not limited to:

 

A.            the purchase, transmission, transportation, storage, distribution and supplying of natural gas; and

 

B.            manufacturing, processing, owning, using and dealing in personal property of every class and description, engaging in research and development, the furnishing of services, and acquiring, owning, using and disposing of real property of every nature whatsoever.

 

Fourth: The term of the Company’s existence shall be perpetual.

 

Fifth: The aggregate number of shares which the Company shall have authority to issue shall be:

 

(a)          50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value; and

 

(b)          1,250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, without par value.

 

The designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and the special or relative rights in respect of the Preferred Stock and of the Common Stock of the Company, and a statement of the authority hereby vested in the Board of Directors of the Company to fix and determine the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and special or relative rights in respect of all series of the Preferred Stock shall be as follows:

 

Division A: THE PREFERRED STOCK

 

1.1          Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued in series. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, at any time or from time to time, to divide any or all of the shares of the Preferred Stock into series, and in the resolution or resolutions establishing a particular series, before issuance of any of the shares thereof, to fix and determine the designation and the relative rights and preferences of the series so established, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to, the variations between different series in the following respects:

 

(a)            the distinctive serial designation of such series;

 

 

(b)           the annual dividend rate for such series, and the date or dates from which dividends shall commence to accrue;

 

(c)           the redemption price or prices, if any, for shares of such series and the terms and conditions on which such shares may be redeemed;

 

(d)           the provisions for a sinking, purchase or similar fund, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares of such series;

 

(e)           the preferential amount or amounts payable upon shares of such series in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation of the Company;

 

(f)            the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;

 

(g)           the terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such series may be converted and the class or classes or series of securities of the Company into which such shares may be converted;

 

(h)           the relative seniority, parity or junior rank of such series with respect to other series of Preferred Stock then or thereafter to be issued; and

 

(i)            such other terms, limitations and relative rights and preferences, if any, of shares of such series as the Board of Directors may, at the time of such resolutions, lawfully fix and determine under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

1.2 Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares.

 

Section 1 Designation and Amount; Ranking.

 

(a)           There shall be created from the 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company authorized to be issued pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, designated as the “Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares,” no par value (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be 30,018,446 shares. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company, or converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be cancelled, shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Company undesignated as to series.

 

(b)           The Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, ranks: (i) senior in all respects to all Junior Stock; (ii) on a parity in all respects with all Parity Stock; and (iii) junior in all respects to all Senior Stock, in each case as provided more fully herein.

 

Section 2 Definitions.

 

As used in this Subdivision 1.2, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Accrued Dividends” shall mean, with respect to any share of Series A Preferred Stock, as of any date, the accrued and unpaid dividends on such share from, and including, the Issue Date to, but not including, such date (including for the avoidance of doubt, any Partial Period Dividends).

-2-

 

Adjustment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Closing Sale Price.”

 

Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2, no Holder shall be considered an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and no Holder or any of its Affiliates shall be considered Affiliates of any other Holder or any of such other Holder’s Affiliates, in either case, solely by virtue of such Holder’s ownership of shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2, (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Holder, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates and (b) any fund or account managed, advised or subadvised, directly or indirectly, by a Holder or its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, EQT Corporation shall not be considered an Affiliate of the Company for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2.

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws” shall mean the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as further amended or restated in accordance with applicable law.

 

Articles of Incorporation” shall mean the Seconded Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended or restated in accordance with applicable law and this Subdivision 1.2.

 

Average VWAP” per share over a certain period shall mean the arithmetic average of the VWAP per share for each Trading Day in such period.

 

Board Observer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(k).

 

Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or, with respect to any action to be taken by the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors duly authorized to take such action.

 

Business Day” shall mean Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Cash Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of a Change of Control that involves consideration payable to the Company, or in respect of the Company’s Common Stock, that is comprised of at least 90% cash.

 

Cash Dividend Catch-Up” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(j).

 

Cash Dividends” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

Certificated Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(b)(i).

-3-

 

Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)            any acquisition (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or business combination), the result of which is that any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company as of the Issue Date and immediately prior to such acquisition, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Voting Securities of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like) and such Voting Securities provide such Person or “group” the right to designate more than 50% of the members of the Board of Directors;

 

(ii)           any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Company or its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(iii)          (a) any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company) or (b) the Company fails to own, directly or indirectly, all of the equity securities of the Partnership;

 

(iv)          the Common Stock is no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange; or

 

(v)           more than half of the members of the Board of Directors, as of any time of determination, are not Continuing Directors;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Subdivision 1.2, a Company Restructuring Event shall not constitute a Change of Control.

 

close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

Closing Sale Price” of the Common Stock shall mean, as of any date, the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) on such date as reported on the principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. In the absence of such a quotation, the Closing Sale Price shall be an amount determined by the Board of Directors to be the fair market value of a share of Common Stock. If the Ex-Date for any distribution, the effective date for any subdivision, combination or reclassification or the Effective Date of any Pro Rata Repurchase (as used in this definition, the “Adjustment Date”) that requires (or, but for the second sentence of Section 6(e)(vii) or Section 6(f)(i), would have required) an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e) occurs on or after the first Trading Day in the 10 Trading Day period used to calculate “MP0” in the formula in Section 6(e)(vi), the Closing Sale Price for each Trading Day prior to such Adjustment Date shall be adjusted by multiplying such Closing Sale Price by the same fraction by which the Conversion Rate is so required (or would have been required) to be adjusted pursuant to Section 6(e) as a result of such event.

-4-

 

Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, without par value, of the Company.

 

Company” shall mean Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

Company Restructuring Event” shall mean any merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company with another Person immediately following which (a) the beneficial owners of Voting Securities of the Company as of immediately prior to the consummation of such Company Restructuring Event (i) beneficially own more than 50% of the Voting Securities of the surviving entity and (ii) have the right to designate (by ownership of Voting Securities) more than 50% of the surviving entity’s directors, (b) the common equity of such surviving entity remains listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange following such transaction and (c) either (i) the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding at the surviving entity or (ii) each Holder of Series A Preferred Stock has received a Substantially Equivalent Security of the surviving entity in respect of each share of its Series A Preferred Stock beneficially owned.

 

Continuing Directors” means individuals who, on the Issue Date, constitute the members of the Board of Directors; provided that any individual becoming a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to the Issue Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board of Directors was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be a Continuing Director.

 

Conversion Date” shall mean the Optional Conversion Date, and the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable.

 

Conversion Rate” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock, which shall be equal to (a) in all cases other than a Change of Control, the quotient of (i) the sum of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus (y) Accrued Dividends as of such date divided by (ii) the Issue Price (as such Conversion Rate may be adjusted as set forth in Section 6(e)); and (b) in the case of a Change of Control, the greater of (i) the amount set forth in clause (a) above and (ii) the quotient of (1) the sum of (A) (x) the Issue Price, multiplied by (y) 110%, plus (B) all Accrued Dividends on such share of Series A Preferred Stock on such date, divided by (2) the VWAP of the shares of Common Stock for the 30-day period ending immediately prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the Change of Control (as such Conversion Rate may be adjusted as set forth in Section 6(e) or Section 8); provided, however, that for purposes of Section 8(c)(i), the Conversion Rate shall be the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) above.

 

Dividend Adjustment Date” shall mean March 31, 2024.

 

Dividend Payment Date” shall mean the date that is the earlier of (a) forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company and (b) the payment date of dividends, if any, on any Parity Stock and Junior Stock. If the Company establishes an earlier Dividend Record Date for any dividend to be made by the Company on other capital stock in respect of any fiscal quarter, then the Dividend Record Date for shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be such earlier Dividend Record Date.

-5-

 

Dividend Rate” shall mean, as of the date of the determination, (a) for each fiscal quarter ending on or before the Dividend Adjustment Date, a rate per annum of 9.75% and (b) for each fiscal quarter ending after the Dividend Adjustment Date, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) Three-Month LIBOR as of the LIBOR Determination Date in respect of the applicable quarter and (ii) 8.15%, provided that the Dividend Rate per share of Series A Preferred Stock in this clause (b) shall not be less than 10.50% per annum. For the avoidance of doubt, the Dividend Rate set forth in clause (a) and (b) shall each be subject to any increase pursuant to Section 4(j).

 

Dividend Record Date” shall mean, with respect to any fiscal quarter and applicable Dividend Payment Date, the record date (which shall be a Business Day) set by the Board of Directors for holders eligible to receive any dividend declared for such fiscal quarter.

 

Dividend Trigger Event” shall mean the occurrence of a Dividend Payment Date on which the Company has failed to pay to the Holders the Cash Dividend in respect of the fiscal quarter corresponding to such Dividend Payment Date for any reason, regardless of whether such Cash Dividend was declared by the Board of Directors or whether there were sufficient funds legally available for payment of such Cash Dividend.

 

Equity Interests” of any Person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest, any limited liability company membership interest and any unlimited liability company membership interests.

 

Ex-Date” shall mean, when used with respect to any issuance of or distribution in respect of the Common Stock or any other securities, the first date on which the Common Stock or such other securities trade without the right to receive such issuance or distribution.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Holder” and, unless the context requires otherwise, “holder” shall each mean a holder of record of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Issue Date” shall mean June 17, 2020.

 

Issue Price” shall mean $19.99 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Junior Stock” shall mean the Company’s common stock, without par value, and each other series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date, by the Board of Directors, the terms of which do not expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series ranks senior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Lead Investors” means, collectively, GSO Capital Partners LP, Magnetar Financial LLC and Blackrock, Inc.

-6-

 

LIBOR Determination Date” shall mean the second London Banking Day prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal quarter.

 

Liquidation Preference” shall mean, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, the Issue Price.

 

Market Value” shall mean the Average VWAP during a 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of determination. If the Ex-Date for any distribution, the effective date for any subdivision, combination or reclassification or the Effective Date of any Pro Rata Repurchase (as used in this definition, “Adjustment Date”) that requires (or, but for the second sentence of Section 6(e)(vii) or Section 6(f)(i), would have required) an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e) occurs on or after the first Trading Day in the 10 Trading Day period used to calculate Market Value for a date of determination, the VWAP for each Trading Day prior to such Adjustment Date shall be adjusted by multiplying such VWAP by the same fraction by which the Conversion Rate is so required (or would have been required) to be adjusted pursuant to Section 6(e) as a result of such event.

 

MOIC Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c)(ii).

 

MOIC Value” means a value per converted share of Series A Preferred Stock calculated as follows: (i) the number of MOIC Shares into which such share of Series A Preferred Stock will be converted, multiplied by (ii) the lesser of (x) 95% of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 20-day period immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control and (y) the Closing Sale Price of one share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the consummation of such Change of Control.

 

National Securities Exchange” shall mean an exchange registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Notice of Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(f).

 

Officer” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company.

 

opening of business” shall mean 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

 

Optional Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

Optional Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

 

Optional Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Ownership Notice” shall mean a written notice containing the information required to be provided to registered owners of capital stock of the Company within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, which notice contains the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Section 1528 of the Pennsylvania BCL and, in the case of an issuance of shares of Series A Preferred Stock by the Company, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B to these Articles of Incorporation.

-7-

 

Parity Stock” shall mean any series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the terms of which expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series will rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Partial Period Dividends” shall mean, with respect to a conversion, redemption or liquidation of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the (a)(i) Issue Price multiplied by (ii) the Dividend Rate multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in the fiscal quarter in which such conversion, redemption or liquidation occurs and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter.

 

Partnership” shall mean EQM Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Paying Agent” shall mean the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns, or any other Person appointed to serve as paying agent by the Company.

 

Pennsylvania BCL” shall mean the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended.

 

Permitted Loan” shall mean any bona fide loans or other extensions of credit entered into by a Holder or any of its respective Affiliates with one or more financial institutions and secured by a pledge, hypothecation or other grant of security interest in shares of Series A Preferred Stock and/or related assets and/or cash, cash equivalents and/or letters of credit.

 

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Preemptive Rights Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(f).

 

Pro Rata” shall mean, (a) when used with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, apportioned among all Holders in accordance with the relative number or percentage of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each such Holder and (b) when used with respect to the Common Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis, apportioned among all holders of record in accordance with the relative number of shares of Common Stock that would be held by each if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted to shares of Common Stock at the then-applicable Conversion Rate immediately prior to such determination.

 

Pro Rata Repurchases” shall mean any purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to (a) any tender offer or exchange offer directed to all of the holders of Common Stock subject to Section 13(e) or 14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder or (b) any other tender offer available to substantially all holders of Common Stock, in the case of both (a) and (b), whether for cash, shares of capital stock of the Company, other securities of the Company, evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other property (including shares of capital stock, other securities or evidences of indebtedness of a Subsidiary), or any combination thereof, effected while the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding. The “Effective Date” of a Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of a purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase.

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Restructuring Agreement” shall mean that certain Preferred Restructuring Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020, by and among the Company, EQM Midstream Partners, LP, and the investors party thereto.

 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Senior Stock” shall mean each series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series will rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC covering resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by holders thereof.

 

Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests or more than 50% of the general partner interest of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof; or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

Substantially Equivalent Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c)(ii).

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Three-Month LIBOR” shall mean, as of any LIBOR Determination Date, the London interbank offered rate (expressed as a percentage per year) for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three-months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or any successor or replacement page) at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (a) the Board of Directors determines in good faith that Three-Month LIBOR has been discontinued, and such discontinuance is unlikely to be temporary, or that Three-Month LIBOR is no longer being published, or (b) the supervisor for the administrator of the London Interbank Offered Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the London Interbank Offered Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors will negotiate in good faith to (i) designate a substitute or successor reference rate, including any spread with respect thereto, taking into account general comparability to Three-Month LIBOR, acceptance as a market-based benchmark interest rate and any other commercially reasonable adjustments or factors as such holders and the Board of Directors deem appropriate (the “Alternative Rate”), and (ii) determine any necessary changes to the LIBOR Determination Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for calculating the substitute or successor interest rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor reference rate comparable to Three-Month LIBOR (“Adjustments”), in a manner that is consistent with industry accepted practices for such substitute or successor reference rate. Any such designation and determination agreed to by the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error, and the Board of Directors shall cause this Subdivision 1.2 to be amended as necessary to effectuate the substitute or successor reference rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors and the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock fail to determine in good faith an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors shall select and mutually engage in good faith an independent financial advisor (“IFA”) to determine the Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, and the decision of the IFA will be binding on the Board of Directors, the Company and the Holders. For any such designation and determination by the IFA of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, the Board of Directors shall cause this Subdivision 1.2 to be amended as necessary to effectuate the substitute or successor reference rate. If the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors are unable to agree upon an independent financial advisor to serve as the IFA within ten (10) Business Days after either sends written notice to the other requesting that the IFA be engaged pursuant to the preceding sentence, then each will select one independent financial advisor of established national reputation and such two independent financial advisors shall select a third independent financial advisor of established national reputation to serve as the IFA. From the earlier of (A) the date that Three-Month LIBOR has been discontinued or is no longer being published as described in clause (a) above and (B) the specific date referred to in clause (b) above (such earlier date, the “LIBOR Discontinuance Date”) until the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors make such designation and determination (and, in each case, an IFA has not determined an appropriate Alternative Rate and Adjustments or an IFA has not been appointed), “Three-Month LIBOR” shall be deemed to mean the rate that was the Three Month LIBOR in effect during the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the LIBOR Discontinuance Date.

 

Trading Day” shall mean a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” shall mean a Business Day.

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Transfer Agent” shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, acting as the Company’s duly appointed transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns, or any other person appointed to serve as transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent by the Company; provided that, if at any time no such Person is appointed as transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, the Company shall act as the Transfer Agent.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities” shall mean each share of Common Stock received upon conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock until (a) such shares of Common Stock shall be freely tradable pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act under Rule 144 thereunder, or (b) the resale of such shares of Common Stock has been registered under the Securities Act under an effective Shelf Registration Statement, in each case unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Holder thereof.

 

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e)(ix).

 

Voting Securities” means, with respect to a specified Person as of any date of determination, the capital stock and preferred stock of such Person that is at such date entitled to vote in the election of the managers, directors, trustees or other Persons serving in a similar capacity with respect to such Person.

 

VWAP” per share of Common Stock on any Trading Day shall mean the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed on Bloomberg page “ETRN: US” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day; or, if such price is not available, “VWAP” shall mean the market value per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day as determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Company for this purpose.

 

Section 3 Dividends.

 

(a)           Holders shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, prior to any distributions made in respect of any Junior Stock in respect of the same fiscal quarter, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends under Pennsylvania law, cash dividends (“Cash Dividends”) on the Issue Price, computed on the basis of a 365-day year, at the Dividend Rate, compounded quarterly and payable on each Dividend Payment Date. To the extent the Board of Directors so declares, Cash Dividends shall be payable in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter ending prior to such Dividend Payment Date (or with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date, for the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter following the Issue Date), to the Holders as they appear on the Company’s stock register at the close of business on the relevant Dividend Record Date. Subject to Section 3(c), dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the Company to fail to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to the Company. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall accumulate and become Accrued Dividends on a day-to-day basis, whether or not declared, from the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter (or with respect to the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs, from the Issue Date) until Cash Dividends are paid pursuant to this Section 3(a) or Section 3(c) in respect of such accumulated amounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date following the Issue Date, in addition to the Cash Dividend which has accrued for the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter following the Issue Date in accordance with this Section 3(a), each Holder shall be entitled to receive as part of the Cash Dividend payable to such Holder on such Dividend Payment Date an amount in cash equal to $0.8883 with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder.

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(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon any conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with this Subdivision 1.2, the Accrued Dividends with respect to such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, at the Company’s option, shall either (i) be paid in cash on or prior to the date of such conversion or (ii) not be paid in cash and instead be treated in accordance with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 pursuant to which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted. The Holders at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to receive any dividend paid as a Cash Dividend on those shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company fails to pay in full in cash to the Holders a Cash Dividend on the Dividend Payment Date for a fiscal quarter for any reason (whether or not declared and whether or not there were sufficient funds legally available for payment under Pennsylvania law or otherwise), then (i) the amount of such shortfall will continue to be owed by the Company to the Holders and will accumulate and accrue (and shall remain Accrued Dividends) until paid in full in cash and (ii) to the extent provided for in this Subdivision 1.2, each Holder shall have all rights under this Subdivision 1.2 as a result of such nonpayment, including in accordance with Section 3 and Section 4, together with any other rights which such Holder is entitled to under any contract or agreement at any time and any other rights that such Holder may have pursuant to applicable law. Any such accumulated and unpaid dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock for any past dividend periods may be declared and paid at any time to Holders.

 

(d)           So long as any share of the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on, and no redemption or repurchase shall be agreed to or consummated of, Parity Stock, Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock, unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock for all preceding full fiscal quarters (including the fiscal quarter in which such accumulated and unpaid dividends first arose) of the Company have been declared and paid in cash in full (including any Accrued Dividends); provided, however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) a dividend payable on Common Stock or other Junior Stock in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in exchange for shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (iii) purchases of fractional interests in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of shares of other Junior Stock or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into such shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (iv) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, the forfeiture of unvested shares of restricted stock or share withholdings upon exercise, delivery or vesting of equity awards granted to officers, directors and employees and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (v) any dividends or distributions of rights in connection with a shareholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any shareholders’ rights plan; and (vi) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of other Junior Stock. Notwithstanding the preceding, if full dividends have not been paid on the Series A Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock so long as the dividends are declared and paid Pro Rata so that amounts of dividends declared per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and such other Parity Stock bear to each other.

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(e)           Subject to Section 4(d), each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right to share in any special or non-recurring dividends by the Company of cash, securities or other property Pro Rata with the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, on an as-converted basis, provided that special dividends shall not include regular quarterly dividends paid in the normal course of business on the Common Stock. No adjustments pursuant to Section 6(e) shall be made with respect to a special dividend in which the shares Series A Preferred Stock participate Pro Rata with the shares of Common Stock, on an as-converted basis, pursuant to this Section 3(e) and subject to Section 4(d).

 

Section 4 Special Rights.

 

(a)           Holders shall be entitled to vote on all matters on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote and, except as otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation (including, in any other certificate of designations), or by law, the Holders shall vote together with the holders of shares of Common Stock as a single class. As of any record date or other determination date, each Holder shall be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of votes such Holder would have had if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder on such date had been converted into shares of Common Stock immediately prior thereto; provided, however, that shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are held by any Affiliates of the Company shall not be considered outstanding or be entitled to vote on any matter on which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote (whether voting as a separate class or on an as converted basis with the shares of Common Stock).

 

(b)           Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d), so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by the Pennsylvania BCL or the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating an amendment to this Subdivision 1.2 or to the Articles of Incorporation (including by merger or otherwise), that is adverse (other than in a de minimis manner) to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any amendment shall be deemed to have such an adverse impact that is not de minimis if such amendment would:

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(i)            reduce the Dividend Rate, change the form of payment of dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, defer the date from which distributions on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will accrue, cancel any accrued and unpaid distributions on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or any interest accrued thereon (including any Accrued Dividends), or change the seniority rights of the Holders as to the payment of distributions in relation to the holders of any other class or series of capital stock;

 

(ii)           reduce the amount payable or change the form of payment to the Holders upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets, of the Company, or change the seniority of the liquidation preferences of the Holders in relation to the rights of the holders of any other class or series of capital stock of the Company upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company; or

 

(iii)          make the shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemable or convertible at the option of the Company other than as set forth herein.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither a Change of Control of the Company undertaken in compliance with Section 8 nor a Company Restructuring Event shall be restricted or limited by or require any approval of the Holders pursuant to Section 4(b) solely by reason of such transaction (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not entitle the Company to take any action described in clauses (i)-(iii) above in connection with such transaction). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to effecting or validating an amendment to this Subdivision 1.2 or the Articles of Incorporation (including by merger or otherwise) that adversely affects (other than in a de minimis manner) any of the rights, preferences, and privileges of a holder of Series A Preferred Stock in a disproportionate manner relative to any other holder of Series A Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote or consent of such affected holder, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary therefor.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any determination of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments related to Three-Month LIBOR that are (i) agreed to by the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors, or (ii) made by the IFA, each pursuant to the terms of this Subdivision 1.2, shall not require any approval of Holders pursuant to Section 4(b). Additionally, the Holders agree that any such determinations of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments do not represent an adverse change under Section 1914(b) of the Pennsylvania BCL.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the consent of the Holders, the Company, acting in good faith, may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series A Preferred Stock by amending or supplementing the Articles of Incorporation, this Subdivision 1.2 or any stock certificate representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock:

 

(i)            to cure any ambiguity, omission, inconsistency or mistake in any such instrument in a manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 and that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder;

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(ii)           to make any provision with respect to matters or questions relating to the Series A Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 and that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder; or

 

(iii)          to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder (other than any Holder that consents to such change).

 

(d)           So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by the Pennsylvania BCL or the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for the Company to issue any (A) Senior Stock (or amend the provisions of any class of Equity Interests to make such class of Equity Interests a class of Senior Stock), (B) Parity Stock (or amend the provisions of any class of Equity Interests to make such class of Equity Interests a class of Parity Stock) or (C) Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that, without the consent of any holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (but without prejudice to their rights to vote on an as-converted basis to the extent that the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote on any such matter), at any time on or following the Issue Date, the Company may issue a number of additional shares of Parity Stock (which may be in the form of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock) with an aggregate purchase price of up to $100,000,000 across all such issuances; provided, further, that the Company may, without any vote of the Holders (but without prejudice to such Holders’ rights to vote on an as-converted basis to the extent the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote on any such matter), create (by classification or otherwise) and issue shares of Junior Stock in an unlimited amount.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to approve any special or non-recurring dividend.

 

(f)            So long as a Holder or its Affiliates collectively own at least 50% or more of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued to such Holder or its Affiliates on the Issue Date (excluding shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted) pursuant to the Restructuring Agreement (the “Preemptive Rights Holder”), prior to the issuance of Parity Stock, the Company shall, by written notice to the Preemptive Rights Holders (the “Notice of Issuance”), if any, offer to sell such Parity Stock to the Preemptive Rights Holders on terms and subject to conditions determined by the Board of Directors to be reasonable, which offer shall be made on a Pro Rata basis such that each Preemptive Rights Holder shall be entitled to purchase a portion of such Parity Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Preemptive Rights Holder on the date of the Notice of Issuance divided by (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by all Preemptive Rights Holders on the date of the Notice of Issuance; provided, that the offer of such Parity Stock shall not be on a basis less favorable to the Preemptive Rights Holders than is offered to any purchaser thereof who is not a Preemptive Rights Holder; provided, further that if any Preemptive Rights Holder fails to provide written notice of its intent to exercise its right to purchase Parity Stock within ten (10) Business Days of the Notice of Issuance, such Preemptive Rights Holder shall be deemed to have waived any and all rights to purchase such Parity Stock in such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to offer to sell Parity Stock to the Preemptive Rights Holders pursuant to this Section 4(f) in connection with any securities issued to the owners of another entity in connection with the acquisition of such entity by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by merger, consolidation, sale or exchange of securities, purchase of substantially all of the assets, or other reorganization whereby the Company directly or indirectly acquires more than 50% of the voting power or assets of such entity.

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(g)           Prior to the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding and Holders shall have no voting rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock solely by virtue of holding the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(h)           In exercising the voting rights set forth in Sections 4(a), 4(b), 4(d) and 4(e), each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote.

 

(i)            The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the Holders (including the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other procedural aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by the Articles of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the Pennsylvania BCL.

 

(j)            If a Dividend Trigger Event occurs, then for so long as any Dividend Trigger Event remains outstanding, the then-applicable Dividend Rate will increase by 2.00% per annum until such time as all the accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for the most recently completed fiscal quarter and all previously completed fiscal quarters are paid in full in cash. Upon the date that all unpaid Cash Dividends giving rise to all outstanding Dividend Trigger Events have been fully paid and are current (the “Cash Dividend Catch-Up”), the applicable Dividend Rate as set forth herein in the definition of “Dividend Rate” will once again apply from and after such date, unless and until a Dividend Trigger Event thereafter occurs and the Dividend Rate is once again increased in accordance with the terms of this Section 4(j).

 

(k)           Upon the occurrence of a Dividend Trigger Event that represents the fourth (4th) Dividend Trigger Event to occur while any Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding (whether or not consecutive) and upon the occurrence of each Dividend Trigger Event thereafter, and lasting until such time as the Cash Dividend Catch-Up occurs with respect to all accrued and unpaid Cash Dividends or until the time there are no shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, the Holders of a majority of the shares of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (which shall include (i) Holders that are Affiliates of at least two of the Lead Investors if Affiliates of at least two of the Lead Investors are Holders as of such time and (ii) Holders that are Affiliates of the remaining Lead Investor if Affiliates of only one of the Lead Investors are Holders as of such time) shall be entitled to designate one natural person to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors or committees thereof (the “Board Observer”), in addition to the remedies set forth in Section 4(j). For as long as the Holders are entitled to designate a Board Observer, the Board Observer shall be entitled to attend all meetings (including telephonic meetings) of the Board of Directors and any committees thereof. The Company shall provide to the Board Observer any notices delivered to the members of the Board of Directors and a copy of all meeting materials concurrently with providing such notices and materials to the Board of Directors. The Board Observer shall not be a member of the Board of Directors and shall not have any voting rights with respect to any action brought before the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or count towards any quorum with respect to such actions. Notwithstanding any rights to be granted or provided to the Board Observer hereunder, the Board of Directors may exclude any Board Observer from access to any materials or meeting or portion thereof if the Board of Directors determines, in good faith, that (A) access would reasonably be expected to prevent the members of the Board of Directors or committee thereof from engaging in attorney-client privileged communication or result in a bona fide conflict of interest with the Company involving any arrangement or transaction (or potential arrangement or transaction) between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Holders or any of their Affiliates, on the other hand (other than any redemption of or other transaction pertaining to the Series A Preferred Stock); provided that no such conflict shall be deemed to exist merely by virtue of the Holders or their Affiliates holding Series A Preferred Stock (provided, however, that such exclusion shall be limited to the portion of the material and/or meeting that is the basis for such exclusion and shall not extend to any portion of the material and/or meeting that does not involve or pertain to such exclusion) or (B) such portion of a meeting is an executive session limited solely to independent director members of the Board of Directors, independent auditors and/or legal counsel, as the Board of Directors may designate, and the Board Observer (assuming such Board Observer were a member of the Board of Directors) would not meet the then-applicable standards for independence adopted by New York Stock Exchange, or such other exchange on which the Company’s securities are then traded.

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Section 5         Liquidation Rights.

 

(a)           In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, each Holder shall be entitled to receive, in respect of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its shareholders, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus (y) Accrued Dividends thereon and (ii) the amount such Holder would have received had such Holder, immediately prior to the commencement of such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, converted each share of Series A Preferred Stock then held by such Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) using the then-applicable Conversion Rate, in preference to the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any Junior Stock.

 

(b)           Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the assets or business of the Company (other than in connection with the liquidation, winding up or dissolution of its business), nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other Person shall be deemed to be a liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 5.

 

(c)           After the payment in full to the Holders of the amounts provided for in this Section 5, the Holders as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company in respect of their ownership of such Series A Preferred Stock.

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(d)           In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the Holders upon any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to Section 5(a), no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of Parity Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up unless proportionate distributable amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, equally and ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which Holders of all Series A Preferred Stock and of any Parity Stock are entitled upon such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

 

Section 6         Conversion.

 

(a)           Beginning with the earlier of (i) April 10, 2021 and (ii) immediately prior to a liquidation of the Company, each Holder shall have the right to convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time upon the request of such Holder, into that number of whole shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted multiplied by the Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to honor such conversion request unless such conversion will involve an aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock with an underlying value of Common Stock equal to or greater than $20 million, taking into account and including any concurrent conversion requests by any Affiliates of such Holder, based on the Closing Sale Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Optional Conversion Notice Date (or a lesser underlying value if such conversion (i) will result in the conversion of all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder or (ii) has been approved by the Board of Directors); provided, further, that each Holder and such Holder’s Affiliates shall together be entitled to a single conversion right per fiscal quarter. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6(a), if any lender, other creditor or counterparty under any Permitted Loan transaction (including any agent or trustee on their behalf) or any Affiliate of the foregoing exercises any rights or remedies under such Permitted Loan on foreclosure or other exercise of remedies or rights in respect of any pledged shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then such pledged shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be immediately converted by such lender, creditor or counterparty into shares of Common Stock. To convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6(a), such Holder shall give written notice (the “Optional Conversion Notice” and the date of such notice, the “Optional Conversion Notice Date”) to the Secretary of the Company stating that such Holder elects to so convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock and shall state therein: (A) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted and (B) the name or names in which such Holder wishes the shares of Common Stock to be issued. If a Holder validly delivers an Optional Conversion Notice in accordance with this Section 6(a), the Company shall direct the Transfer Agent to issue the shares of Common Stock no later than two (2) Business Days thereafter (the date of issuance of such shares, the “Optional Conversion Date”).

 

(b)           At any time after April 10, 2021, if the Holders have not elected to convert all of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6(a), the Company shall have the right to cause the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, in whole and not in part into that number of whole shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted multiplied by the Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that in order for the Company to exercise such right, (i) the shares of Common Stock must be listed or admitted for trading on a National Securities Exchange, (ii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock must exceed $27.99 for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Forced Conversion Notice Date, (iii) the average daily trading volume of the shares of Common Stock on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed or admitted to trading must exceed 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (as such amount may be adjusted to reflect any Common Stock split, combination or similar event) for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Forced Conversion Notice Date, (iv) the Company must have an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering resales of the underlying shares of Common Stock to be received by the applicable Holder upon any such conversion and (v) all prior accumulated and unpaid dividends (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Accrued Dividends) have been paid in cash in full. To convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b), the Company shall give written notice (the “Forced Conversion Notice” and the date of such notice, the “Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to each Holder stating that the Company elects to force conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b) and shall state therein (A) the Company elects to so convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b) and (B) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted. If the Company validly delivers a Forced Conversion Notice in accordance with this Section 6(b), the Company shall issue the shares of Common Stock no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter (the date of issuance of such shares, the “Forced Conversion Date”).

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(c)           Upon conversion, each Holder shall provide the Transfer Agent a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Transfer Agent duly executed by the Holder or its duly authorized legal representative and (ii) transfer tax stamps or funds therefor, if required pursuant to Section 6(i).

 

(d)           Immediately prior to the close of business on the Optional Conversion Date or the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable, with respect to a conversion, a Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock notwithstanding that the share register of the Company shall then be closed or that certificates representing such Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to such Holder. Except to the extent that a Holder is not able to convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock as a result of the Company not having sufficient authorized capital under its Articles of Incorporation, on the Optional Conversion Date or the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable, dividends shall cease to accrue on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted and all other rights with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, will terminate, except only the rights of Holders thereof to receive the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted. As promptly as practical after the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, the Transfer Agent shall deliver to the applicable Holder an Ownership Notice identifying the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled.

 

(e)            The Conversion Rate shall be subject to the following adjustments (except as provided in Section 6(f)):

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(i)           If the Company pays a dividend (or other distribution) in shares of Common Stock to holders of the Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the record date for such dividend (or distribution) shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0

where

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution; and

 

OS1 = the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution and (B) the total number of shares of Common Stock constituting such dividend.

 

(ii)          If the Company subdivides or splits the shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such share subdivision or split shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share subdivision or split; and

 

OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share subdivision or split.

 

(iii)         If the Company combines or reclassifies the shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such share combination or reclassification shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share combination or reclassification; and

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OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share combination or reclassification.

 

(iv)         If the Company issues by reclassification of its shares of Common Stock any Equity Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Company is the surviving Person), then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such reclassification shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share issuance by reclassification; and

 

OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share issuance by reclassification.

 

(v)          In the case the Company effects a Pro Rata Repurchase of Common Stock (in each case other than in connection with a Change of Control) then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted to the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such Pro Rata Repurchase by a fraction of which the numerator shall be (A) the product of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such Pro Rata Repurchase and (2) the Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase, minus (B) the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase, and of which the denominator shall be the product of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase minus the number of shares of Common Stock so repurchased and (2) the Market Value per share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase.

 

(vi)         Subject to clause (vii) below, if the Company issues to holders of shares of the Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Market Value determined on the Ex-Date for such issuance, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the close of business on the Ex-Date for such issuance shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS0 + X
OS0 + Y
 

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where

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date for such issuance;

 

X = the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

 

Y = the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants divided by the Market Value determined as of the Ex-Date for such issuance.

 

(vii)        If the Company distributes to all holders of shares of Common Stock evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock (other than Common Stock) or other assets (including securities, but excluding any dividend or distribution referred to in clauses (i) above; any rights or warrants referred to in clause (vi) above; any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries referred to in clause (v) above and any dividend of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar Equity Interests, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit in the case of certain spin-off transactions as described in (viii) below), then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the close of business on the record date for such distribution shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

SP0
SP0 – FMV

where

 

SP0 = the Closing Sale Price per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date; and

 

FMV = the fair market value of the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall receive, for each share of Series A Preferred Stock, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of such distributed assets that such holder would have received as if such holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus Accrued Dividends at such time and (y) the Conversion Rate at such time on the Record Date for the distribution.

 

(viii)       In a spin-off, where the Company makes a dividend or distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock consisting of capital stock of any class or series, or similar Equity Interests of, or relating to, a Subsidiary or other business unit where such capital stock or similar Equity Interests are, or will be when issued, listed or admitted for trading on a National Securities Exchange, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted on the tenth Trading Day after the effective date of the distribution by dividing the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such tenth Trading Day by the following fraction:

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MP0 + MPS
MP0
 

where

 

MP0 = the average of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock over each of the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the Ex-Date of such distribution; and

 

MPS = the average of the Closing Sale Price of the capital stock or Equity Interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock over each of the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the Ex-Date of such distribution, or, as reported in the principal securities exchange or quotation system or market on which such shares are traded, or if not traded on a national or regional securities exchange or over-the-counter market, the fair market value of the capital stock or Equity Interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on such Ex-Date as determined by the Board of Directors. Such Closing Sale Prices for the Trading Days in such 10 Trading Day period shall be adjusted in respect of transactions in respect of such capital stock or Equity Interests in like manner to the adjustment to “Closing Sale Price” specified in the second sentence of the definition of such term.

 

For purposes of determining the Conversion Rate in respect of any Conversion Date that occurs during the 10 Trading Days following, and including, the Ex-Date of any such spin-off, references within the previous sentence to 10 Trading Days or the 10th Trading Day shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Date of such distribution and such Conversion Date. In the event that such dividend or distribution described in clause (vii) or clause (viii) of this Section 6(e) is not so made, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(ix)          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 6(e), rights or warrants distributed by the Company to holders of Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s capital stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (A) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock; (B) are not exercisable; and (C) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 6(e) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 6(e) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under Section 6(e)(iii). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 6(e) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of such rights or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such expired or terminated rights and warrants had not been issued. To the extent that the Company has a rights plan or agreement in effect upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, which rights plan provides for rights or warrants of the type described in this clause, then upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock the Holder will receive, in addition to the Common Stock to which he is entitled, a corresponding number of rights in accordance with the rights plan, unless a Trigger Event has occurred and the adjustments to the Conversion Rate with respect thereto have been made in accordance with the foregoing. In lieu of any such adjustment, the Company may amend such applicable shareholder rights plan or agreement to provide that upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock the Holders will receive, in addition to the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights that would have attached to such Common Stock if the Trigger Event had not occurred under such applicable shareholder rights plan or agreement.

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(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(e), no adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made with respect to: (i) any distribution or other transaction if the Holders are entitled to participate in such distribution or transaction as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such event, without having to convert their shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) any cash dividends made to holders of shares of Common Stock (unless made in breach of Section 3(d)), (iii) any issuance of Equity Interests or securities convertible into Equity Interests in exchange for cash, (iv) any grant of shares of Common Stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase or receive shares of Common Stock or the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or vesting of any such options, warrants or rights in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Company or its Affiliates, under compensation plans and agreements approved by the Board of Directors (including any long-term incentive plan), (v) any issuance of shares of Common Stock as all or part of the consideration to effect (A) the closing of any acquisition by the Company of assets or Equity Interests of a third party in an arm’s-length transaction, (B) the closing of any acquisition by the Company of assets or Equity Interests of any of its Affiliates or (C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company with another entity in which the Company survives and the shares of Common Stock remain outstanding to the extent any such transaction set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) above is approved by the Board of Directors or (vi) the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or shares of Parity Stock.

 

(g)           If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other distribution, and shall thereafter (and before the dividend or distribution has been paid or delivered to shareholders) abandon its plan to pay or deliver such dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment in the Conversion Rate then in effect shall be required by reason of the taking of such record.

 

(h)           Upon any increase or decrease in the Conversion Rate, then, and in each such case, the Company promptly shall deliver to each Holder a certificate signed by an Officer, setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment and the method by which such adjustment was calculated and specifying the increased or decreased Conversion Rate then in effect following such adjustment.

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(i)            The issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Stock upon the conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the issuance or delivery of any Ownership Notice, whether at the request of a Holder or upon the conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, shall each be made without charge to the Holder or recipient of shares of Series A Preferred Stock for such certificates or Ownership Notice or for any tax in respect of the issuance or delivery of such certificates or the securities represented thereby or such Ownership Notice or the securities identified therein, and such certificates or Ownership Notice shall be issued or delivered in the respective names of, or in such names as may be directed by, the applicable Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate in a name other than that of the Holder of the shares of the relevant Series A Preferred Stock and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any such certificate or Ownership Notice unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance or delivery thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

 

(j)            Any shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to this Section 6 shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters of any state or federal law), free and clear or any liens, claims, rights or encumbrances other than those arising under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or this Subdivision 1.2 or created by the holders thereof.

 

(k)           The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and shall take all action required (including promptly calling and holding one or more special meetings of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company until such increase is approved in accordance with applicable law and amending the Articles of Incorporation) to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock if at any time there shall be insufficient unissued shares of Common Stock to permit such reservation or to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the payment or partial payment of dividends (if any) declared on Series A Preferred Stock that are payable in Common Stock. If the Company does not at any time have reserved and available the number of shares of Common Stock described in the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay to the Holders (on a Pro Rata basis across all Holders based on their respective ownership of Series A Preferred Stock) an amount equal to $50,000 per month (pro-rated for partial months), payable in cash no later than 5 Business Days after the end of each month until the Company again has reserved and available such number of shares of Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything here to the contrary, if the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to cause the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock when required, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock which would otherwise have been converted into shares of Common Stock shall remain outstanding and shall continue to accumulate and compound dividends pursuant to Section 3 until such time as such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are actually converted.

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Section 7           Optional Redemption.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 7(d), at any time, and from time to time, on or after January 1, 2024, the Company shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to redeem the Holders’ shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, from any source of funds legally available for such purpose in accordance with this Section 7 and as permitted under Sections 1551 and 1552 of the Pennsylvania BCL. Any redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of any agreements governing the Company’s future or existing outstanding indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the Company in its sole discretion (the “Optional Redemption Date”).

 

(b)           Subject to applicable law, the Company shall effect any such redemption pursuant to this Section 7 by paying cash for each share of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in an amount equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (1)(A) the Issue Price multiplied by (B) 110%, plus (2) the Accrued Dividends as of such date and (ii) the amount the Holder of such share of Series A Preferred Stock would receive if such Holder had converted such share of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) using the then-applicable Conversion Rate and the Company liquidated immediately thereafter (the “Optional Redemption Price”).

 

(c)           The Company shall give notice of its election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7 not less than 15 days and not more than 90 days before the scheduled Optional Redemption Date, to the Holders of Series A Preferred Stock as such Holders’ names appear (as of the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) on the books of the Transfer Agent at the address of such Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “Optional Redemption Notice”) shall state: (i) the Optional Redemption Date, (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such Holder, (iii) the Optional Redemption Price and (iv) the place where any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Optional Redemption Price therefor.

 

(d)           If the Company elects to effect a partial redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7, the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be determined by the Company, but shall be no less than 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (it being understood that if the aggregate amount of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding is less than 100,000 shares, then all of such shares shall be redeemed). In the event of a partial redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such redemption shall occur on a Pro Rata basis across all Holders based on their respective ownership of Series A Preferred Stock and the remaining shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are not redeemed shall remain outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall be entitled to redeem Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7 no more than once per fiscal quarter.

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(e)           If the Company gives an Optional Redemption Notice, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock as to which such Optional Redemption Notice shall have been given, no later than the open of business on the Optional Redemption Date, and the Company shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Optional Redemption Price to the Holders to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender of the certificates therefor as set forth in the Optional Redemption Notice. If the Optional Redemption Notice shall have been given, then from and after the Optional Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Optional Redemption Notice, all dividends on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accrue and all other rights with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, will terminate, except only the rights of Holders thereof to receive the Optional Redemption Price. The Company shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent (to the extent that such interest income is not required to pay the Optional Redemption Price of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed), and the holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest income. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Company for any reason, including redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after two years after the Optional Redemption Date or other payment date, shall be, to the extent permitted by applicable law, repaid to the Company upon its written request, after which repayment the Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Company. Notwithstanding any Optional Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Optional Redemption Price of such shares shall have been deposited by the Company with the Paying Agent.

 

Section 8         Change of Control.

 

(a)           Promptly upon entry into a definitive agreement that provides for a Change of Control (but in no event less than 10 Business Days prior to consummating a Change of Control), the Company shall provide written notice thereof to the Holders.

 

(b)           In the event of a Cash Change of Control, the Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into Common Stock at the applicable Conversion Rate on the date on which the Cash Change of Control occurs, with the conversion effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control.

 

(c)           In the event of a Change of Control that is not a Cash Change of Control, then each Holder, with respect to all but not less than all of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock, by notice given to the Company within 10 Business Days of the date the Company provides written notice of the execution of definitive agreements that provide for such Change of Control, shall be entitled to elect one of the following (with the understanding that any Holder who fails to timely provide notice of its election to the Company shall be deemed to have elected the option set forth in clause (1) below):

 

(i)            convert all, but not less than all, of such Holder’s outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the then-applicable Conversion Rate on the date on which such Change of Control occurs, with the conversion effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control;

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(ii)           if the Company will not be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control or the Company will be the surviving Person but its shares of Common Stock will no longer be listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, require the Company to use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to such Holder, in exchange for its shares of Series A Preferred Stock upon the consummation of such Change of Control, a security in the surviving Person or the parent of the surviving Person that has rights, preferences and privileges substantially equivalent to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, including, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) the right to distributions equal in amount and timing to those provided in Section 4, (B) a conversion rate proportionately adjusted such that the conversion of such security in the surviving Person or parent of the surviving Person immediately following the consummation of such Change of Control would entitle the holder of record to the number of common securities of such Person (together with a number of common securities of equivalent value to any other assets received by a holder of shares of Common Stock in such Change of Control) which, if a share of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into a share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Change of Control, such holder of record would have been entitled to receive immediately following such Change of Control and (C) structural protections (e.g., the definition of “Change of Control”) no less favorable to the Holders than the protections set forth in this Subdivision 1.2 (such security in the surviving Person, a “Substantially Equivalent Security”); provided, however, that, if the Company is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered a Substantially Equivalent Security to such Holder in connection with such Change of Control, each Holder (at such Holder’s election) shall be entitled to exercise the option provided in Section 8(c)(i) or Section 8(c)(iv) or require the Company to convert the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder immediately prior to such Change of Control into a number of shares of Common Stock (the “MOIC Shares”) at a conversion ratio per share of Series A Preferred Stock owned by such Holder equal to: the quotient of (I) (a) the product of (i) 160% multiplied by (ii) the Issue Price less (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate cash distributions paid on such Series A Preferred Stock on or prior to the date of such Change of Control plus (ii) $4.0431 divided by (II) an amount equal to 95% of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 20-day period immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control; provided, further, that such ratio shall in no event result in a share of Series A Preferred Stock that is being converted into MOIC Shares having a MOIC Value that (1) exceeds (x) 125% of the Issue Price, in the case of a Change of Control occurring prior to April 10, 2021; and (y) 135% of the Issue Price, in the case of a Change of Control occurring on or after April 10, 2021 but prior to April 10, 2022 or (2) irrespective of when such Change of Control occurs, is less than the sum of (A) (x) the Issue Price, multiplied by (y) 110%, plus (B) all Accrued Dividends on such share of Series A Preferred Stock on such date;

 

(iii)          if the Company is the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control, continue to hold Holder’s respective shares of Series A Preferred Stock; or

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(iv)          require the Company to redeem all (but not less than all) of such Holder’s respective shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a price per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to 101% of the sum of (x) the Issue Price, plus (y) any Accrued Dividends on such Series A Preferred Stock as of such date. Any redemption pursuant to this clause (iv) shall, as determined by the Company, be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in a combination thereof. If all or any portion of such redemption is to be paid in shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be valued at 95% of the VWAP for the 20-day period ending on the fifth Trading Day immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control; provided, that any Holder that requires the Company to redeem its shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 8(c)(iv) shall have the right to withdraw such election with respect to all (but not less than all) of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock at any time prior to the fifth Trading Day immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control and instead elect to be treated in accordance with any of clauses (i) through (iii) above. No later than three Trading Days prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Company shall deliver a written notice to the holders of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock stating the date on which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemed and the Company’s computation of the amount of cash and/or shares of Common Stock to be received by the holder of record upon redemption of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock. If the Company shall be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control and its shares of Common Stock will remain listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, then no later than 5 Business Days following the consummation of such Change of Control, the Company shall remit the applicable cash and/or shares of Common Stock consideration to each holder of record of then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive such cash or shares of Common Stock consideration pursuant to this clause (iv). If the Company will not be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control or the Company will be the surviving Person but its shares of Common Stock will no longer be listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, then the Company shall remit the applicable cash and/or shares of Common Stock consideration to such holders of record immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control. Any redemptions by the Company shall comply with Sections 1551 and 1552 of the Pennsylvania BCL. The holders of record shall deliver to the Company certificates representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, as soon as practicable following such redemption. Holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall retain all of the rights and privileges thereof unless and until the consideration due to such Holders as a result of such redemption is paid in full in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of the foregoing, as applicable. After any such redemption, any such redeemed share of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer constitute an issued and outstanding Equity Interest.

 

Section 9           No Fractional Shares.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock or securities representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion, whether voluntary or mandatory, or in respect of dividend payments made in Common Stock on the Series A Preferred Stock. Instead, the Company shall round up to the next whole share the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to any particular Holder upon conversion (and, for the avoidance of doubt, a 0.5 share of Common Stock shall be rounded to the next higher share of Common Stock).

 

Section 10         Uncertificated Shares; Certificated Shares.

 

(a)           Uncertificated Shares.

 

(i)            Form. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless requested in writing by a Holder to the Company, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof shall be in uncertificated, book entry form as permitted by the bylaws of the Company and the Pennsylvania BCL. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Company shall, or shall cause the Transfer Agent to, send to the registered owner thereof an Ownership Notice.

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(ii)            Transfer. Transfers of Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof held in uncertificated, book-entry form shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Company kept at an office of the Transfer Agent upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of such uncertificated shares, or from a duly authorized attorney or from an individual presenting proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock. The Company may refuse any requested transfer until furnished evidence satisfactory to it that such transfer is proper.

 

(iii)          Legends. Each Ownership Notice issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock or any Common Stock issued upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FOREGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW OWNERSHIP NOTICE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS NOTICE BY REFERENCE.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

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In addition, each Ownership Notice issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

(b)          Certificated Shares.

 

(i)            Form and Dating. When Series A Preferred Stock is in certificated form (“Certificated Series A Preferred Stock”), the Series A Preferred Stock certificate and the Transfer Agent’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to these Articles of Incorporation, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Subdivision 1.2. The Series A Preferred Stock certificate may have notations, legends or endorsements required by applicable law, stock exchange rules, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage; provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company. Each Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(ii)           Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign each Series A Preferred Stock certificate for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Series A Preferred Stock certificate no longer holds that office at the time the Transfer Agent authenticates the Series A Preferred Stock certificate, the Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be valid nevertheless.

 

A Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Transfer Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Series A Preferred Stock certificate. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Series A Preferred Stock certificate has been authenticated under this Subdivision 1.2.

 

The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver certificates for shares of Series A Preferred Stock for original issue upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. Such order shall specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of the Series A Preferred Stock is to be authenticated.

 

The Transfer Agent may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the certificates for the Series A Preferred Stock. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate certificates for the Series A Preferred Stock whenever the Transfer Agent may do so. Each reference in this Subdivision 1.2 to authentication by the Transfer Agent includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Transfer Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

(iii)           Transfer and Exchange. When Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is presented to the Transfer Agent with a request to register the transfer of such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or to exchange such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock for an equal number of shares of Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Series A Preferred Stock surrendered for transfer or exchange:

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(A)          shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(B)           is being transferred or exchanged pursuant to subclause (1) or (2) below, and is accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

 

(1)           if such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is being delivered to the Transfer Agent by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect in substantially the form of Exhibit C to these Articles of Incorporation; or

 

(2)            if such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Company or to a “qualified institutional buyer” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act, (x) a certification to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit C to these Articles of Incorporation) and (y) if the Company so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 10(b)(iv).

 

(iv)          Legends.

 

(A)          Each certificate evidencing Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or any Common Stock issued upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FORGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW CERTIFICATE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THESE SECURITIES UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS CERTIFICATE BY REFERENCE.

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IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

In addition, each certificate issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

(B)         Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security held in certificated form pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act or an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, the Transfer Agent shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock that does not bear a restrictive legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security.

 

(v)          Replacement Certificates. If any of the Series A Preferred Stock certificates shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue, in exchange and in substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Series A Preferred Stock certificate, or in lieu of and substitution for the Series A Preferred Stock certificate lost, stolen or destroyed, a new Series A Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor and representing an equivalent amount of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Series A Preferred Stock certificate and indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent.

 

(vi)         Cancellation. In the event the Company shall purchase or otherwise acquire Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, the same shall thereupon be delivered to the Transfer Agent for cancellation. The Transfer Agent and no one else shall cancel and destroy all Series A Preferred Stock certificates surrendered for transfer, exchange, replacement or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless the Company directs the Transfer Agent to deliver canceled Series A Preferred Stock certificates to the Company. The Company may not issue new Series A Preferred Stock certificates to replace Series A Preferred Stock certificates to the extent they evidence Series A Preferred Stock which the Company has purchased or otherwise acquired.

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(c)          Certain Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(i)           To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate Certificated Series A Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.

 

(ii)         All shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whether or not Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be the valid obligations of the Company, entitled to the same benefits under this Subdivision 1.2 as the shares of Series A Preferred Stock surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(iii)        Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are registered as the absolute owner of such Series A Preferred Stock and neither the Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(iv)        No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of any Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issued upon the conversion thereof on the transfer books of the Company or the Transfer Agent or upon surrender of any Series A Preferred Stock certificate or Common Stock certificate at the office of the Transfer Agent maintained for that purpose. However, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock if the Person receiving shares in connection with such transfer or exchange is not the holder thereof.

 

(d)         No Obligation of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Subdivision 1.2 or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Series A Preferred Stock other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Subdivision 1.2, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

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(e)          Removal of Legend. In connection with a sale of any Series A Preferred Stock or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock in reliance on Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the applicable Holder or its broker shall deliver to the Company and its Transfer Agent a broker representation letter providing to the Company and its Transfer Agent any information the Company deems necessary to determine that such sale is made in compliance with Rule 144, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the applicable Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company and regarding the length of time the Series A Preferred Stock or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock have been held. Upon receipt of such representation letter, the Company shall promptly direct its Transfer Agent to remove the applicable legend referred to in this Section 10 from the appropriate book-entry accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent or certificates, as applicable, and the Company shall bear all costs associated therewith (including paying the reasonable customary cost of any legal opinion required by the Transfer Agent to be rendered in connection with the removal of such legend). After a Holder or its permitted assigns have held the Series A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock for such time as non-Affiliates are permitted to sell without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to such Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and without volume or manner of sale restrictions under Rule 144, if the book-entry accounts for such Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock still bear the applicable restrictive legend referred to in this Section 10, the Company agrees, upon request of such Holder or permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the applicable legend described in this Section 10 therefrom, and the Company shall bear all costs associated therewith (including paying the reasonable customary cost of any legal opinion required by the Transfer Agent to be rendered in connection with the removal of such legend), regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as such Holder or its permitted assigns provide to the Company any information the Company deems necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder or applicable state laws, including a certification that the holder is not an Affiliate of the Company (and a covenant to inform the Company if it should thereafter become an Affiliate and to consent to the placing of an appropriate restrictive legend on the applicable Series A Preferred Stock in such case) and regarding the length of time the Series A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock have been held. The Company shall cooperate with the Holders to effect the removal of the applicable legend referred to in this Section 10 at any time such legend is no longer appropriate.

 

Section 11         Other Provisions.

 

(a)          With respect to any notice to a Holder required to be provided hereunder, neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of the notice or the validity of the proceedings referred to in such notice with respect to the other Holders or affect the legality or validity of any vote upon any such action (assuming due and proper notice to such other Holders). Any notice which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

 

(b)          Shares of Series A Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired by the Company in any manner, including shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or redeemed or exchanged or converted, shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions of the laws of Pennsylvania) upon such reacquisition be automatically cancelled by the Company and shall not be reissued.

 

(c)          The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares.

 

(d)          All notice periods referred to herein shall commence: (i) when made, if made by hand delivery, and upon confirmation of receipt, if made by facsimile; (ii) one Business Day after being deposited with a nationally recognized next-day courier, postage prepaid; or (iii) three Business Days after being by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Notice to any Holder shall be given to the registered address set forth in the Company’s records for such Holder.

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(e)          Any payments required to be made hereunder on any day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without interest or additional payment for such delay. All payments required hereunder shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds in United States Dollars to the Holders in accordance with the payment instructions as such Holders may deliver by written notice to the Company from time to time.

 

(f)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, whenever the Board of Directors is permitted or required to determine fair market value, such determination shall be made in good faith.

 

(g)          Except as set forth in Section 4(b)(ii), the Holders shall have no preemptive or preferential rights to purchase or subscribe to any stock, obligations, warrants or other securities of the Company of any class.

 

(h)          The Company shall distribute to the Holders copies of all notices, materials, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements, information statements and any other documents distributed generally to the holders of the Common Stock, at such times and by such method as documents are distributed to such holders of such Common Stock.

 

(i)           All payments and distributions (or deemed distributions) on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and any share of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or redemption of any share of Series A Preferred Stock) shall be subject to withholding and backup withholding of taxes to the extent required by applicable law, subject to applicable exemptions or reductions, and amounts withheld, if any, shall be treated as received by the Holders to the extent timely paid by the Company, the Transfer Agent or any of their respective agents or Affiliates to the appropriate taxing authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

Division B: PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH THE
PREFERRED STOCK AND THE COMMON STOCK

 

2.1          Voting Rights. Except as provided in this Subdivision 2.1, the holders of the Common Stock shall have exclusive voting rights for the election of directors and for all other purposes and shall be entitled to one vote for each share held. The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as may be provided with respect to any particular series of the Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors pursuant to Subdivision 1.1. On any matter on which the holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote, they shall be entitled to vote as established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Subdivision 1.1.

 

A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors at a meeting of shareholders if the votes by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election cast for such nominee exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election (excluding abstentions), provided, that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, then the nominees receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of directors to be elected shall be elected. No shareholder shall in any election of directors have any right to cumulate his, her or its votes and cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not be changed with respect to any class of stock unless the holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the number of shares of such class of stock then outstanding shall consent thereto in writing or by voting therefor in person or by proxy at the meeting of shareholders at which any such change is considered.

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2.2       Preemptive Rights. The Company may issue shares of any class of stock, option rights, or securities having conversion or option rights, without first offering them to the holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock. The provisions of this Subdivision 2.2 shall be effective to eliminate and deny any preemptive right which may exist or may have existed in respect of any outstanding shares.

 

2.3         Amendments to Bylaws. The Board of Directors may make, amend and repeal the Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the shareholders, subject always to the power of the shareholders to change such action as provided herein.

 

2.4          General. The Company may issue and dispose of any of its authorized shares for such consideration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors subject to the laws then applicable.

 

Division C: BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

REMOVAL; VACANCIES

 

3.1          The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by a Board of Directors comprised as follows:

 

(a)           The number of persons comprising the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office.

 

(b)           Each person elected as a director of the Company, whether to succeed a person whose term of office as a director has expired (including the expiration of such person’s term) or to fill any vacancy, shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

(c)           Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office by shareholder vote at any time, without assigning any cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all shareholders entitled to vote at an annual election of directors.

 

(d)           Vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, except that vacancies resulting from removal from office by a vote of the shareholders may be filled by the shareholders at the same meeting at which such removal occurs. A person elected to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders held immediately following such person being elected to fill the vacancy. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

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(e)           Whenever the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Company, none of the foregoing provisions of this Subdivision 3.1 shall apply with respect to the director or directors elected by such holders of Preferred Stock.

 

3.2          No director shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such (except to the extent otherwise provided by law) for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Title 15, Chapter 17, Subchapter B of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance), and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.

 

If the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended after November 9, 2018, the date this Subdivision received shareholder approval, to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then a director shall not be liable, in addition to the circumstances set forth in this Subdivision, to the fullest extent permitted by the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as so amended.

 

Sixth: Subchapter G — Control Share Acquisitions and Subchapter H — Disgorgement by Certain Controlling Shareholders Following Attempts to Acquire Control of Title 15, Chapter 25, of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, shall not be applicable to the Company.

 

Seventh: Henceforth, these Seconded Amended and Restated Articles of the Company shall not include any prior documents.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

 

FACE OF SECURITY

 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FORGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW CERTIFICATE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THESE SECURITIES UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS CERTIFICATE BY REFERENCE.

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

A-1

 

Certificate Number
[                         ]
[                            ] Shares of
Series A Preferred Stock

Series A Preferred Stock

of

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that [                    ] (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of [                    ] fully paid and non-assessable shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company designated as the Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are transferable on the books and records of the Transfer Agent, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Articles of Incorporation”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Articles of Incorporation. The Company will provide a copy of the Articles of Incorporation to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Company at its principal place of business.

 

Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth on the reverse hereof, and to Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation, which select provisions and Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Articles of Incorporation and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

 

Unless the Transfer Agent’s Certificate of Authentication hereon has been properly executed, these shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Articles of Incorporation or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this certificate this                     day of                     , 2020.

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

A-2

 

TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

These are shares of the Series A Preferred Stock referred to in the within-mentioned Articles of Incorporation.

 

Dated:

 

  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,
  as Transfer Agent,
     
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

A-3

 

REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

Dividends on each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors out of legally available funds as provided in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the Company’s Common Stock upon the satisfaction of the conditions and in the manner and according to the terms set forth in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Company upon the satisfaction of the conditions and in the manner and according to the terms set forth in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each holder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

A-4

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of Series A Preferred Stock evidenced hereby to: 

 
 
 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number) 

 

 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee) 

 

 

and irrevocably appoints: 

 
 
 

 

agent to transfer the shares of Series A Preferred Stock evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

Date:    

 

Signature:    

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Series A Preferred Stock Certificate)

 

Signature Guarantee:   1

 

 

1       Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

A-5

 

EXHIBIT B

 

OWNERSHIP NOTICE

 

This statement confirms and acknowledges that you are the registered owner of the number and the class or series of shares of capital stock of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the “Company”) set forth on the book-entry statement enclosed with this statement.

 

In addition, please be advised that the Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder of the Company who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock, or series thereof, of the Company and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights, which are fixed by the Charter (defined below). Any such request should be directed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.

 

The shares of capital stock of the Company referenced on the book-entry statement enclosed herewith have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FOREGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW OWNERSHIP NOTICE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS NOTICE BY REFERENCE.

 

IF THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN ARE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK OF THE COMPANY, THEN BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.

B-1

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

B-2

 

EXHIBIT C

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

 

Re: Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the “Company”)

 

This Certificate relates to shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by (the “Transferor”) in */:

 

book entry form; or

 

definitive form.

 

The Transferor has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to exchange or register the transfer of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

In connection with such request and in respect of such Series A Preferred Stock, the Transferor does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation relating to the above-captioned Series A Preferred Stock and that the transfer of this Series A Preferred Stock does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) because */:

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being acquired for the Transferor’s own account without transfer;

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Company;

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), in reliance on Rule 144A; or

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based on an Opinion of Counsel if the Company so requests).

 

[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]

 

By:  

 

Date:

 

 

*/ Please check applicable box.

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF
EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

(As amended through November 12April [ ]28, 20182021)

 

First: The name of the Company is EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION.

 

Second: The location and post office address of its current registered office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is c/o CT Corporation System, Allegheny County.

 

Third: The purposes for which the Company is incorporated under the Business Corporation Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are to engage in, and to do any lawful act concerning, any or all lawful business for which corporations may be incorporated under said Business Corporation Law, including but not limited to:

 

A.           the purchase, transmission, transportation, storage, distribution and supplying of natural gas; and

 

B.            manufacturing, processing, owning, using and dealing in personal property of every class and description, engaging in research and development, the furnishing of services, and acquiring, owning, using and disposing of real property of every nature whatsoever.

 

Fourth: The term of the Company’s existence shall be perpetual.

 

Fifth: The aggregate number of shares which the Company shall have authority to issue shall be:

 

(a)           50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value; and

 

(b)          1,250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, without par value.

 

The designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and the special or relative rights in respect of the Preferred Stock and of the Common Stock of the Company, and a statement of the authority hereby vested in the Board of Directors of the Company to fix and determine the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and special or relative rights in respect of all series of the Preferred Stock shall be as follows:

 

Division A: THE PREFERRED STOCK

 

1.1         Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued in series. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, at any time or from time to time, to divide any or all of the shares of the Preferred Stock into series, and in the resolution or resolutions establishing a particular series, before issuance of any of the shares thereof, to fix and determine the designation and the relative rights and preferences of the series so established, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to, the variations between different series in the following respects:

 

(a)           the distinctive serial designation of such series;

 

 

(b)          the annual dividend rate for such series, and the date or dates from which dividends shall commence to accrue;

 

(c)          the redemption price or prices, if any, for shares of such series and the terms and conditions on which such shares may be redeemed;

 

(d)          the provisions for a sinking, purchase or similar fund, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares of such series;

 

(e)          the preferential amount or amounts payable upon shares of such series in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation of the Company;

 

(f)           the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;

 

(g)          the terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such series may be converted and the class or classes or series of securities of the Company into which such shares may be converted;

 

(h)          the relative seniority, parity or junior rank of such series with respect to other series of Preferred Stock then or thereafter to be issued; and

 

(i)           such other terms, limitations and relative rights and preferences, if any, of shares of such series as the Board of Directors may, at the time of such resolutions, lawfully fix and determine under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

1.2          Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares.

 

Section 1          Designation and Amount; Ranking.

 

(a)          There shall be created from the 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company authorized to be issued pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, designated as the “Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares,” no par value (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be 30,018,446 shares. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company, or converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be cancelled, shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Company undesignated as to series.

 

(b)          The Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, ranks: (i) senior in all respects to all Junior Stock; (ii) on a parity in all respects with all Parity Stock; and (iii) junior in all respects to all Senior Stock, in each case as provided more fully herein.

 

Section 2         Definitions.

 

As used in this Subdivision 1.2, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Accrued Dividends” shall mean, with respect to any share of Series A Preferred Stock, as of any date, the accrued and unpaid dividends on such share from, and including, the Issue Date to, but not including, such date (including for the avoidance of doubt, any Partial Period Dividends).

-2-

 

Adjustment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Closing Sale Price.”

 

Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2, no Holder shall be considered an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and no Holder or any of its Affiliates shall be considered Affiliates of any other Holder or any of such other Holder’s Affiliates, in either case, solely by virtue of such Holder’s ownership of shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2, (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Holder, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates and (b) any fund or account managed, advised or subadvised, directly or indirectly, by a Holder or its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, EQT Corporation shall not be considered an Affiliate of the Company for purposes of this Subdivision 1.2.

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws” shall mean the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as further amended or restated in accordance with applicable law.

 

Articles of Incorporation” shall mean the Seconded Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended or restated in accordance with applicable law and this Subdivision 1.2.

 

Average VWAP” per share over a certain period shall mean the arithmetic average of the VWAP per share for each Trading Day in such period.

 

Board Observer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(k).

 

Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or, with respect to any action to be taken by the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors duly authorized to take such action.

 

Business Day” shall mean Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Cash Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of a Change of Control that involves consideration payable to the Company, or in respect of the Company’s Common Stock, that is comprised of at least 90% cash.

 

Cash Dividend Catch-Up” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(j).

 

Cash Dividends” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

Certificated Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(b)(i).

-3-

 

Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)           any acquisition (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or business combination), the result of which is that any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company as of the Issue Date and immediately prior to such acquisition, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Voting Securities of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like) and such Voting Securities provide such Person or “group” the right to designate more than 50% of the members of the Board of Directors;

 

(ii)         any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Company or its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(iii)         (a) any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company) or (b) the Company fails to own, directly or indirectly, all of the equity securities of the Partnership;

 

(iv)         the Common Stock is no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange; or

 

(v)          more than half of the members of the Board of Directors, as of any time of determination, are not Continuing Directors;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Subdivision 1.2, a Company Restructuring Event shall not constitute a Change of Control.

 

close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

Closing Sale Price” of the Common Stock shall mean, as of any date, the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) on such date as reported on the principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. In the absence of such a quotation, the Closing Sale Price shall be an amount determined by the Board of Directors to be the fair market value of a share of Common Stock. If the Ex-Date for any distribution, the effective date for any subdivision, combination or reclassification or the Effective Date of any Pro Rata Repurchase (as used in this definition, the “Adjustment Date”) that requires (or, but for the second sentence of Section 6(e)(vii) or Section 6(f)(i), would have required) an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e) occurs on or after the first Trading Day in the 10 Trading Day period used to calculate “MP0” in the formula in Section 6(e)(vi), the Closing Sale Price for each Trading Day prior to such Adjustment Date shall be adjusted by multiplying such Closing Sale Price by the same fraction by which the Conversion Rate is so required (or would have been required) to be adjusted pursuant to Section 6(e) as a result of such event.

-4-

 

Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, without par value, of the Company.

 

Company” shall mean Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

Company Restructuring Event” shall mean any merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company with another Person immediately following which (a) the beneficial owners of Voting Securities of the Company as of immediately prior to the consummation of such Company Restructuring Event (i) beneficially own more than 50% of the Voting Securities of the surviving entity and (ii) have the right to designate (by ownership of Voting Securities) more than 50% of the surviving entity’s directors, (b) the common equity of such surviving entity remains listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange following such transaction and (c) either (i) the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding at the surviving entity or (ii) each Holder of Series A Preferred Stock has received a Substantially Equivalent Security of the surviving entity in respect of each share of its Series A Preferred Stock beneficially owned.

 

Continuing Directors” means individuals who, on the Issue Date, constitute the members of the Board of Directors; provided that any individual becoming a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to the Issue Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board of Directors was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be a Continuing Director.

 

Conversion Date” shall mean the Optional Conversion Date, and the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable.

 

Conversion Rate” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock, which shall be equal to (a) in all cases other than a Change of Control, the quotient of (i) the sum of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus (y) Accrued Dividends as of such date divided by (ii) the Issue Price (as such Conversion Rate may be adjusted as set forth in Section 6(e)); and (b) in the case of a Change of Control, the greater of (i) the amount set forth in clause (a) above and (ii) the quotient of (1) the sum of (A) (x) the Issue Price, multiplied by (y) 110%, plus (B) all Accrued Dividends on such share of Series A Preferred Stock on such date, divided by (2) the VWAP of the shares of Common Stock for the 30-day period ending immediately prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the Change of Control (as such Conversion Rate may be adjusted as set forth in Section 6(e) or Section 8); provided, however, that for purposes of Section 8(c)(i), the Conversion Rate shall be the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) above.

 

Dividend Adjustment Date” shall mean March 31, 2024.

 

Dividend Payment Date” shall mean the date that is the earlier of (a) forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company and (b) the payment date of dividends, if any, on any Parity Stock and Junior Stock. If the Company establishes an earlier Dividend Record Date for any dividend to be made by the Company on other capital stock in respect of any fiscal quarter, then the Dividend Record Date for shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be such earlier Dividend Record Date.

-5-

 

Dividend Rate” shall mean, as of the date of the determination, (a) for each fiscal quarter ending on or before the Dividend Adjustment Date, a rate per annum of 9.75% and (b) for each fiscal quarter ending after the Dividend Adjustment Date, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) Three-Month LIBOR as of the LIBOR Determination Date in respect of the applicable quarter and (ii) 8.15%, provided that the Dividend Rate per share of Series A Preferred Stock in this clause (b) shall not be less than 10.50% per annum. For the avoidance of doubt, the Dividend Rate set forth in clause (a) and (b) shall each be subject to any increase pursuant to Section 4(j).

 

Dividend Record Date” shall mean, with respect to any fiscal quarter and applicable Dividend Payment Date, the record date (which shall be a Business Day) set by the Board of Directors for holders eligible to receive any dividend declared for such fiscal quarter.

 

Dividend Trigger Event” shall mean the occurrence of a Dividend Payment Date on which the Company has failed to pay to the Holders the Cash Dividend in respect of the fiscal quarter corresponding to such Dividend Payment Date for any reason, regardless of whether such Cash Dividend was declared by the Board of Directors or whether there were sufficient funds legally available for payment of such Cash Dividend.

 

Equity Interests” of any Person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest, any limited liability company membership interest and any unlimited liability company membership interests.

 

Ex-Date” shall mean, when used with respect to any issuance of or distribution in respect of the Common Stock or any other securities, the first date on which the Common Stock or such other securities trade without the right to receive such issuance or distribution.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Holder” and, unless the context requires otherwise, “holder” shall each mean a holder of record of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Issue Date” shall mean June 17, 2020.

 

Issue Price” shall mean $19.99 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Junior Stock” shall mean the Company’s common stock, without par value, and each other series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date, by the Board of Directors, the terms of which do not expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series ranks senior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Lead Investors” means, collectively, GSO Capital Partners LP, Magnetar Financial LLC and Blackrock, Inc.

-6-

 

LIBOR Determination Date” shall mean the second London Banking Day prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal quarter.

 

Liquidation Preference” shall mean, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, the Issue Price.

 

Market Value” shall mean the Average VWAP during a 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of determination. If the Ex-Date for any distribution, the effective date for any subdivision, combination or reclassification or the Effective Date of any Pro Rata Repurchase (as used in this definition, “Adjustment Date”) that requires (or, but for the second sentence of Section 6(e)(vii) or Section 6(f)(i), would have required) an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e) occurs on or after the first Trading Day in the 10 Trading Day period used to calculate Market Value for a date of determination, the VWAP for each Trading Day prior to such Adjustment Date shall be adjusted by multiplying such VWAP by the same fraction by which the Conversion Rate is so required (or would have been required) to be adjusted pursuant to Section 6(e) as a result of such event.

 

MOIC Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c)(ii).

 

MOIC Value” means a value per converted share of Series A Preferred Stock calculated as follows: (i) the number of MOIC Shares into which such share of Series A Preferred Stock will be converted, multiplied by (ii) the lesser of (x) 95% of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 20-day period immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control and (y) the Closing Sale Price of one share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the consummation of such Change of Control.

 

National Securities Exchange” shall mean an exchange registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Notice of Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(f).

 

Officer” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company.

 

opening of business” shall mean 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

 

Optional Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

Optional Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

 

Optional Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Ownership Notice” shall mean a written notice containing the information required to be provided to registered owners of capital stock of the Company within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, which notice contains the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Section 1528 of the Pennsylvania BCL and, in the case of an issuance of shares of Series A Preferred Stock by the Company, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B to these Articles of Incorporation.

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Parity Stock” shall mean any series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the terms of which expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series will rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Partial Period Dividends” shall mean, with respect to a conversion, redemption or liquidation of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the (a)(i) Issue Price multiplied by (ii) the Dividend Rate multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in the fiscal quarter in which such conversion, redemption or liquidation occurs and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter.

 

Partnership” shall mean EQM Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Paying Agent” shall mean the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns, or any other Person appointed to serve as paying agent by the Company.

 

Pennsylvania BCL” shall mean the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended.

 

Permitted Loan” shall mean any bona fide loans or other extensions of credit entered into by a Holder or any of its respective Affiliates with one or more financial institutions and secured by a pledge, hypothecation or other grant of security interest in shares of Series A Preferred Stock and/or related assets and/or cash, cash equivalents and/or letters of credit.

 

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Preemptive Rights Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(f).

 

Pro Rata” shall mean, (a) when used with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, apportioned among all Holders in accordance with the relative number or percentage of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each such Holder and (b) when used with respect to the Common Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis, apportioned among all holders of record in accordance with the relative number of shares of Common Stock that would be held by each if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted to shares of Common Stock at the then-applicable Conversion Rate immediately prior to such determination.

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Pro Rata Repurchases” shall mean any purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to (a) any tender offer or exchange offer directed to all of the holders of Common Stock subject to Section 13(e) or 14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder or (b) any other tender offer available to substantially all holders of Common Stock, in the case of both (a) and (b), whether for cash, shares of capital stock of the Company, other securities of the Company, evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other property (including shares of capital stock, other securities or evidences of indebtedness of a Subsidiary), or any combination thereof, effected while the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding. The “Effective Date” of a Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of a purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase.

 

Restructuring Agreement” shall mean that certain Preferred Restructuring Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020, by and among the Company, EQM Midstream Partners, LP, and the investors party thereto.

 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Senior Stock” shall mean each series of Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that the dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company for such series will rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

 

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC covering resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by holders thereof.

 

Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests or more than 50% of the general partner interest of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof; or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

Substantially Equivalent Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c)(ii).

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Three-Month LIBOR” shall mean, as of any LIBOR Determination Date, the London interbank offered rate (expressed as a percentage per year) for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three-months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or any successor or replacement page) at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (a) the Board of Directors determines in good faith that Three-Month LIBOR has been discontinued, and such discontinuance is unlikely to be temporary, or that Three-Month LIBOR is no longer being published, or (b) the supervisor for the administrator of the London Interbank Offered Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the London Interbank Offered Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors will negotiate in good faith to (i) designate a substitute or successor reference rate, including any spread with respect thereto, taking into account general comparability to Three-Month LIBOR, acceptance as a market-based benchmark interest rate and any other commercially reasonable adjustments or factors as such holders and the Board of Directors deem appropriate (the “Alternative Rate”), and (ii) determine any necessary changes to the LIBOR Determination Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for calculating the substitute or successor interest rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor reference rate comparable to Three-Month LIBOR (“Adjustments”), in a manner that is consistent with industry accepted practices for such substitute or successor reference rate. Any such designation and determination agreed to by the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error, and the Board of Directors shall cause this Subdivision 1.2 to be amended as necessary to effectuate the substitute or successor reference rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors and the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock fail to determine in good faith an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors shall select and mutually engage in good faith an independent financial advisor (“IFA”) to determine the Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, and the decision of the IFA will be binding on the Board of Directors, the Company and the Holders. For any such designation and determination by the IFA of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments, the Board of Directors shall cause this Subdivision 1.2 to be amended as necessary to effectuate the substitute or successor reference rate. If the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors are unable to agree upon an independent financial advisor to serve as the IFA within ten (10) Business Days after either sends written notice to the other requesting that the IFA be engaged pursuant to the preceding sentence, then each will select one independent financial advisor of established national reputation and such two independent financial advisors shall select a third independent financial advisor of established national reputation to serve as the IFA. From the earlier of (A) the date that Three-Month LIBOR has been discontinued or is no longer being published as described in clause (a) above and (B) the specific date referred to in clause (b) above (such earlier date, the “LIBOR Discontinuance Date”) until the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors make such designation and determination (and, in each case, an IFA has not determined an appropriate Alternative Rate and Adjustments or an IFA has not been appointed), “Three-Month LIBOR” shall be deemed to mean the rate that was the Three Month LIBOR in effect during the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the LIBOR Discontinuance Date.

 

Trading Day” shall mean a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” shall mean a Business Day.

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Transfer Agent” shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, acting as the Company’s duly appointed transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns, or any other person appointed to serve as transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent by the Company; provided that, if at any time no such Person is appointed as transfer agent, registrar, conversion agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, the Company shall act as the Transfer Agent.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities” shall mean each share of Common Stock received upon conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock until (a) such shares of Common Stock shall be freely tradable pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act under Rule 144 thereunder, or (b) the resale of such shares of Common Stock has been registered under the Securities Act under an effective Shelf Registration Statement, in each case unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Holder thereof.

 

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e)(ix).

 

Voting Securities” means, with respect to a specified Person as of any date of determination, the capital stock and preferred stock of such Person that is at such date entitled to vote in the election of the managers, directors, trustees or other Persons serving in a similar capacity with respect to such Person.

 

VWAP” per share of Common Stock on any Trading Day shall mean the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed on Bloomberg page “ETRN: US” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day; or, if such price is not available, “VWAP” shall mean the market value per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day as determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Company for this purpose.

 

Section 3          Dividends.

 

(a)           Holders shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, prior to any distributions made in respect of any Junior Stock in respect of the same fiscal quarter, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends under Pennsylvania law, cash dividends (“Cash Dividends”) on the Issue Price, computed on the basis of a 365-day year, at the Dividend Rate, compounded quarterly and payable on each Dividend Payment Date. To the extent the Board of Directors so declares, Cash Dividends shall be payable in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter ending prior to such Dividend Payment Date (or with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date, for the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter following the Issue Date), to the Holders as they appear on the Company’s stock register at the close of business on the relevant Dividend Record Date. Subject to Section 3(c), dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the Company to fail to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to the Company. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall accumulate and become Accrued Dividends on a day-to-day basis, whether or not declared, from the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter (or with respect to the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs, from the Issue Date) until Cash Dividends are paid pursuant to this Section 3(a) or Section 3(c) in respect of such accumulated amounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date following the Issue Date, in addition to the Cash Dividend which has accrued for the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter following the Issue Date in accordance with this Section 3(a), each Holder shall be entitled to receive as part of the Cash Dividend payable to such Holder on such Dividend Payment Date an amount in cash equal to $0.8883 with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder.

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(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon any conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with this Subdivision 1.2, the Accrued Dividends with respect to such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, at the Company’s option, shall either (i) be paid in cash on or prior to the date of such conversion or (ii) not be paid in cash and instead be treated in accordance with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 pursuant to which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted. The Holders at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to receive any dividend paid as a Cash Dividend on those shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company fails to pay in full in cash to the Holders a Cash Dividend on the Dividend Payment Date for a fiscal quarter for any reason (whether or not declared and whether or not there were sufficient funds legally available for payment under Pennsylvania law or otherwise), then (i) the amount of such shortfall will continue to be owed by the Company to the Holders and will accumulate and accrue (and shall remain Accrued Dividends) until paid in full in cash and (ii) to the extent provided for in this Subdivision 1.2, each Holder shall have all rights under this Subdivision 1.2 as a result of such nonpayment, including in accordance with Section 3 and Section 4, together with any other rights which such Holder is entitled to under any contract or agreement at any time and any other rights that such Holder may have pursuant to applicable law. Any such accumulated and unpaid dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock for any past dividend periods may be declared and paid at any time to Holders.

 

(d)           So long as any share of the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on, and no redemption or repurchase shall be agreed to or consummated of, Parity Stock, Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock, unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock for all preceding full fiscal quarters (including the fiscal quarter in which such accumulated and unpaid dividends first arose) of the Company have been declared and paid in cash in full (including any Accrued Dividends); provided, however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) a dividend payable on Common Stock or other Junior Stock in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in exchange for shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (iii) purchases of fractional interests in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of shares of other Junior Stock or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into such shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (iv) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, the forfeiture of unvested shares of restricted stock or share withholdings upon exercise, delivery or vesting of equity awards granted to officers, directors and employees and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (v) any dividends or distributions of rights in connection with a shareholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any shareholders’ rights plan; and (vi) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of other Junior Stock. Notwithstanding the preceding, if full dividends have not been paid on the Series A Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock so long as the dividends are declared and paid Pro Rata so that amounts of dividends declared per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and such other Parity Stock bear to each other.

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(e)           Subject to Section 4(d), each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right to share in any special or non-recurring dividends by the Company of cash, securities or other property Pro Rata with the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, on an as-converted basis, provided that special dividends shall not include regular quarterly dividends paid in the normal course of business on the Common Stock. No adjustments pursuant to Section 6(e) shall be made with respect to a special dividend in which the shares Series A Preferred Stock participate Pro Rata with the shares of Common Stock, on an as-converted basis, pursuant to this Section 3(e) and subject to Section 4(d).

 

Section 4       Special Rights.

 

(a)           Holders shall be entitled to vote on all matters on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote and, except as otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation (including, in any other certificate of designations), or by law, the Holders shall vote together with the holders of shares of Common Stock as a single class. As of any record date or other determination date, each Holder shall be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of votes such Holder would have had if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder on such date had been converted into shares of Common Stock immediately prior thereto; provided, however, that shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are held by any Affiliates of the Company shall not be considered outstanding or be entitled to vote on any matter on which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote (whether voting as a separate class or on an as converted basis with the shares of Common Stock).

 

(b)          Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d), so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by the Pennsylvania BCL or the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating an amendment to this Subdivision 1.2 or to the Articles of Incorporation (including by merger or otherwise), that is adverse (other than in a de minimis manner) to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any amendment shall be deemed to have such an adverse impact that is not de minimis if such amendment would:

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(i)            reduce the Dividend Rate, change the form of payment of dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, defer the date from which distributions on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will accrue, cancel any accrued and unpaid distributions on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or any interest accrued thereon (including any Accrued Dividends), or change the seniority rights of the Holders as to the payment of distributions in relation to the holders of any other class or series of capital stock;

 

(ii)           reduce the amount payable or change the form of payment to the Holders upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets, of the Company, or change the seniority of the liquidation preferences of the Holders in relation to the rights of the holders of any other class or series of capital stock of the Company upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company; or

 

(iii)          make the shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemable or convertible at the option of the Company other than as set forth herein.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither a Change of Control of the Company undertaken in compliance with Section 8 nor a Company Restructuring Event shall be restricted or limited by or require any approval of the Holders pursuant to Section 4(b) solely by reason of such transaction (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not entitle the Company to take any action described in clauses (i)-(iii) above in connection with such transaction). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to effecting or validating an amendment to this Subdivision 1.2 or the Articles of Incorporation (including by merger or otherwise) that adversely affects (other than in a de minimis manner) any of the rights, preferences, and privileges of a holder of Series A Preferred Stock in a disproportionate manner relative to any other holder of Series A Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote or consent of such affected holder, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary therefor.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any determination of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments related to Three-Month LIBOR that are (i) agreed to by the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors, or (ii) made by the IFA, each pursuant to the terms of this Subdivision 1.2, shall not require any approval of Holders pursuant to Section 4(b). Additionally, the Holders agree that any such determinations of an Alternative Rate and any Adjustments do not represent an adverse change under Section 1914(b) of the Pennsylvania BCL.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the consent of the Holders, the Company, acting in good faith, may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series A Preferred Stock by amending or supplementing the Articles of Incorporation, this Subdivision 1.2 or any stock certificate representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock:

 

(i)            to cure any ambiguity, omission, inconsistency or mistake in any such instrument in a manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 and that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder;

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(ii)           to make any provision with respect to matters or questions relating to the Series A Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Subdivision 1.2 and that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder; or

 

(iii)          to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock or any Holder (other than any Holder that consents to such change).

 

(d)           So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by the Pennsylvania BCL or the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for the Company to issue any (A) Senior Stock (or amend the provisions of any class of Equity Interests to make such class of Equity Interests a class of Senior Stock), (B) Parity Stock (or amend the provisions of any class of Equity Interests to make such class of Equity Interests a class of Parity Stock) or (C) Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that, without the consent of any holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (but without prejudice to their rights to vote on an as-converted basis to the extent that the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote on any such matter), at any time on or following the Issue Date, the Company may issue a number of additional shares of Parity Stock (which may be in the form of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock) with an aggregate purchase price of up to $100,000,000 across all such issuances; provided, further, that the Company may, without any vote of the Holders (but without prejudice to such Holders’ rights to vote on an as-converted basis to the extent the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote on any such matter), create (by classification or otherwise) and issue shares of Junior Stock in an unlimited amount.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to approve any special or non-recurring dividend.

 

(f)           So long as a Holder or its Affiliates collectively own at least 50% or more of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued to such Holder or its Affiliates on the Issue Date (excluding shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted) pursuant to the Restructuring Agreement (the “Preemptive Rights Holder”), prior to the issuance of Parity Stock, the Company shall, by written notice to the Preemptive Rights Holders (the “Notice of Issuance”), if any, offer to sell such Parity Stock to the Preemptive Rights Holders on terms and subject to conditions determined by the Board of Directors to be reasonable, which offer shall be made on a Pro Rata basis such that each Preemptive Rights Holder shall be entitled to purchase a portion of such Parity Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Preemptive Rights Holder on the date of the Notice of Issuance divided by (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by all Preemptive Rights Holders on the date of the Notice of Issuance; provided, that the offer of such Parity Stock shall not be on a basis less favorable to the Preemptive Rights Holders than is offered to any purchaser thereof who is not a Preemptive Rights Holder; provided, further that if any Preemptive Rights Holder fails to provide written notice of its intent to exercise its right to purchase Parity Stock within ten (10) Business Days of the Notice of Issuance, such Preemptive Rights Holder shall be deemed to have waived any and all rights to purchase such Parity Stock in such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to offer to sell Parity Stock to the Preemptive Rights Holders pursuant to this Section 4(f) in connection with any securities issued to the owners of another entity in connection with the acquisition of such entity by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by merger, consolidation, sale or exchange of securities, purchase of substantially all of the assets, or other reorganization whereby the Company directly or indirectly acquires more than 50% of the voting power or assets of such entity.

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(g)           Prior to the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding and Holders shall have no voting rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock solely by virtue of holding the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(h)           In exercising the voting rights set forth in Sections 4(a), 4(b), 4(d) and 4(e), each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote.

 

(i)            The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the Holders (including the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other procedural aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by the Articles of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the Pennsylvania BCL.

 

(j)            If a Dividend Trigger Event occurs, then for so long as any Dividend Trigger Event remains outstanding, the then-applicable Dividend Rate will increase by 2.00% per annum until such time as all the accrued but unpaid Cash Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for the most recently completed fiscal quarter and all previously completed fiscal quarters are paid in full in cash. Upon the date that all unpaid Cash Dividends giving rise to all outstanding Dividend Trigger Events have been fully paid and are current (the “Cash Dividend Catch-Up”), the applicable Dividend Rate as set forth herein in the definition of “Dividend Rate” will once again apply from and after such date, unless and until a Dividend Trigger Event thereafter occurs and the Dividend Rate is once again increased in accordance with the terms of this Section 4(j).

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(k)           Upon the occurrence of a Dividend Trigger Event that represents the fourth (4th) Dividend Trigger Event to occur while any Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding (whether or not consecutive) and upon the occurrence of each Dividend Trigger Event thereafter, and lasting until such time as the Cash Dividend Catch-Up occurs with respect to all accrued and unpaid Cash Dividends or until the time there are no shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, the Holders of a majority of the shares of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (which shall include (i) Holders that are Affiliates of at least two of the Lead Investors if Affiliates of at least two of the Lead Investors are Holders as of such time and (ii) Holders that are Affiliates of the remaining Lead Investor if Affiliates of only one of the Lead Investors are Holders as of such time) shall be entitled to designate one natural person to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors or committees thereof (the “Board Observer”), in addition to the remedies set forth in Section 4(j). For as long as the Holders are entitled to designate a Board Observer, the Board Observer shall be entitled to attend all meetings (including telephonic meetings) of the Board of Directors and any committees thereof. The Company shall provide to the Board Observer any notices delivered to the members of the Board of Directors and a copy of all meeting materials concurrently with providing such notices and materials to the Board of Directors. The Board Observer shall not be a member of the Board of Directors and shall not have any voting rights with respect to any action brought before the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or count towards any quorum with respect to such actions. Notwithstanding any rights to be granted or provided to the Board Observer hereunder, the Board of Directors may exclude any Board Observer from access to any materials or meeting or portion thereof if the Board of Directors determines, in good faith, that (A) access would reasonably be expected to prevent the members of the Board of Directors or committee thereof from engaging in attorney-client privileged communication or result in a bona fide conflict of interest with the Company involving any arrangement or transaction (or potential arrangement or transaction) between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Holders or any of their Affiliates, on the other hand (other than any redemption of or other transaction pertaining to the Series A Preferred Stock); provided that no such conflict shall be deemed to exist merely by virtue of the Holders or their Affiliates holding Series A Preferred Stock (provided, however, that such exclusion shall be limited to the portion of the material and/or meeting that is the basis for such exclusion and shall not extend to any portion of the material and/or meeting that does not involve or pertain to such exclusion) or (B) such portion of a meeting is an executive session limited solely to independent director members of the Board of Directors, independent auditors and/or legal counsel, as the Board of Directors may designate, and the Board Observer (assuming such Board Observer were a member of the Board of Directors) would not meet the then-applicable standards for independence adopted by New York Stock Exchange, or such other exchange on which the Company’s securities are then traded.

 

Section 5           Liquidation Rights.

 

(a)           In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, each Holder shall be entitled to receive, in respect of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its shareholders, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus (y) Accrued Dividends thereon and (ii) the amount such Holder would have received had such Holder, immediately prior to the commencement of such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, converted each share of Series A Preferred Stock then held by such Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) using the then-applicable Conversion Rate, in preference to the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any Junior Stock.

 

(b)           Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the assets or business of the Company (other than in connection with the liquidation, winding up or dissolution of its business), nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other Person shall be deemed to be a liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 5.

 

(c)           After the payment in full to the Holders of the amounts provided for in this Section 5, the Holders as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company in respect of their ownership of such Series A Preferred Stock.

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(d)           In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the Holders upon any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to Section 5(a), no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of Parity Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up unless proportionate distributable amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, equally and ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which Holders of all Series A Preferred Stock and of any Parity Stock are entitled upon such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

 

Section 6          Conversion.

 

(a)           Beginning with the earlier of (i) April 10, 2021 and (ii) immediately prior to a liquidation of the Company, each Holder shall have the right to convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time upon the request of such Holder, into that number of whole shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted multiplied by the Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to honor such conversion request unless such conversion will involve an aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock with an underlying value of Common Stock equal to or greater than $20 million, taking into account and including any concurrent conversion requests by any Affiliates of such Holder, based on the Closing Sale Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Optional Conversion Notice Date (or a lesser underlying value if such conversion (i) will result in the conversion of all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder or (ii) has been approved by the Board of Directors); provided, further, that each Holder and such Holder’s Affiliates shall together be entitled to a single conversion right per fiscal quarter. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6(a), if any lender, other creditor or counterparty under any Permitted Loan transaction (including any agent or trustee on their behalf) or any Affiliate of the foregoing exercises any rights or remedies under such Permitted Loan on foreclosure or other exercise of remedies or rights in respect of any pledged shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then such pledged shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be immediately converted by such lender, creditor or counterparty into shares of Common Stock. To convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6(a), such Holder shall give written notice (the “Optional Conversion Notice” and the date of such notice, the “Optional Conversion Notice Date”) to the Secretary of the Company stating that such Holder elects to so convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock and shall state therein: (A) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted and (B) the name or names in which such Holder wishes the shares of Common Stock to be issued. If a Holder validly delivers an Optional Conversion Notice in accordance with this Section 6(a), the Company shall direct the Transfer Agent to issue the shares of Common Stock no later than two (2) Business Days thereafter (the date of issuance of such shares, the “Optional Conversion Date”).

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(b)           At any time after April 10, 2021, if the Holders have not elected to convert all of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6(a), the Company shall have the right to cause the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, in whole and not in part into that number of whole shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted multiplied by the Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that in order for the Company to exercise such right, (i) the shares of Common Stock must be listed or admitted for trading on a National Securities Exchange, (ii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock must exceed $27.99 for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Forced Conversion Notice Date, (iii) the average daily trading volume of the shares of Common Stock on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed or admitted to trading must exceed 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (as such amount may be adjusted to reflect any Common Stock split, combination or similar event) for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Forced Conversion Notice Date, (iv) the Company must have an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering resales of the underlying shares of Common Stock to be received by the applicable Holder upon any such conversion and (v) all prior accumulated and unpaid dividends (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Accrued Dividends) have been paid in cash in full. To convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b), the Company shall give written notice (the “Forced Conversion Notice” and the date of such notice, the “Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to each Holder stating that the Company elects to force conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b) and shall state therein (A) the Company elects to so convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6(b) and (B) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted. If the Company validly delivers a Forced Conversion Notice in accordance with this Section 6(b), the Company shall issue the shares of Common Stock no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter (the date of issuance of such shares, the “Forced Conversion Date”).

 

(c)           Upon conversion, each Holder shall provide the Transfer Agent a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Transfer Agent duly executed by the Holder or its duly authorized legal representative and (ii) transfer tax stamps or funds therefor, if required pursuant to Section 6(i).

 

(d)           Immediately prior to the close of business on the Optional Conversion Date or the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable, with respect to a conversion, a Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock notwithstanding that the share register of the Company shall then be closed or that certificates representing such Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to such Holder. Except to the extent that a Holder is not able to convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock as a result of the Company not having sufficient authorized capital under its Articles of Incorporation, on the Optional Conversion Date or the Forced Conversion Date, as applicable, dividends shall cease to accrue on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted and all other rights with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, will terminate, except only the rights of Holders thereof to receive the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted. As promptly as practical after the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, the Transfer Agent shall deliver to the applicable Holder an Ownership Notice identifying the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled.

 

(e)           The Conversion Rate shall be subject to the following adjustments (except as provided in Section 6(f)):

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(i)           If the Company pays a dividend (or other distribution) in shares of Common Stock to holders of the Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the record date for such dividend (or distribution) shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0

where

 

  OS0 =

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution; and 

  OS1 = the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution and (B) the total number of shares of Common Stock constituting such dividend.

 

(ii)          If the Company subdivides or splits the shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such share subdivision or split shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

  OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share subdivision or split; and
  OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share subdivision or split.

 

(iii)         If the Company combines or reclassifies the shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such share combination or reclassification shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

  OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share combination or reclassification; and

 

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  OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share combination or reclassification.

 

(iv)         If the Company issues by reclassification of its shares of Common Stock any Equity Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Company is the surviving Person), then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the effective date of such reclassification shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS1
OS0
 

where

 

  OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share issuance by reclassification; and
  OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share issuance by reclassification.

 

(v)          In the case the Company effects a Pro Rata Repurchase of Common Stock (in each case other than in connection with a Change of Control) then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted to the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such Pro Rata Repurchase by a fraction of which the numerator shall be (A) the product of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such Pro Rata Repurchase and (2) the Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase, minus (B) the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase, and of which the denominator shall be the product of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase minus the number of shares of Common Stock so repurchased and (2) the Market Value per share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase.

 

(vi)         Subject to clause (vii) below, if the Company issues to holders of shares of the Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Market Value determined on the Ex-Date for such issuance, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the close of business on the Ex-Date for such issuance shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

OS0 + X
OS0 + Y

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where

 

  OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date for such issuance;
  X = the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
  Y = the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants divided by the Market Value determined as of the Ex-Date for such issuance.

 

(vii)        If the Company distributes to all holders of shares of Common Stock evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock (other than Common Stock) or other assets (including securities, but excluding any dividend or distribution referred to in clauses (i) above; any rights or warrants referred to in clause (vi) above; any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries referred to in clause (v) above and any dividend of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar Equity Interests, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit in the case of certain spin-off transactions as described in (viii) below), then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately following the close of business on the record date for such distribution shall be divided by the following fraction:

 

SP0
SP0 – FMV

where

 

  SP0 = the Closing Sale Price per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date; and
  FMV = the fair market value of the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall receive, for each share of Series A Preferred Stock, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of such distributed assets that such holder would have received as if such holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the Liquidation Preference plus Accrued Dividends at such time and (y) the Conversion Rate at such time on the Record Date for the distribution.

 

(viii)       In a spin-off, where the Company makes a dividend or distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock consisting of capital stock of any class or series, or similar Equity Interests of, or relating to, a Subsidiary or other business unit where such capital stock or similar Equity Interests are, or will be when issued, listed or admitted for trading on a National Securities Exchange, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted on the tenth Trading Day after the effective date of the distribution by dividing the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such tenth Trading Day by the following fraction:

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MP0 + MPS
MP0

 

where

 

  MP0 = the average of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock over each of the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the Ex-Date of such distribution; and
  MPS = the average of the Closing Sale Price of the capital stock or Equity Interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock over each of the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the Ex-Date of such distribution, or, as reported in the principal securities exchange or quotation system or market on which such shares are traded, or if not traded on a national or regional securities exchange or over-the-counter market, the fair market value of the capital stock or Equity Interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on such Ex-Date as determined by the Board of Directors. Such Closing Sale Prices for the Trading Days in such 10 Trading Day period shall be adjusted in respect of transactions in respect of such capital stock or Equity Interests in like manner to the adjustment to “Closing Sale Price” specified in the second sentence of the definition of such term.

 

For purposes of determining the Conversion Rate in respect of any Conversion Date that occurs during the 10 Trading Days following, and including, the Ex-Date of any such spin-off, references within the previous sentence to 10 Trading Days or the 10th Trading Day shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Date of such distribution and such Conversion Date. In the event that such dividend or distribution described in clause (vii) or clause (viii) of this Section 6(e) is not so made, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(ix)          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 6(e), rights or warrants distributed by the Company to holders of Common Stock, in their capacity as holders of Common Stock, entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s capital stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (A) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock; (B) are not exercisable; and (C) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 6(e) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 6(e) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under Section 6(e)(iii). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 6(e) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of such rights or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such expired or terminated rights and warrants had not been issued. To the extent that the Company has a rights plan or agreement in effect upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, which rights plan provides for rights or warrants of the type described in this clause, then upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock the Holder will receive, in addition to the Common Stock to which he is entitled, a corresponding number of rights in accordance with the rights plan, unless a Trigger Event has occurred and the adjustments to the Conversion Rate with respect thereto have been made in accordance with the foregoing. In lieu of any such adjustment, the Company may amend such applicable shareholder rights plan or agreement to provide that upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock the Holders will receive, in addition to the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights that would have attached to such Common Stock if the Trigger Event had not occurred under such applicable shareholder rights plan or agreement.

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(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(e), no adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made with respect to: (i) any distribution or other transaction if the Holders are entitled to participate in such distribution or transaction as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such event, without having to convert their shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) any cash dividends made to holders of shares of Common Stock (unless made in breach of Section 3(e)), (iii) any issuance of Equity Interests or securities convertible into Equity Interests in exchange for cash, (iv) any grant of shares of Common Stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase or receive shares of Common Stock or the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or vesting of any such options, warrants or rights in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Company or its Affiliates, under compensation plans and agreements approved by the Board of Directors (including any long-term incentive plan), (v) any issuance of shares of Common Stock as all or part of the consideration to effect (A) the closing of any acquisition by the Company of assets or Equity Interests of a third party in an arm’s-length transaction, (B) the closing of any acquisition by the Company of assets or Equity Interests of any of its Affiliates or (C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company with another entity in which the Company survives and the shares of Common Stock remain outstanding to the extent any such transaction set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) above is approved by the Board of Directors or (vi) the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or shares of Parity Stock.

 

(g)           If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other distribution, and shall thereafter (and before the dividend or distribution has been paid or delivered to shareholders) abandon its plan to pay or deliver such dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment in the Conversion Rate then in effect shall be required by reason of the taking of such record.

 

(h)          Upon any increase or decrease in the Conversion Rate, then, and in each such case, the Company promptly shall deliver to each Holder a certificate signed by an Officer, setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment and the method by which such adjustment was calculated and specifying the increased or decreased Conversion Rate then in effect following such adjustment.

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(i)            The issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Stock upon the conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the issuance or delivery of any Ownership Notice, whether at the request of a Holder or upon the conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, shall each be made without charge to the Holder or recipient of shares of Series A Preferred Stock for such certificates or Ownership Notice or for any tax in respect of the issuance or delivery of such certificates or the securities represented thereby or such Ownership Notice or the securities identified therein, and such certificates or Ownership Notice shall be issued or delivered in the respective names of, or in such names as may be directed by, the applicable Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate in a name other than that of the Holder of the shares of the relevant Series A Preferred Stock and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any such certificate or Ownership Notice unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance or delivery thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

 

(j)            Any shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to this Section 6 shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters of any state or federal law), free and clear or any liens, claims, rights or encumbrances other than those arising under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or this Subdivision 1.2 or created by the holders thereof.

 

(k)           The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and shall take all action required (including promptly calling and holding one or more special meetings of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company until such increase is approved in accordance with applicable law and amending the Articles of Incorporation) to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock if at any time there shall be insufficient unissued shares of Common Stock to permit such reservation or to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the payment or partial payment of dividends (if any) declared on Series A Preferred Stock that are payable in Common Stock. If the Company does not at any time have reserved and available the number of shares of Common Stock described in the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay to the Holders (on a Pro Rata basis across all Holders based on their respective ownership of Series A Preferred Stock) an amount equal to $50,000 per month (pro-rated for partial months), payable in cash no later than 5 Business Days after the end of each month until the Company again has reserved and available such number of shares of Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything here to the contrary, if the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to cause the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock when required, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock which would otherwise have been converted into shares of Common Stock shall remain outstanding and shall continue to accumulate and compound dividends pursuant to Section 3 until such time as such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are actually converted.

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SECTION 7         Optional Redemption.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 7(d), at any time, and from time to time, on or after January 1, 2024, the Company shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to redeem the Holders’ shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, from any source of funds legally available for such purpose in accordance with this Section 7 and as permitted under Sections 1551 and 1552 of the Pennsylvania BCL. Any redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of any agreements governing the Company’s future or existing outstanding indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the Company in its sole discretion (the “Optional Redemption Date”).

 

(b)           Subject to applicable law, the Company shall effect any such redemption pursuant to this Section 7 by paying cash for each share of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in an amount equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (1)(A) the Issue Price multiplied by (B) 110%, plus (2) the Accrued Dividends as of such date and (ii) the amount the Holder of such share of Series A Preferred Stock would receive if such Holder had converted such share of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) using the then-applicable Conversion Rate and the Company liquidated immediately thereafter (the “Optional Redemption Price”).

 

(c)           The Company shall give notice of its election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7 not less than 15 days and not more than 90 days before the scheduled Optional Redemption Date, to the Holders of Series A Preferred Stock as such Holders’ names appear (as of the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) on the books of the Transfer Agent at the address of such Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “Optional Redemption Notice”) shall state: (i) the Optional Redemption Date, (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such Holder, (iii) the Optional Redemption Price and (iv) the place where any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Optional Redemption Price therefor.

 

(d)          If the Company elects to effect a partial redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7, the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be determined by the Company, but shall be no less than 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (it being understood that if the aggregate amount of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding is less than 100,000 shares, then all of such shares shall be redeemed). In the event of a partial redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such redemption shall occur on a Pro Rata basis across all Holders based on their respective ownership of Series A Preferred Stock and the remaining shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are not redeemed shall remain outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall be entitled to redeem Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7 no more than once per fiscal quarter. 

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(e)           If the Company gives an Optional Redemption Notice, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock as to which such Optional Redemption Notice shall have been given, no later than the open of business on the Optional Redemption Date, and the Company shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Optional Redemption Price to the Holders to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender of the certificates therefor as set forth in the Optional Redemption Notice. If the Optional Redemption Notice shall have been given, then from and after the Optional Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Optional Redemption Notice, all dividends on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accrue and all other rights with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, will terminate, except only the rights of Holders thereof to receive the Optional Redemption Price. The Company shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent (to the extent that such interest income is not required to pay the Optional Redemption Price of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed), and the holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest income. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Company for any reason, including redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after two years after the Optional Redemption Date or other payment date, shall be, to the extent permitted by applicable law, repaid to the Company upon its written request, after which repayment the Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Company. Notwithstanding any Optional Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Optional Redemption Price of such shares shall have been deposited by the Company with the Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 8         Change of Control.

 

(a)          Promptly upon entry into a definitive agreement that provides for a Change of Control (but in no event less than 10 Business Days prior to consummating a Change of Control), the Company shall provide written notice thereof to the Holders.

 

(b)          In the event of a Cash Change of Control, the Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into Common Stock at the applicable Conversion Rate on the date on which the Cash Change of Control occurs, with the conversion effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control.

 

(c)           In the event of a Change of Control that is not a Cash Change of Control, then each Holder, with respect to all but not less than all of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock, by notice given to the Company within 10 Business Days of the date the Company provides written notice of the execution of definitive agreements that provide for such Change of Control, shall be entitled to elect one of the following (with the understanding that any Holder who fails to timely provide notice of its election to the Company shall be deemed to have elected the option set forth in clause (1) below):

 

(i)           convert all, but not less than all, of such Holder’s outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the then-applicable Conversion Rate on the date on which such Change of Control occurs, with the conversion effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control;

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(ii)           if the Company will not be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control or the Company will be the surviving Person but its shares of Common Stock will no longer be listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, require the Company to use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to such Holder, in exchange for its shares of Series A Preferred Stock upon the consummation of such Change of Control, a security in the surviving Person or the parent of the surviving Person that has rights, preferences and privileges substantially equivalent to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, including, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) the right to distributions equal in amount and timing to those provided in Section 4, (B) a conversion rate proportionately adjusted such that the conversion of such security in the surviving Person or parent of the surviving Person immediately following the consummation of such Change of Control would entitle the holder of record to the number of common securities of such Person (together with a number of common securities of equivalent value to any other assets received by a holder of shares of Common Stock in such Change of Control) which, if a share of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into a share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Change of Control, such holder of record would have been entitled to receive immediately following such Change of Control and (C) structural protections (e.g., the definition of “Change of Control”) no less favorable to the Holders than the protections set forth in this Subdivision 1.2 (such security in the surviving Person, a “Substantially Equivalent Security”); provided, however, that, if the Company is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered a Substantially Equivalent Security to such Holder in connection with such Change of Control, each Holder (at such Holder’s election) shall be entitled to exercise the option provided in Section 8(c)(i) or Section 8(c)(iv) or require the Company to convert the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder immediately prior to such Change of Control into a number of shares of Common Stock (the “MOIC Shares”) at a conversion ratio per share of Series A Preferred Stock owned by such Holder equal to: the quotient of (I) (a) the product of (i) 160% multiplied by (ii) the Issue Price less (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate cash distributions paid on such Series A Preferred Stock on or prior to the date of such Change of Control plus (ii) $4.0431 divided by (II) an amount equal to 95% of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 20-day period immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control; provided, further, that such ratio shall in no event result in a share of Series A Preferred Stock that is being converted into MOIC Shares having a MOIC Value that (1) exceeds (x) 125% of the Issue Price, in the case of a Change of Control occurring prior to April 10, 2021; and (y) 135% of the Issue Price, in the case of a Change of Control occurring on or after April 10, 2021 but prior to April 10, 2022 or (2) irrespective of when such Change of Control occurs, is less than the sum of (A) (x) the Issue Price, multiplied by (y) 110%, plus (B) all Accrued Dividends on such share of Series A Preferred Stock on such date;

 

(iii)          if the Company is the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control, continue to hold Holder’s respective shares of Series A Preferred Stock; or

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(iv)         require the Company to redeem all (but not less than all) of such Holder’s respective shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a price per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to 101% of the sum of (x) the Issue Price, plus (y) any Accrued Dividends on such Series A Preferred Stock as of such date. Any redemption pursuant to this clause (iv) shall, as determined by the Company, be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in a combination thereof. If all or any portion of such redemption is to be paid in shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be valued at 95% of the VWAP for the 20-day period ending on the fifth Trading Day immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control; provided, that any Holder that requires the Company to redeem its shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 8(c)(iv) shall have the right to withdraw such election with respect to all (but not less than all) of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock at any time prior to the fifth Trading Day immediately preceding the consummation of such Change of Control and instead elect to be treated in accordance with any of clauses (i) through (iii) above. No later than three Trading Days prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Company shall deliver a written notice to the holders of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock stating the date on which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemed and the Company’s computation of the amount of cash and/or shares of Common Stock to be received by the holder of record upon redemption of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock. If the Company shall be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control and its shares of Common Stock will remain listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, then no later than 5 Business Days following the consummation of such Change of Control, the Company shall remit the applicable cash and/or shares of Common Stock consideration to each holder of record of then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive such cash or shares of Common Stock consideration pursuant to this clause (iv). If the Company will not be the surviving Person upon the consummation of such Change of Control or the Company will be the surviving Person but its shares of Common Stock will no longer be listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, then the Company shall remit the applicable cash and/or shares of Common Stock consideration to such holders of record immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control. Any redemptions by the Company shall comply with Sections 1551 and 1552 of the Pennsylvania BCL. The holders of record shall deliver to the Company certificates representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, as soon as practicable following such redemption. Holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall retain all of the rights and privileges thereof unless and until the consideration due to such Holders as a result of such redemption is paid in full in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of the foregoing, as applicable. After any such redemption, any such redeemed share of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer constitute an issued and outstanding Equity Interest.

 

SECTION 9       No Fractional Shares.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock or securities representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion, whether voluntary or mandatory, or in respect of dividend payments made in Common Stock on the Series A Preferred Stock. Instead, the Company shall round up to the next whole share the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to any particular Holder upon conversion (and, for the avoidance of doubt, a 0.5 share of Common Stock shall be rounded to the next higher share of Common Stock).

 

SECTION 10     Uncertificated Shares; Certificated Shares.

 

(a)           Uncertificated Shares.

 

(i)           Form. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless requested in writing by a Holder to the Company, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof shall be in uncertificated, book entry form as permitted by the bylaws of the Company and the Pennsylvania BCL. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Company shall, or shall cause the Transfer Agent to, send to the registered owner thereof an Ownership Notice.

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(ii)          Transfer. Transfers of Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof held in uncertificated, book-entry form shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Company kept at an office of the Transfer Agent upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of such uncertificated shares, or from a duly authorized attorney or from an individual presenting proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock. The Company may refuse any requested transfer until furnished evidence satisfactory to it that such transfer is proper.

 

(iii)         Legends. Each Ownership Notice issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock or any Common Stock issued upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FOREGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW OWNERSHIP NOTICE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS NOTICE BY REFERENCE.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

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In addition, each Ownership Notice issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

(b)          Certificated Shares.

 

(i)           Form and Dating. When Series A Preferred Stock is in certificated form (“Certificated Series A Preferred Stock”), the Series A Preferred Stock certificate and the Transfer Agent’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to these Articles of Incorporation, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Subdivision 1.2. The Series A Preferred Stock certificate may have notations, legends or endorsements required by applicable law, stock exchange rules, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage; provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company. Each Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(ii)          Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign each Series A Preferred Stock certificate for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Series A Preferred Stock certificate no longer holds that office at the time the Transfer Agent authenticates the Series A Preferred Stock certificate, the Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be valid nevertheless.

 

A Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Transfer Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Series A Preferred Stock certificate. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Series A Preferred Stock certificate has been authenticated under this Subdivision 1.2.

 

The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver certificates for shares of Series A Preferred Stock for original issue upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. Such order shall specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of the Series A Preferred Stock is to be authenticated.

 

The Transfer Agent may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the certificates for the Series A Preferred Stock. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate certificates for the Series A Preferred Stock whenever the Transfer Agent may do so. Each reference in this Subdivision 1.2 to authentication by the Transfer Agent includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Transfer Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

(iii)         Transfer and Exchange. When Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is presented to the Transfer Agent with a request to register the transfer of such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or to exchange such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock for an equal number of shares of Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Series A Preferred Stock surrendered for transfer or exchange:

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(A)         shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(B)         is being transferred or exchanged pursuant to subclause (1) or (2) below, and is accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

 

(1)          if such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is being delivered to the Transfer Agent by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect in substantially the form of Exhibit C to these Articles of Incorporation; or

 

(2)          if such Certificated Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Company or to a “qualified institutional buyer” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act, (x) a certification to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit C to these Articles of Incorporation) and (y) if the Company so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 10(b)(iv).

 

(iv)         Legends.

 

(A)         Each certificate evidencing Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or any Common Stock issued upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FORGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW CERTIFICATE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THESE SECURITIES UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS CERTIFICATE BY REFERENCE.

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IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

In addition, each certificate issued with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

(B)          Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security held in certificated form pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act or an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, the Transfer Agent shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for Certificated Series A Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock that does not bear a restrictive legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security.

 

(v)          Replacement Certificates. If any of the Series A Preferred Stock certificates shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue, in exchange and in substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Series A Preferred Stock certificate, or in lieu of and substitution for the Series A Preferred Stock certificate lost, stolen or destroyed, a new Series A Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor and representing an equivalent amount of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Series A Preferred Stock certificate and indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent.

 

(vi)         Cancellation. In the event the Company shall purchase or otherwise acquire Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, the same shall thereupon be delivered to the Transfer Agent for cancellation. The Transfer Agent and no one else shall cancel and destroy all Series A Preferred Stock certificates surrendered for transfer, exchange, replacement or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless the Company directs the Transfer Agent to deliver canceled Series A Preferred Stock certificates to the Company. The Company may not issue new Series A Preferred Stock certificates to replace Series A Preferred Stock certificates to the extent they evidence Series A Preferred Stock which the Company has purchased or otherwise acquired.

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(c)           Certain Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(i)            To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate Certificated Series A Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.

 

(ii)           All shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whether or not Certificated Series A Preferred Stock, issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be the valid obligations of the Company, entitled to the same benefits under this Subdivision 1.2 as the shares of Series A Preferred Stock surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(iii)          Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are registered as the absolute owner of such Series A Preferred Stock and neither the Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(iv)          No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of any Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issued upon the conversion thereof on the transfer books of the Company or the Transfer Agent or upon surrender of any Series A Preferred Stock certificate or Common Stock certificate at the office of the Transfer Agent maintained for that purpose. However, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock if the Person receiving shares in connection with such transfer or exchange is not the holder thereof.

 

(d)           No Obligation of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Subdivision 1.2 or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Series A Preferred Stock other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Subdivision 1.2, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

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(e)           Removal of Legend. In connection with a sale of any Series A Preferred Stock or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock in reliance on Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the applicable Holder or its broker shall deliver to the Company and its Transfer Agent a broker representation letter providing to the Company and its Transfer Agent any information the Company deems necessary to determine that such sale is made in compliance with Rule 144, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the applicable Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company and regarding the length of time the Series A Preferred Stock or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock have been held. Upon receipt of such representation letter, the Company shall promptly direct its Transfer Agent to remove the applicable legend referred to in this Section 10 from the appropriate book-entry accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent or certificates, as applicable, and the Company shall bear all costs associated therewith (including paying the reasonable customary cost of any legal opinion required by the Transfer Agent to be rendered in connection with the removal of such legend). After a Holder or its permitted assigns have held the Series A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock for such time as non-Affiliates are permitted to sell without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to such Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and without volume or manner of sale restrictions under Rule 144, if the book-entry accounts for such Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock still bear the applicable restrictive legend referred to in this Section 10, the Company agrees, upon request of such Holder or permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the applicable legend described in this Section 10 therefrom, and the Company shall bear all costs associated therewith (including paying the reasonable customary cost of any legal opinion required by the Transfer Agent to be rendered in connection with the removal of such legend), regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as such Holder or its permitted assigns provide to the Company any information the Company deems necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder or applicable state laws, including a certification that the holder is not an Affiliate of the Company (and a covenant to inform the Company if it should thereafter become an Affiliate and to consent to the placing of an appropriate restrictive legend on the applicable Series A Preferred Stock in such case) and regarding the length of time the Series A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock have been held. The Company shall cooperate with the Holders to effect the removal of the applicable legend referred to in this Section 10 at any time such legend is no longer appropriate.

 

SECTION 11     Other Provisions.

 

(a)           With respect to any notice to a Holder required to be provided hereunder, neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of the notice or the validity of the proceedings referred to in such notice with respect to the other Holders or affect the legality or validity of any vote upon any such action (assuming due and proper notice to such other Holders). Any notice which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

 

(b)           Shares of Series A Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired by the Company in any manner, including shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or redeemed or exchanged or converted, shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions of the laws of Pennsylvania) upon such reacquisition be automatically cancelled by the Company and shall not be reissued.

 

(c)           The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares.

 

(d)           All notice periods referred to herein shall commence: (i) when made, if made by hand delivery, and upon confirmation of receipt, if made by facsimile; (ii) one Business Day after being deposited with a nationally recognized next-day courier, postage prepaid; or (iii) three Business Days after being by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Notice to any Holder shall be given to the registered address set forth in the Company’s records for such Holder.

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(e)           Any payments required to be made hereunder on any day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without interest or additional payment for such delay. All payments required hereunder shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds in United States Dollars to the Holders in accordance with the payment instructions as such Holders may deliver by written notice to the Company from time to time.

 

(f)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, whenever the Board of Directors is permitted or required to determine fair market value, such determination shall be made in good faith.

 

(g)          Except as set forth in Section 4(b)(ii), the Holders shall have no preemptive or preferential rights to purchase or subscribe to any stock, obligations, warrants or other securities of the Company of any class.

 

(h)          The Company shall distribute to the Holders copies of all notices, materials, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements, information statements and any other documents distributed generally to the holders of the Common Stock, at such times and by such method as documents are distributed to such holders of such Common Stock.

 

(i)           All payments and distributions (or deemed distributions) on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and any share of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or redemption of any share of Series A Preferred Stock) shall be subject to withholding and backup withholding of taxes to the extent required by applicable law, subject to applicable exemptions or reductions, and amounts withheld, if any, shall be treated as received by the Holders to the extent timely paid by the Company, the Transfer Agent or any of their respective agents or Affiliates to the appropriate taxing authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

Division B: PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH THE
PREFERRED STOCK AND THE COMMON STOCK

 

2.1           Voting Rights. Except as provided in this Subdivision 2.1, the holders of the Common Stock shall have exclusive voting rights for the election of directors and for all other purposes and shall be entitled to one vote for each share held. The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as may be provided with respect to any particular series of the Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors pursuant to Subdivision 1.1. On any matter on which the holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote, they shall be entitled to vote as established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Subdivision 1.1.

 

A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors at a meeting of shareholders if the votes by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election cast for such nominee exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election (excluding abstentions), provided, that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, then the nominees receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of directors to be elected shall be elected. No shareholder shall in any election of directors have any right to cumulate his, her or its votes and cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not be changed with respect to any class of stock unless the holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the number of shares of such class of stock then outstanding shall consent thereto in writing or by voting therefor in person or by proxy at the meeting of shareholders at which any such change is considered.

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2.2           Preemptive Rights. The Company may issue shares of any class of stock, option rights, or securities having conversion or option rights, without first offering them to the holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock. The provisions of this Subdivision 2.2 shall be effective to eliminate and deny any preemptive right which may exist or may have existed in respect of any outstanding shares.

 

2.3           Amendments to Bylaws. The Board of Directors may make, amend and repeal the Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the shareholders, subject always to the power of the shareholders to change such action as provided herein.No Bylaw may be made, amended or repealed by the shareholders unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously approved by a two-thirds vote of the whole Board of Directors, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Articles or the Bylaws) the vote specified by applicable law for valid shareholder action shall be required.

 

2.4           Amendments to Articles. Subject to the voting rights given to any particular series of the Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors pursuant to Subdivision 1.1, and except as may be specifically provided to the contrary in any other provision in the Articles with respect to amendment or repeal of such provision, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend the Articles of the Company or repeal any provision thereof, unless such action has been previously approved by a two-thirds vote of the whole Board of Directors, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Articles) such shareholder approval as may be specified by law shall be required.

 

2.4           2.5General. The Company may issue and dispose of any of its authorized shares for such consideration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors subject to the laws then applicable.

 

Division C: BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

 

REMOVAL; VACANCIES

 

3.1           The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by a Board of Directors comprised as follows:

 

 (a)            The number of persons comprising the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office. 

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(b)            Each person elected as a director of the Company, whether to succeed a person whose term of office as a director has expired (including the expiration of such person’s term) or to fill any vacancy, shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

(c)            Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office by shareholder vote at any time, without assigning any cause, but only if shareholders entitled to cast at least 80%by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes whichcast by all shareholders would beentitled to castvote at an annual election of directorsshall vote in favor of such removal.

  

(d)            Vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, except that vacancies resulting from removal from office by a vote of the shareholders may be filled by the shareholders at the same meeting at which such removal occurs. A person elected to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders held immediately following such person being elected to fill the vacancy. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

(e)            Whenever the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Company, none of the foregoing provisions of this Subdivision 3.1 shall apply with respect to the director or directors elected by such holders of Preferred Stock.

 

3.2           Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Articles or the Bylaws of the Company, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Division C, unless such action has been previously approved by a two-thirds vote of the whole Board of Directors.

 

3.2           3.3No director shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such (except to the extent otherwise provided by law) for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Title 15, Chapter 17, Subchapter B of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance), and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.

 

If the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended after November 9, 2018, the date this Subdivision received shareholder approval, to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then a director shall not be liable, in addition to the circumstances set forth in this Subdivision, to the fullest extent permitted by the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as so amended.

-38

 

Sixth: In the calendar year during which these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation become effective, no annual or regular meeting of the shareholders is required to be held for the election of directors or any other purpose.

 

Seventh: Subchapter G — Control Share Acquisitions and Subchapter H — Disgorgement by Certain Controlling Shareholders Following Attempts to Acquire Control of Title 15, Chapter 25, of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, shall not be applicable to the Company.

 

EighthSeventh: Henceforth, these Seconded Amended and Restated Articles of the Company shall not include any prior documents. 

-39

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

 

FACE OF SECURITY

 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FORGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW CERTIFICATE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THESE SECURITIES UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS CERTIFICATE BY REFERENCE.

 

“BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY.”

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 A-1

 


Certificate Number
[                         ]
[                            ] Shares of
Series A Preferred Stock

Series A Preferred Stock
of

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that [                           ] (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of [                          ] fully paid and non-assessable shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company designated as the Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are transferable on the books and records of the Transfer Agent, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Articles of Incorporation”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Articles of Incorporation. The Company will provide a copy of the Articles of Incorporation to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Company at its principal place of business.

 

Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth on the reverse hereof, and to Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation, which select provisions and Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Articles of Incorporation and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

 

Unless the Transfer Agent’s Certificate of Authentication hereon has been properly executed, these shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Articles of Incorporation or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this certificate this                      day of                        , 2020.

 

  EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 A-2

 

TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

These are shares of the Series A Preferred Stock referred to in the within-mentioned Articles of Incorporation.

 

Dated:

 

  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,
  as Transfer Agent,
     
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 A-3

 

REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

Dividends on each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors out of legally available funds as provided in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the Company’s Common Stock upon the satisfaction of the conditions and in the manner and according to the terms set forth in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Company upon the satisfaction of the conditions and in the manner and according to the terms set forth in Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each holder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. 

 A-4

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of Series A Preferred Stock evidenced hereby to: 

 
 
 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number) 

 

 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee) 

 

 

and irrevocably appoints: 

 
 
 

 

agent to transfer the shares of Series A Preferred Stock evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

Date:

 

Signature:

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Series A Preferred Stock Certificate)

 

Signature Guarantee:                                                            1

 

 

1        Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  

 A-5

 

EXHIBIT B

 

OWNERSHIP NOTICE

 

This statement confirms and acknowledges that you are the registered owner of the number and the class or series of shares of capital stock of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the “Company”) set forth on the book-entry statement enclosed with this statement.

 

In addition, please be advised that the Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder of the Company who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock, or series thereof, of the Company and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights, which are fixed by the Charter (defined below). Any such request should be directed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.

 

The shares of capital stock of the Company referenced on the book-entry statement enclosed herewith have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

 

THE FOREGOING LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW OWNERSHIP NOTICE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, INCLUDING ARTICLE FIFTH, DIVISION A, SUBDIVISION 1.2 INCLUDED THEREIN (AS FURTHER AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “CHARTER”), THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK OR MORE THAN ONE SERIES OF ANY CLASS AND THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS STATED IN, AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED INTO THIS NOTICE BY REFERENCE.

 

IF THE SECURITIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN ARE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK OF THE COMPANY, THEN BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AND ONLY UNTIL APRIL 10, 2021, THE HOLDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED WITH THE COMPANY THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THE HOLDER HOLDS THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENGAGE IN ANY SHORT SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY (OR OTHER DERIVATIVE OR HEDGING TRANSACTIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, OR THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO, RESULT IN THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, ANY OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS SECURITY. 

 B-1

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. 

 B-2

 

DRAFT

  

EXHIBIT C

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

 

Re: Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the “Company”)

 

This Certificate relates to shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by (the “Transferor”) in */:

 

book entry form; or

 

definitive form.

 

The Transferor has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to exchange or register the transfer of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

In connection with such request and in respect of such Series A Preferred Stock, the Transferor does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with Article Fifth, Division A, Subdivision 1.2 of the Articles of Incorporation relating to the above-captioned Series A Preferred Stock and that the transfer of this Series A Preferred Stock does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) because */:

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being acquired for the Transferor’s own account without transfer;

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Company;

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), in reliance on Rule 144A; or

 

such Series A Preferred Stock is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based on an Opinion of Counsel if the Company so requests).

 

  [INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]
     
  By:  

 

Date:

 

 

*/           Please check applicable box.

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

(Amended through April 28, 2021)

 

ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.01            All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the Company or such other places, either within or without the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 1.02            An annual meeting of shareholders shall be held in each calendar year at such time and place, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, as the Board of Directors shall determine. If the annual meeting shall not be called and held during such calendar year, any shareholder may call such meeting at any time thereafter.

 

Section 1.03            Each person elected as a director of the Company, whether to succeed a person whose term of office as a director has expired (including the expiration of such person’s term) or to fill any vacancy, shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

All elections of directors shall be conducted by one (1) or more Judges of Election, who need not be shareholders, appointed by the Board of Directors. If any such appointee or appointees are not present, the vacancy shall be filled by the presiding officer of the meeting. The Chair of the Board shall preside and the Secretary shall take the minutes at all meetings of the shareholders. In the absence of the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside. In the absence of both, the presiding officer shall be the Lead Independent Director or such other presiding officer as may be designated by the Board of Directors or, if not so designated, by the shareholders of the Company, and if the Secretary is unable to do so, the presiding officer shall designate any person to take the minutes of the meeting.

 

Section 1.04            The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shareholders shall constitute a quorum except as otherwise provided by law or by the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as amended from time to time, the “Restated Articles”). If a meeting is not organized because a quorum is not present, the shareholders present may adjourn the meeting to such time and place as they may determine, except that any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall be adjourned only from day to day, or for such longer periods not exceeding fifteen (15) days each, as may be directed by a majority of the voting stock present.

 

Section 1.05            Shareholders entitled to vote on any matter shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock standing in their respective names upon the books of the Company to be voted by the shareholder in person or by his or her duly authorized proxy or attorney. The validity of every unrevoked proxy shall cease eleven (11) months after the date of its execution unless some other definite period of validity shall be expressly provided therein, but in no event shall a proxy, unless coupled with an interest, be voted on after three (3) years from the date of its execution. All questions shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions) and entitled to vote on the matter, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, the Restated Articles or these Bylaws.

 

 

Section 1.06            Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 1.07            Notice of the annual meeting and of all special meetings of shareholders shall be given by sending a written or printed notice thereof by mail or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, electronic transmission, specifying the place, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting of shareholders, the general nature of the business to be transacted, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the Company, or the address supplied by such shareholder to the Company for the purpose of notice, at least five (5) days before the day named for the meeting, unless such shareholders shall waive notice or be in attendance at the meeting.

 

Section 1.08            (a) At any annual meeting of shareholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and only such other business shall be conducted or considered, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations to be properly made at an annual meeting, and proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be (i) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (iii) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder of the Company in accordance with Sections 1.08 and 1.09 of these Bylaws, or (iv) with respect to a nomination at an annual meeting of shareholders of a Shareholder Nominee by an Eligible Shareholder, in accordance with Section 1.11 of these Bylaws (each such capitalized term as defined in Section 1.11, and such nominations, “Proxy Access Nominations”), in accordance with such Section. For nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or proposals of other business to be properly requested by a shareholder to be brought before an annual meeting, a shareholder must (i) be a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and at the time of the annual meeting or, with respect to Proxy Access Nominations, qualify as an Eligible Shareholder pursuant to Section 1.11 of these Bylaws and otherwise comply with such Section, (ii) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting, and (iii) comply with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such business or nomination. The immediately preceding sentence (and, as applicable, Section 1.11 of these Bylaws with respect to Proxy Access Nominations) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations for election to the Board of Directors or to bring other business proposals (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Company’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of shareholders. Subject to Section 1.11 of these Bylaws with respect to Proxy Access Nominations and subject to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act with respect to qualifying shareholder proposals submitted thereunder, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any shareholder, or give any shareholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Company’s proxy statement any nomination of a director or directors or any other business proposal.

 

(b) At any special meeting of the shareholders, only such business shall be conducted or considered as shall have been properly brought before the meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. To be properly brought before a special meeting, proposals of business must be (i) specified in the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplements thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the special meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

2 

 

(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Restated Articles or these Bylaws, the presiding officer of a shareholders’ meeting shall have the power to determine whether a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded.

 

Section 1.09            (a) For any nomination or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 1.08(a)(iii) of these Bylaws, the shareholder must have given timely written notice thereof (including, in the case of nominations, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws) and timely updates and supplements thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for shareholder action. For the avoidance of doubt, Proxy Access Nominations pursuant to Section 1.08(a)(iv) are governed by the timing, notice and other provisions set forth in Section 1.11 of these Bylaws.

 

To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day, and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company changes the date of its annual meeting by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, then to be timely such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of (i) the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of the Company’s Public Announcement (as defined below) of such annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

In addition, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than five (5) 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 eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Company’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a shareholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or under any other provision of the Bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a shareholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder, or under any other provision of the Bylaws, to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including without limitation by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the shareholders.

3 

 

(b) (i) To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must include the following, as applicable:

 

(A) as to each Proposing Person (as defined below), a shareholder’s notice must set forth: (1) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Company’s books and records), (2)(a) the class or series and number of shares of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (as defined below) or owned of record by such Proposing Person and whether such person has sole beneficial ownership of such shares (and if not solely beneficially owned, a description of such person’s beneficial ownership in such shares), (b) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to, or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value (or change in value) of, any class or series of shares of the Company, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Company, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Company, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Company, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Company, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard of whether any Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such Proposing Person, (c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has a right to vote any class or series of shares of any security of the Company, (d) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, or reduce the economic risk of ownership of any class or series of the shares of the Company by, or manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Company, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Company (any of the foregoing, “Short Interests”), (e) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company, (f) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (g) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household, (h) any equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any competitor of the Company or any affiliate thereof held by such Proposing Person, and (i) any direct or indirect interest of such Proposing Person in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any competitor of the Company (including, in any such case, without limitation any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, commercial contract, or consulting agreement), (3) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (4) any other information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by such Proposing Person.

4 

 

(B) If the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (A) above, also set forth: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business, (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (3) any material interest of the Proposing Person in the business being proposed by such Proposing Person (whether by holdings of securities, by virtue of being a creditor or contractual counterparty of the Company or of a third party, or otherwise), and (4) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such Proposing Person, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Proposing Person.

 

(C) As to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes (including on behalf of any Proposing Person) to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (A) above, also set forth: (1) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (2) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among any Proposing Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the Proposing Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

 

(D) With respect to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes (including on behalf of a Proposing Person) to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraphs (A) and (C) above, also include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(ii) For purposes of these Bylaws, (A) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (B) the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (1) the shareholder providing the notice of nomination or business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (2) if the shareholder providing the notice of nomination or business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting is not the sole beneficial owner of all of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock listed in such notice, the other beneficial owner or beneficial owners of any of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock listed in such notice, (3) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such shareholder or beneficial owner and (4) any other person with whom or with which such shareholder or beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is acting in concert; and (C) a person shall be deemed a “beneficial owner” of, and shall be deemed to “beneficially own” (1) any securities or interest that such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise and (2) any securities or interest of which such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) is a “beneficial owner” within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

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(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of these Bylaws, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 1.08 or, as applicable, Section 1.11, of these Bylaws.

 

Section 1.10            For a nominee of a Proposing Person to be eligible for election as a director of the Company, there must be delivered for such nominee (in accordance with the time periods described for delivery of notice under Section 1.09 or, as applicable, Section 1.11 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company: (1) a completed written questionnaire of such nominee with respect to the background and qualification of such nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request); (2) an executed written representation and agreement of such nominee (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) 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 Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed therein or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company 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 therein, and (iii) in such nominee’s individual 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 Company, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company publicly disclosed from time to time; and (3) a conditional resignation in accordance with the Company’s resignation policy in connection with majority voting (the form of which shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request).

 

Section 1.11            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Bylaws, the Company shall include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of shareholders the name, together with the Required Information (as defined in paragraph (A) below), of any person properly nominated for election (the “Shareholder Nominee”) to the Board of Directors by a shareholder or group of shareholders that satisfy the requirements of this Section 1.11, including qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (D) below), and that expressly elects at the time of providing the written notice required by this Section 1.11 (a “Proxy Access Notice”) to have its nominee included in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11. For the purposes of this Section 1.11:

 

(1) “Voting Stock” shall mean outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors;

 

(2) “Constituent Holder” shall mean any shareholder, collective investment fund included within a Qualifying Fund (as defined in paragraph (D) below) or beneficial holder whose stock ownership is counted for the purposes of qualifying as holding the Proxy Access Request Required Shares (as defined in paragraph (D) below) or qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (D) below);

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(3) “affiliate” and “associate” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 405 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the term “partner” as used in the definition of “associate” shall not include any limited partner that is not involved in the management of the relevant partnership; and

 

(4) a shareholder (and any Constituent Holders) shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of Voting Stock as to which the shareholder or any Constituent Holder possesses both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (b) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares. The number of shares calculated in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall be deemed not to include (and to the extent any of the following arrangements have been entered into by affiliates of the shareholder (or of any Constituent Holder), shall be reduced by) any shares (x) sold by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (y) borrowed by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) for any purposes or purchased by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) pursuant to an agreement to resell or (z) subject to any Short Interest or Derivative Instrument, which interest or instrument has, or is intended to have, or if exercised by either party thereto would have, the purpose or effect of (i) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s (or affiliate’s) or such Constituent Holder’s (or affiliate’s) full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (ii) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder (or affiliate) or such Constituent Holder (or affiliate), other than any such arrangements solely involving an exchange listed multi-industry market index fund in which Voting Stock represents at the time of entry into such arrangement less than ten percent (10%) of the proportionate value of such index. A shareholder or Constituent Holder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder or Constituent Holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and the right to direct the disposition thereof and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A shareholder’s ownership or Constituent Holder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which such shareholder or Constituent Holder has loaned such shares or delegated any voting power over such shares by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which in either case of such loan or delegation is recallable and/or revocable at any time by the shareholder or Constituent Holder, as applicable. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings.

 

(A) For purposes of this Section 1.11, the “Required Information” that the Company will include in its proxy statement is (1) the information concerning the Shareholder Nominee and the Eligible Shareholder that the Company determines is required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (2) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Statement (as defined in paragraph (F) below). The Company shall also include the name of the Shareholder Nominee in its proxy card. For the avoidance of doubt, and any other provision of these Bylaws notwithstanding, the Company may in its sole discretion solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statements or other information relating to, any Eligible Shareholder and/or Shareholder Nominee, including any information provided to the Company with respect to the foregoing.

 

(B) To be timely, a shareholder’s Proxy Access Notice must be delivered to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Company mailed its proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a Proxy Access Notice.

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(C) The number of Shareholder Nominees (including Shareholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Shareholder for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 but either are subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as Board of Directors’ nominees) appearing in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders shall be the greater of (x) two (2) and (y) the largest whole number that does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Proxy Access Notice may be delivered in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 (such greater number, the “Permitted Number”); provided, however, that the Permitted Number shall be reduced by:

 

(1) the number of such director candidates for which the Company shall have received one (1) or more valid shareholder notices nominating director candidates pursuant to Section 1.08 (but not Section 1.11) of these Bylaws;

 

(2) the number of directors in office or director candidates that in either case will be included in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Company) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any shareholder or group of shareholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of Voting Stock, by such shareholder or group of shareholders, from the Company), other than any such director referred to in this clause (2) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least two (2) annual terms, but only to the extent the Permitted Number after such reduction with respect to this clause (2) equals or exceeds one (1); and

 

(3) the number of directors in office that will be included in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting for whom access to the Company’s proxy materials was previously provided pursuant to this Section 1.11, other than any such director referred to in this clause (3) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least two (2) annual terms;

 

provided, further, that in the event the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors effective on or prior to the date of the annual meeting, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. In the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 1.11 exceeds the Permitted Number, each Eligible Shareholder will select one (1) Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of Voting Stock each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as owned in its Proxy Access Notice submitted to the Company. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Shareholder has selected one (1) Shareholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached.

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(D) An “Eligible Shareholder” is one (1) or more shareholders of record or of beneficial ownership who own and have owned, or are acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners who own and have owned (in each case as defined above), in each case continuously for at least three (3) years as of both the date that the Proxy Access Notice is received by the Company pursuant to this Section 1.11, and as of the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the annual meeting, at least three percent (3%) of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock (the “Proxy Access Request Required Shares”), and who continue to own the Proxy Access Request Required Shares at all times between the date such Proxy Access Notice is received by the Company and the date of the applicable annual meeting, provided that the aggregate number of shareholders, and, if and to the extent that a shareholder is acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners, of such beneficial owners, whose stock ownership is counted for the purpose of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement shall not exceed twenty (20). Two (2) or more collective investment funds that are part of the same family of funds or sponsored by the same employer (a “Qualifying Fund”) shall be treated as one (1) shareholder for the purpose of determining the aggregate number of shareholders in this paragraph (D), provided that each fund included within a Qualifying Fund otherwise meets the requirements set forth in this Section 1.11. No shares may be attributed to more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Shareholder under this Section 1.11 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no shareholder may be a member of more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Shareholder). A record holder acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners will not be counted separately as a shareholder with respect to the shares owned by beneficial owners on whose behalf such record holder has been directed in writing to act, but each such beneficial owner will be counted separately, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph (D), for purposes of determining the number of shareholders whose holdings may be considered as part of an Eligible Shareholder’s holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, Proxy Access Request Required Shares will qualify as such if and only if the beneficial owner of such shares as of the date of the Proxy Access Notice has itself individually beneficially owned such shares continuously for the three-year period ending on that date and through the other applicable dates referred to above (in addition to all other applicable requirements being met).

 

(E) No later than the final date when a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.11 may be delivered to the Company, an Eligible Shareholder (including each Constituent Holder) must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Company:

 

(1) the name and address of, and number of shares of Voting Stock owned by, such person;

 

(2) one (1) or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within seven (7) calendar days prior to the date the Proxy Access Notice is delivered to the Company, such Eligible Shareholder (and each Constituent Holder) owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three (3) years, the Proxy Access Request Required Shares, and such person’s agreement to provide:

 

(a) within five (5) days after the record date for the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying such person’s continuous ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the record date, together with any additional information reasonably requested to verify such person’s ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares; and

 

(b) immediate notice if the Eligible Shareholder ceases to own any of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting of shareholders;

 

(3) the information contemplated by Section 1.09(b)(i)(A), (C), and (D) of these Bylaws (with references to a “Proposing Person” therein to include such Eligible Shareholder (including each Constituent Holder));

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(4) a representation that such person:

 

(a) acquired the Proxy Access Request Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Company, and does not presently have such intent;

 

(b) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Shareholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 1.11;

 

(c) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) promulgated under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors;

 

(d) will not distribute to any shareholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Company; and

 

(e) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Company and its shareholders that are and will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will otherwise comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with any actions taken pursuant to this Section 1.11;

 

(5)   in the case of a nomination by an Eligible Shareholder comprised of a group of shareholders that together is such an Eligible Shareholder, the designation by all group members (including Constituent Holders), as evidenced by a written agreement provided to the Company signed by all group members (including Constituent Holders), of one (1) group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the nominating shareholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and

 

(6)   an undertaking that such person agrees to:

 

(a) assume all liability stemming from, and indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Company or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the shareholders of the Company or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the Company; and

 

(b) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation by the Eligible Shareholder of shareholders of the Company relating to the annual meeting at which the Shareholder Nominee will be nominated.

 

In addition, no later than the final date on which a Proxy Access Notice may be submitted under this Section 1.11, a Qualifying Fund whose stock ownership is counted for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder must provide to the Secretary of the Company documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company that demonstrates that the funds included within the Qualifying Fund are either part of the same family of funds or sponsored by the same employer. In order to be considered timely, any information required by this Section 1.11 to be provided to the Company must be supplemented (by delivery to the Secretary of the Company) (1) no later than five (5) days following the record date for the applicable annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of such record date, and (2) no later than the eighth (8th) day before the annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of the date that is ten (10) days prior to such annual meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement to update and supplement such information shall not permit any Eligible Shareholder or other person to change or add any proposed Shareholder Nominee or be deemed to cure any defects or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Company relating to any defect.

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(F) The Eligible Shareholder may provide to the Secretary of the Company, at the time the information required by this Section 1.11 is originally provided, a written statement for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the annual meeting, not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of the candidacy of such Eligible Shareholder’s Shareholder Nominee (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11, the Company may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is materially false or misleading, omits to state any material fact, or would violate any applicable law or regulation.

 

(G) No later than the final date when a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.11 may be delivered to the Company, each Shareholder Nominee must provide the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company the completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws and:

 

(1) provide an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee (which form shall be provided by the Company reasonably promptly upon written request of a shareholder), that such Shareholder Nominee consents to being named in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy card (and will not agree to be named in any other person’s proxy statement or form of proxy card) as a nominee and to serving as a director of the Company if elected;

 

(2) complete, sign and submit all other questionnaires required of the Company’s directors generally; and

 

(3) provide such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if any of the matters contemplated by paragraph (I) below apply to such Shareholder Nominee or if such nominee has any direct or indirect relationship with the Company or is or has previously been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or successor rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder) or the Shareholder Nominee to the Company or its shareholders ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Company of any defect in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct any such defect; it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Company relating to any such defect.

 

(H) For the avoidance of doubt, any Shareholder Nominee who is included in the Company’s proxy statement for a particular annual meeting of shareholders, but subsequently is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 1.11 or any other provision of the Company’s Bylaws, Restated Articles or other applicable regulation any time before the annual meeting of shareholders, will not be eligible for election at such annual meeting of shareholders.

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(I) The Company shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 1.11, a Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting of shareholders, or, if the proxy statement already has been filed, to allow the nomination of a Shareholder Nominee, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company:

 

(1) who is not independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Company is listed (or other listing standards applicable to the Company), any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing independence of the Company’s directors, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors;

 

(2) whose service as a member of the Board of Directors would violate or cause the Company to be in violation of these Bylaws, the Restated Articles, the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Company is traded (or other such rules and listing standards applicable to the Company), or any applicable law, rule or regulation;

 

(3) if the Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder) or applicable Shareholder Nominee otherwise breaches or fails to comply in any material respect with its obligations pursuant to this Section 1.11 or any agreement, representation or undertaking required by this Section; or

 

(4) if the Eligible Shareholder ceases to be an Eligible Shareholder for any reason, including but not limited to not owning the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the date of the applicable annual meeting.

 

For the purposes of this paragraph (I), clauses (1) and (2) and, to the extent related to a breach or failure by the Shareholder Nominee, clause (3) will result in the exclusion from the proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 of the specific Shareholder Nominee to whom the ineligibility applies, or, if the proxy statement already has been filed, the ineligibility of such Shareholder Nominee to be nominated; provided, however, that clause (4) and, to the extent related to a breach or failure by an Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder), clause (3) will result in the Voting Stock owned by such Eligible Shareholder (or Constituent Holder) being excluded from the Proxy Access Request Required Shares (and, if as a result the Proxy Access Notice shall no longer have been filed by an Eligible Shareholder, the exclusion from the proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 of all of the applicable shareholder’s Shareholder Nominees from the applicable annual meeting of shareholders or, if the proxy statement has already been filed, the ineligibility of all of such shareholder’s Shareholder Nominees to be nominated).

 

ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 2.01            The principal office of the Company shall be in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and shall be kept open during business hours every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 2.02            The Company shall have a corporate seal which shall contain within a circle the following words: “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” and in an inner circle the words “Corporate Seal.”

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Section 2.03            The fiscal year of the Company shall begin with January 1 and end with December 31 of the same calendar year.

 

Section 2.04            The Board of Directors shall fix a time, not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of shareholders, or the date fixed for the payment of any dividend or distribution, or the date for any allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of shares will be made or go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of shares.

 

ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.01            Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors held at the times and places fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

If the Board of Directors shall fail to designate the specific time and place of any regular meeting, such regular meeting shall be held at such time and place as designated by the Chief Executive Officer and, in such case, oral, telegraphic or written notice shall be duly served or sent or mailed by the Secretary to each director not less than five (5) days before the meeting.

 

Section 3.02            Special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chief Executive Officer, or the President in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, at such time and place as he or she may deem necessary, or by the Secretary at the request of any two (2) members of the Board of Directors, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served or sent or mailed to each director not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.

 

Section 3.03            Fifty percent (50%) of the directors at the time in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, except that vacancies resulting from removal from office by a vote of the shareholders may be filled by the shareholders at the same meeting at which such removal occurs. A person elected to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders held immediately following such person being elected to fill the vacancy.

 

Section 3.04            One (1) or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and all directors so participating shall be deemed present at the meeting.

 

Section 3.05            The full Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) persons, the exact number to be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office.

 

Section 3.06            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) of its members as its Chairman and one (1) of its members as its Vice Chair. Such persons may also be officers of the Company. If the Chair so elected is not also the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, he or she shall confer with the Chief Executive Officer as to the content of agendas for such meetings and shall consult with the Chief Executive Officer as to matters affecting or relating to the Board of Directors. The Chair and the Vice Chair so elected shall serve until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of the shareholders. The Board of Directors shall also fix the annual rate of compensation to be paid to the Chair and the Vice Chair for serving as such in addition to compensation paid to all non-officer members of the Board of Directors. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, preserve order, and regulate debate according to the usual parliamentary rules. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall be the presiding officer.

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Section 3.07            No director of this Company shall be nominated for reelection as a director at the next annual meeting of shareholders following the earlier of his or her having served on the Board of Directors for twelve years or his or her seventy-sixth (76th) birthday. A person who is age seventy-six (76) or older may not be appointed to the Board of Directors or be nominated for election as a director. In order for any officer to become a nominee for election by the shareholders as a director of the Company, such officer must have submitted to the Board of Directors prior to the time of such officer’s nomination an irrevocable resignation from the Board of Directors to take effect upon the termination of his or her employment as an officer of the Company, which resignation the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to determine whether to accept or reject, without the participation of the director whose resignation is under consideration.

 

Section 3.08            No director shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such (except to the extent otherwise provided by law) for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Title 15, Chapter 17, Subchapter B of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance), and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.

 

If the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended after November 9, 2018, the date this Section received shareholder approval, to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then a director shall not be liable, in addition to the circumstances set forth in this Section, to the fullest extent permitted by the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as so amended.

 

Section 3.09            (a) In order for any person to be nominated as a director of the Company, such person must have submitted to the Board of Directors prior to the time of such person’s nomination as a director an irrevocable conditional resignation from the Board of Directors, to take effect upon the occurrence of all of the following conditions: (i) such person stood for election to the Board of Directors at a shareholder meeting where the number of nominees did not exceed the number of directors to be elected; (ii) at such shareholder meeting the votes by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election cast against such person’s reelection (excluding abstentions) exceeded the votes cast for such person’s reelection; and (iii) such resignation having been accepted by the Board of Directors. Not later than ninety (90) days after the certification of an election by shareholders satisfying clauses (i) and (ii), the Board of Directors will decide, after receipt of a recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, whether to accept such conditional resignation. The director whose conditional resignation is being considered shall not participate in the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee or the decision of the Board of Directors with respect to his or her conditional resignation. If there are not sufficient unaffected members of the Corporate Governance Committee to form a quorum, the unaffected independent directors shall name a committee made up solely of unaffected independent directors to make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to the acceptance of tendered resignation(s). If the number of unaffected independent directors is three (3) or fewer, all directors may participate, with or without the naming of such committee as the directors may deem appropriate, in the decision as to whether to accept the tendered resignations. If the incumbent director’s resignation is not accepted by the Board of Directors, such director shall continue to serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. If a director’s resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Bylaw, or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.03 of these Bylaws or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 of these Bylaws.

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(b) In considering the question of whether to accept a conditional resignation, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors shall be entitled to consider such facts and circumstances as deemed appropriate, including (i) whether the concerns raised by shareholders that led to the votes against can or should be cured, (ii) whether resignation of the director is an appropriate response to the concerns raised by the shareholders, (iii) the director’s historical and anticipated future commitment and contribution to the Board of Directors, (iv) whether the director’s service on the Board of Directors is consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and listing standards, and without limitation (v) other matters in the interests of the Company. The Board of Directors’ explanation of its decision shall be promptly disclosed on Form 8-K furnished to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 4.01            Directors and officers of the Company shall be indemnified as of right to the fullest extent not prohibited by law in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise) arising out of their service to the Company or to another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not indemnify any director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such director or officer (other than a proceeding to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification under this Article) unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.02            Employees of the Company who are not directors or officers of the Company shall be indemnified as of right in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise) arising out of their service to the Company or to another enterprise at the request of the Company if, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, such employee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that the Company shall not indemnify an employee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such employee (other than a proceeding to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification under this Article) unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.03            The Company may indemnify agents of the Company who are not directors, officers or employees of the Company with such scope and effect as determined by the Company.

 

Section 4.04            As soon as practicable after receipt by any person entitled to indemnification hereunder of actual knowledge of any action, suit or proceeding, such indemnified person shall notify the Company thereof if a claim for indemnification in respect thereof may be or is being made by such indemnified person against the Company under this Article. With respect to any such action, suit or proceeding, the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and may assume the defense thereof. After the Company notifies the indemnified person of its election to so assume the defense, the Company will not be liable to the indemnified person under this Article for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified person in connection with the defense. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify an indemnified person under this Article for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent.

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Section 4.05            The Company may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any director, officer, agent or employee against any liability asserted against and incurred by him or her in respect of such service, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability by law or under the provisions of this Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to persons who have ceased to be directors, officers, agents, and employees and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of persons entitled to indemnity hereunder.

 

Indemnification under this Article shall include the right to be paid expenses incurred in advance of the final disposition of any action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is provided, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company; provided, however, that the indemnified person shall reimburse the Company for any amounts paid by the Company as indemnification of expenses to the extent the indemnified person receives payment for the same expenses from any insurance carrier or from another party. The indemnification rights granted herein are not intended to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled and the Company may enter into contractual agreements with any director, officer, agent or employee to provide such individual with indemnification rights as set forth in such agreement or agreements, which rights shall be in addition to the rights set forth in this Section.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to actions, suits or proceedings commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions occurring before or after the adoption hereof.

 

ARTICLE V
STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 5.01            The Board of Directors shall have authority to appoint an Executive Committee, a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Committee, and such other committees as it deems advisable, each to consist of two (2) or more directors, and from time to time to define the duties and fix the number of members of each committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director or directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member or members.

 

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

 

Section 6.01            The principal officers of the Company shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also choose such other officers, including one (1) or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, and one (1) or more persons having such other titles, as it may determine.

 

Section 6.02            The Board of Directors shall, at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after its election, elect the principal officers of the Company, and may elect additional officers at that or any subsequent meeting. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

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Section 6.03            At the discretion of the Board of Directors, any two (2) of the offices mentioned in Section 6.01 hereof may be held by the same person except the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.

 

Section 6.04            The officers of the Company shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be served thereby. Such removal, however, shall be without prejudice to the contract rights of the person so removed. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

Section 6.05            The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active management of the business of the Company; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In addition to any specific powers conferred upon the Chief Executive Officer by these Bylaws, he or she shall have and exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

 

PRESIDENT

 

Section 6.06            The President shall have such duties and powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and shall also be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. During the absence or inability of the Chief Executive Officer to serve, the President shall have all the powers and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, except as provided in Section 1.03.

 

SECRETARY

 

Section 6.07            The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the shareholders and Board of Directors; shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose; and shall perform like duties for all committees of the Board of Directors, if so designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the seal of the Company to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have custody of all contracts, leases, assignments and all other valuable instruments unless the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall otherwise direct. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all annual meetings of the shareholders and any other meetings of the shareholders and, when required, notice of the meetings of the Board of Directors; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of a secretary of a corporation, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 6.08            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries who shall perform the duties of the Secretary in the event of the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, as well as such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time designate.

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TREASURER

 

Section 6.09            The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies and securities belonging to the Company subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall deposit all monies received by the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company in such bank or other place or places of deposit as the Board of Directors shall designate; and for that purpose the Treasurer shall have power to endorse for collection or payment all checks or other negotiable instruments drawn payable to the Treasurer’s order or to the order of the Company. The Treasurer shall disburse the monies of the Company upon properly drawn checks which shall bear the signature of the Treasurer or of any Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer may create, from time to time, such special imprest funds as may, in the Treasurer’s discretion, be deemed advisable and necessary, and may open accounts with such bank or banks as may be deemed advisable for the deposit therein of such special imprest funds, and may authorize disbursements therefrom by checks drawn against such accounts by the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer or such other employee of the Company as may be designated by the Treasurer from time to time. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 6.10            No notes or similar obligations shall be made except jointly by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, except as otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.11            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers who shall perform the duties of the Treasurer in the event of the Treasurer’s absence or inability to act, as well as such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer may from time to time designate.

 

VICE PRESIDENTS AND OTHER OFFICERS

 

Section 6.12            Vice Presidents and other officers shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer as their positions are established or changed.

 

GENERAL

 

Section 6.13            Fidelity bond coverage shall be obtained on such officers and employees of the Company, and of such type and in such amounts as may be deemed proper and advisable.

 

ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED SHARES

 

Section 7.01            All classes and series of shares of capital stock of the Company, or any part thereof, shall be represented by stock certificates or shall be uncertificated shares, as determined by the Board of Directors, provided, that every shareholder shall be entitled to a share certificate if he or she so requests in the manner prescribed by the Company.

 

(a) Shares of capital stock of the Company represented by certificates shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and countersigned by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, and sealed with the corporate seal of the Company. Said certificates shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

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(b) Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Company shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information otherwise required to be set forth or stated on a stock certificate.

 

Section 7.02            The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint an incorporated company or companies to act as Transfer Agent and Registrar of shares of the Company, and in the case of the appointment of such Transfer Agent, the officers of the Company may sign and seal stock certificates in blank and place them with the transfer books in the custody and control of such Transfer Agent. If any stock certificate is signed by a Transfer Agent or Registrar, the signature of any such officer and the corporate seal upon any such certificate may be a facsimile, engraved or printed.

 

Section 7.03            New certificates for shares of stock may be issued to replace certificates lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE VIII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

 

Section 8.01            Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law or the Company’s Restated Articles or these Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the state and federal courts sitting in the judicial district of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny.

 

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 9.01            (a) The Board of Directors may make, amend and repeal the Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the shareholders, subject always to the power of the shareholders to change such action as provided herein.

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided by a Bylaw, by the Restated Articles or by law, any Bylaw may be amended, altered or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, by vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting duly convened, but only if notice of the specific Sections to be amended, altered, repealed or added is included in the notice of meeting. No provision of the Bylaws shall vest any property or contract right in any shareholder.

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Exhibit 3.4

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

SECONDTHIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

(Amended through October9April 28, 20192021)

 

ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.01            All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the Company or such other places, either within or without the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 1.02            An annual meeting of shareholders shall be held in each calendar year at such time and place, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, as the Board of Directors shall determine. If the annual meeting shall not be called and held during such calendar year, any shareholder may call such meeting at any time thereafter.

 

Section 1.03            Each person elected as a director of the Company, whether to succeed a person whose term of office as a director has expired (including the expiration of such person’s term) or to fill any vacancy, shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

All elections of directors shall be conducted by one (1) or more Judges of Election, who need not be shareholders, appointed by the Board of Directors. If any such appointee or appointees are not present, the vacancy shall be filled by the presiding officer of the meeting. The ChairmanChair of the Board shall preside and the Secretary shall take the minutes at all meetings of the shareholders. In the absence of the ChairmanChair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside. In the absence of both, the presiding officer shall be the Lead Independent Director or such other presiding officer as may be designated by the Board of Directors or, if not so designated, by the shareholders of the Company, and if the Secretary is unable to do so, the presiding officer shall designate any person to take the minutes of the meeting.

 

Section 1.04            The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shareholders shall constitute a quorum except as otherwise provided by law or by the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as amended from time to time, the “Restated Articles”). If a meeting is not organized because a quorum is not present, the shareholders present may adjourn the meeting to such time and place as they may determine, except that any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall be adjourned only from day to day, or for such longer periods not exceeding fifteen (15) days each, as may be directed by a majority of the voting stock present.

 

Section 1.05            Shareholders entitled to vote on any matter shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock standing in their respective names upon the books of the Company to be voted by the shareholder in person or by his or her duly authorized proxy or attorney. The validity of every unrevoked proxy shall cease eleven (11) months after the date of its execution unless some other definite period of validity shall be expressly provided therein, but in no event shall a proxy, unless coupled with an interest, be voted on after three (3) years from the date of its execution. All questions shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions) and entitled to vote on the matter, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, the Restated Articles or these Bylaws.

 

 

Section 1.06            Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 1.07            Notice of the annual meeting and of all special meetings of shareholders shall be given by sending a written or printed notice thereof by mail or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, electronic transmission, specifying the place, including by means of Internet or other electronic communications technology, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting of shareholders, the general nature of the business to be transacted, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the Company, or the address supplied by such shareholder to the Company for the purpose of notice, at least five (5) days before the day named for the meeting, unless such shareholders shall waive notice or be in attendance at the meeting.

 

Section 1.08            (a) At any annual meeting of shareholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and only such other business shall be conducted or considered, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations to be properly made at an annual meeting, and proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be (i) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (iii) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder of the Company in accordance with Sections 1.08 and 1.09 of these Bylaws, or (iv) with respect to a nomination at an annual meeting of shareholders of a Shareholder Nominee by an Eligible Shareholder, in accordance with Section 1.11 of these Bylaws (each such capitalized term as defined in Section 1.11, and such nominations, “Proxy Access Nominations”), in accordance with such Section. For nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or proposals of other business to be properly requested by a shareholder to be brought before an annual meeting, a shareholder must (i) be a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and at the time of the annual meeting or, with respect to Proxy Access Nominations, qualify as an Eligible Shareholder pursuant to Section 1.11 of these Bylaws and otherwise comply with such Section, (ii) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting, and (iii) comply with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such business or nomination. The immediately preceding sentence (and, as applicable, Section 1.11 of these Bylaws with respect to Proxy Access Nominations) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations for election to the Board of Directors or to bring other business proposals (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Company’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of shareholders.C:\Users\MLSASINO\AppData\Local\Temp\Temp1_EquitransMidstreamCorp_11132018_8-K (2).zip\name= Subject to Section 1.11 of these Bylaws with respect to Proxy Access Nominations and subject to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act with respect to qualifying shareholder proposals submitted thereunder, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any shareholder, or give any shareholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Company’s proxy statement any nomination of a director or directors or any other business proposal.

 

(b) At any special meeting of the shareholders, only such business shall be conducted or considered as shall have been properly brought before the meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. To be properly brought before a special meeting, proposals of business must be (i) specified in the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplements thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the special meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

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(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Restated Articles or these Bylaws, the presiding officer of a shareholders’ meeting shall have the power to determine whether a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded.

 

Section 1.09            (a) For any nomination or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 1.08(a)(iii) of these Bylaws, the shareholder must have given timely written notice thereof (including, in the case of nominations, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws) and timely updates and supplements thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for shareholder action. For the avoidance of doubt, Proxy Access Nominations pursuant to Section 1.08(a)(iv) are governed by the timing, notice and other provisions set forth in Section 1.11 of these Bylaws.

 

To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day, and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company changes the date of its annual meeting by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, then to be timely such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of (i) the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of the Company’s Public Announcement (as defined below) of such annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

In addition, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than five (5) 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 eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Company’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a shareholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or under any other provision of the Bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a shareholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder, or under any other provision of the Bylaws, to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including without limitation by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the shareholders.

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(b) (i)     To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must include the following, as applicable:

 

(A) as to each Proposing Person (as defined below), a shareholder’s notice must set forth: (1) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Company’s books and records), (2)(a) the class or series and number of shares of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (as defined below) or owned of record by such Proposing Person and whether such person has sole beneficial ownership of such shares (and if not solely beneficially owned, a description of such person’s beneficial ownership in such shares), (b) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to, or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value (or change in value) of, any class or series of shares of the Company, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Company, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Company, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Company, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Company, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard of whether any Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such Proposing Person, (c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has a right to vote any class or series of shares of any security of the Company, (d) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, or reduce the economic risk of ownership of any class or series of the shares of the Company by, or manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Company, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Company (any of the foregoing, “Short Interests”), (e) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company, (f) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (g) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household, (h) any equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any competitor of the Company or any affiliate thereof held by such Proposing Person, and (i) any direct or indirect interest of such Proposing Person in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any competitor of the Company (including, in any such case, without limitation any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, commercial contract, or consulting agreement), (3) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (4) any other information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by such Proposing Person.

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(B) If the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (A) above, also set forth: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business, (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (3) any material interest of the Proposing Person in the business being proposed by such Proposing Person (whether by holdings of securities, by virtue of being a creditor or contractual counterparty of the Company or of a third party, or otherwise), and (4) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such Proposing Person, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Proposing Person.

 

(C) As to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes (including on behalf of any Proposing Person) to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (A) above, also set forth: (1) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (2) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among any Proposing Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the Proposing Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

 

(D) With respect to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes (including on behalf of a Proposing Person) to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraphs (A) and (C) above, also include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(ii) For purposes of these Bylaws, (A) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (B) the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (1) the shareholder providing the notice of nomination or business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (2) if the shareholder providing the notice of nomination or business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting is not the sole beneficial owner of all of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock listed in such notice, the other beneficial owner or beneficial owners of any of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock listed in such notice, (3) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such shareholder or beneficial owner and (4) any other person with whom or with which such shareholder or beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is acting in concert; and (C) a person shall be deemed a “beneficial owner” of, and shall be deemed to “beneficially own” (1) any securities or interest that such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise and (2) any securities or interest of which such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) is a “beneficial owner” within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

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(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of these Bylaws, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 1.08 or, as applicable, Section 1.11, of these Bylaws.

 

Section 1.10            For a nominee of a Proposing Person to be eligible for election as a director of the Company, there must be delivered for such nominee (in accordance with the time periods described for delivery of notice under Section 1.09 or, as applicable, Section 1.11 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company: (1) a completed written questionnaire of such nominee with respect to the background and qualification of such nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request); (2) an executed written representation and agreement of such nominee (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) 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 Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed therein or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company 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 therein, and (iii) in such nominee’s individual 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 Company, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company publicly disclosed from time to time; and (3) a conditional resignation in accordance with the Company’s resignation policy in connection with majority voting (the form of which shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request).

 

Section 1.11            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Bylaws, the Company shall include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of shareholders the name, together with the Required Information (as defined in paragraph (A) below), of any person properly nominated for election (the “Shareholder Nominee”) to the Board of Directors by a shareholder or group of shareholders that satisfy the requirements of this Section 1.11, including qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (D) below), and that expressly elects at the time of providing the written notice required by this Section 1.11 (a “Proxy Access Notice”) to have its nominee included in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11. For the purposes of this Section 1.11:

 

(1) “Voting Stock” shall mean outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors;

 

(2) “Constituent Holder” shall mean any shareholder, collective investment fund included within a Qualifying Fund (as defined in paragraph (D) below) or beneficial holder whose stock ownership is counted for the purposes of qualifying as holding the Proxy Access Request Required Shares (as defined in paragraph (D) below) or qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (D) below);

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(3) “affiliate” and “associate” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 405 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the term “partner” as used in the definition of “associate” shall not include any limited partner that is not involved in the management of the relevant partnership; and

 

(4) a shareholder (and any Constituent Holders) shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of Voting Stock as to which the shareholder or any Constituent Holder possesses both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (b) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares. The number of shares calculated in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall be deemed not to include (and to the extent any of the following arrangements have been entered into by affiliates of the shareholder (or of any Constituent Holder), shall be reduced by) any shares (x) sold by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (y) borrowed by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) for any purposes or purchased by such shareholder (or any of its affiliates) or such Constituent Holder (or any of its affiliates) pursuant to an agreement to resell or (z) subject to any Short Interest or Derivative Instrument, which interest or instrument has, or is intended to have, or if exercised by either party thereto would have, the purpose or effect of (i) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s (or affiliate’s) or such Constituent Holder’s (or affiliate’s) full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (ii) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder (or affiliate) or such Constituent Holder (or affiliate), other than any such arrangements solely involving an exchange listed multi-industry market index fund in which Voting Stock represents at the time of entry into such arrangement less than ten percent (10%) of the proportionate value of such index. A shareholder or Constituent Holder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder or Constituent Holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and the right to direct the disposition thereof and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A shareholder’s ownership or Constituent Holder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which such shareholder or Constituent Holder has loaned such shares or delegated any voting power over such shares by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which in either case of such loan or delegation is recallable and/or revocable at any time by the shareholder or Constituent Holder, as applicable. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings.

 

(A) For purposes of this Section 1.11, the “Required Information” that the Company will include in its proxy statement is (1) the information concerning the Shareholder Nominee and the Eligible Shareholder that the Company determines is required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (2) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Statement (as defined in paragraph (F) below). The Company shall also include the name of the Shareholder Nominee in its proxy card. For the avoidance of doubt, and any other provision of these Bylaws notwithstanding, the Company may in its sole discretion solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statements or other information relating to, any Eligible Shareholder and/or Shareholder Nominee, including any information provided to the Company with respect to the foregoing.

 

(B) To be timely, a shareholder’s Proxy Access Notice must be delivered to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Company mailed its proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a Proxy Access Notice.

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(C) The number of Shareholder Nominees (including Shareholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Shareholder for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 but either are subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as Board of Directors’ nominees) appearing in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders shall be the greater of (x) two (2) and (y) the largest whole number that does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Proxy Access Notice may be delivered in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 (such greater number, the “Permitted Number”); provided, however, that the Permitted Number shall be reduced by:

 

(1) the number of such director candidates for which the Company shall have received one (1) or more valid shareholder notices nominating director candidates pursuant to Section 1.08 (but not Section 1.11) of these Bylaws;

 

(2) the number of directors in office or director candidates that in either case will be included in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Company) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any shareholder or group of shareholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of Voting Stock, by such shareholder or group of shareholders, from the Company), other than any such director referred to in this clause (2) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least two (2) annual terms, but only to the extent the Permitted Number after such reduction with respect to this clause (2) equals or exceeds one (1); and

 

(3) the number of directors in office that will be included in the Company’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting for whom access to the Company’s proxy materials was previously provided pursuant to this Section 1.11, other than any such director referred to in this clause (3) who at the time of such annual meeting will have served as a director continuously, as a nominee of the Board of Directors, for at least two (2) annual terms;

 

provided, further, that in the event the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors effective on or prior to the date of the annual meeting, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. In the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 1.11 exceeds the Permitted Number, each Eligible Shareholder will select one (1) Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of Voting Stock each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as owned in its Proxy Access Notice submitted to the Company. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Shareholder has selected one (1) Shareholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached.

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(D) An “Eligible Shareholder” is one (1) or more shareholders of record or of beneficial ownership who own and have owned, or are acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners who own and have owned (in each case as defined above), in each case continuously for at least three (3) years as of both the date that the Proxy Access Notice is received by the Company pursuant to this Section 1.11, and as of the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the annual meeting, at least three percent (3%) of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock (the “Proxy Access Request Required Shares”), and who continue to own the Proxy Access Request Required Shares at all times between the date such Proxy Access Notice is received by the Company and the date of the applicable annual meeting, provided that the aggregate number of shareholders, and, if and to the extent that a shareholder is acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners, of such beneficial owners, whose stock ownership is counted for the purpose of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement shall not exceed twenty (20). Two (2) or more collective investment funds that are part of the same family of funds or sponsored by the same employer (a “Qualifying Fund”) shall be treated as one (1) shareholder for the purpose of determining the aggregate number of shareholders in this paragraph (D), provided that each fund included within a Qualifying Fund otherwise meets the requirements set forth in this Section 1.11. No shares may be attributed to more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Shareholder under this Section 1.11 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no shareholder may be a member of more than one (1) group constituting an Eligible Shareholder). A record holder acting on behalf of one (1) or more beneficial owners will not be counted separately as a shareholder with respect to the shares owned by beneficial owners on whose behalf such record holder has been directed in writing to act, but each such beneficial owner will be counted separately, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph (D), for purposes of determining the number of shareholders whose holdings may be considered as part of an Eligible Shareholder’s holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, Proxy Access Request Required Shares will qualify as such if and only if the beneficial owner of such shares as of the date of the Proxy Access Notice has itself individually beneficially owned such shares continuously for the three-year period ending on that date and through the other applicable dates referred to above (in addition to all other applicable requirements being met).

 

(E) No later than the final date when a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.11 may be delivered to the Company, an Eligible Shareholder (including each Constituent Holder) must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Company:

 

(1) the name and address of, and number of shares of Voting Stock owned by, such person;

 

(2) one (1) or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within seven (7) calendar days prior to the date the Proxy Access Notice is delivered to the Company, such Eligible Shareholder (and each Constituent Holder) owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three (3) years, the Proxy Access Request Required Shares, and such person’s agreement to provide:

 

(a) within five (5) days after the record date for the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying such person’s continuous ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the record date, together with any additional information reasonably requested to verify such person’s ownership of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares; and

 

(b) immediate notice if the Eligible Shareholder ceases to own any of the Proxy Access Request Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting of shareholders;

 

(3) the information contemplated by Section 1.09(b)(i)(A), (C), and (D) of these Bylaws (with references to a “Proposing Person” therein to include such Eligible Shareholder (including each Constituent Holder));

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(4)   a representation that such person:

 

(a) acquired the Proxy Access Request Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Company, and does not presently have such intent;

 

(b) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Shareholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 1.11;

 

(c) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) promulgated under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors;

 

(d) C:\Users\MLSASINO\AppData\Local\Temp\Temp1_EquitransMidstreamCorp_11132018_8-K (2).zip\name=will not distribute to any shareholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Company; and

 

(e) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Company and its shareholders that are and will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will otherwise comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with any actions taken pursuant to this Section 1.11;

 

(5)   in the case of a nomination by an Eligible Shareholder comprised of a group of shareholders that together is such an Eligible Shareholder, the designation by all group members (including Constituent Holders), as evidenced by a written agreement provided to the Company signed by all group members (including Constituent Holders), of one (1) group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the nominating shareholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and

 

(6)   an undertaking that such person agrees to:

 

(a) assume all liability stemming from, and indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Company or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the shareholders of the Company or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the Company; and

 

(b) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation by the Eligible Shareholder of shareholders of the Company relating to the annual meeting at which the Shareholder Nominee will be nominated.

 

In addition, no later than the final date on which a Proxy Access Notice may be submitted under this Section 1.11, a Qualifying Fund whose stock ownership is counted for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder must provide to the Secretary of the Company documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company that demonstrates that the funds included within the Qualifying Fund are either part of the same family of funds or sponsored by the same employer. In order to be considered timely, any information required by this Section 1.11 to be provided to the Company must be supplemented (by delivery to the Secretary of the Company) (1) no later than five (5) days following the record date for the applicable annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of such record date, and (2) no later than the eighth (8th) day before the annual meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of the date that is ten (10) days prior to such annual meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement to update and supplement such information shall not permit any Eligible Shareholder or other person to change or add any proposed Shareholder Nominee or be deemed to cure any defects or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Company relating to any defect. 

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(F)   The Eligible Shareholder may provide to the Secretary of the Company, at the time the information required by this Section 1.11 is originally provided, a written statement for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the annual meeting, not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of the candidacy of such Eligible Shareholder’s Shareholder Nominee (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11, the Company may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is materially false or misleading, omits to state any material fact, or would violate any applicable law or regulation.

 

(G)   No later than the final date when a nomination pursuant to this Section 1.11 may be delivered to the Company, each Shareholder Nominee must provide the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company the completed and signed questionnaire, representation, agreement and majority voting-related conditional resignation required by Section 1.10 of these Bylaws and:

 

(1) provide an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors or its designee (which form shall be provided by the Company reasonably promptly upon written request of a shareholder), that such Shareholder Nominee consents to being named in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy card (and will not agree to be named in any other person’s proxy statement or form of proxy card) as a nominee and to serving as a director of the Company if elected;

 

(2) complete, sign and submit all other questionnaires required of the Company’s directors generally; and

 

(3) provide such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if any of the matters contemplated by paragraph (I) below apply to such Shareholder Nominee or if such nominee has any direct or indirect relationship with the Company or is or has previously been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or successor rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder) or the Shareholder Nominee to the Company or its shareholders ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Company of any defect in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct any such defect; it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Company relating to any such defect.

 

(H)   For the avoidance of doubt, any Shareholder Nominee who is included in the Company’s proxy statement for a particular annual meeting of shareholders, but subsequently is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 1.11 or any other provision of the Company’s Bylaws, Restated Articles or other applicable regulation any time before the annual meeting of shareholders, will not be eligible for election at such annual meeting of shareholders. 

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(I)   The Company shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 1.11, a Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting of shareholders, or, if the proxy statement already has been filed, to allow the nomination of a Shareholder Nominee, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company:

 

(1) who is not independent under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Company is listed (or other listing standards applicable to the Company), any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing independence of the Company’s directors, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors;

 

(2) whose service as a member of the Board of Directors would violate or cause the Company to be in violation of these Bylaws, the Restated Articles, the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Company is traded (or other such rules and listing standards applicable to the Company), or any applicable law, rule or regulation;

 

(3) if the Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder) or applicable Shareholder Nominee otherwise breaches or fails to comply in any material respect with its obligations pursuant to this Section 1.11 or any agreement, representation or undertaking required by this Section; or

 

(4) if the Eligible Shareholder ceases to be an Eligible Shareholder for any reason, including but not limited to not owning the Proxy Access Request Required Shares through the date of the applicable annual meeting.

 

For the purposes of this paragraph (I), clauses (1) and (2) and, to the extent related to a breach or failure by the Shareholder Nominee, clause (3) will result in the exclusion from the proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 of the specific Shareholder Nominee to whom the ineligibility applies, or, if the proxy statement already has been filed, the ineligibility of such Shareholder Nominee to be nominated; provided, however, that clause (4) and, to the extent related to a breach or failure by an Eligible Shareholder (or any Constituent Holder), clause (3) will result in the Voting Stock owned by such Eligible Shareholder (or Constituent Holder) being excluded from the Proxy Access Request Required Shares (and, if as a result the Proxy Access Notice shall no longer have been filed by an Eligible Shareholder, the exclusion from the proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 of all of the applicable shareholder’s Shareholder Nominees from the applicable annual meeting of shareholders or, if the proxy statement has already been filed, the ineligibility of all of such shareholder’s Shareholder Nominees to be nominated).

 

ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 2.01            The principal office of the Company shall be in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and shall be kept open during business hours every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 2.02            The Company shall have a corporate seal which shall contain within a circle the following words: “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” and in an inner circle the words “Corporate Seal.” 

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Section 2.03            The fiscal year of the Company shall begin with January 1 and end with December 31 of the same calendar year.

 

Section 2.04            The Board of Directors shall fix a time, not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of shareholders, or the date fixed for the payment of any dividend or distribution, or the date for any allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of shares will be made or go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of shares.

 

ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.01            Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors held at the times and places fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

If the Board of Directors shall fail to designate the specific time and place of any regular meeting, such regular meeting shall be held at such time and place as designated by the Chief Executive Officer and, in such case, oral, telegraphic or written notice shall be duly served or sent or mailed by the Secretary to each director not less than five (5) days before the meeting.

 

Section 3.02            Special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chief Executive Officer, or the President in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, at such time and place as he or she may deem necessary, or by the Secretary at the request of any two (2) members of the Board of Directors, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served or sent or mailed to each director not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.

 

Section 3.03            Fifty percent (50%) of the directors at the time in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, except that vacancies resulting from removal from office by a vote of the shareholders may be filled by the shareholders at the same meeting at which such removal occurs. A person elected to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders held immediately following such person being elected to fill the vacancy.

 

Section 3.04            One (1) or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and all directors so participating shall be deemed present at the meeting.

 

Section 3.05            The full Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) persons, the exact number to be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office.

 

Section 3.06            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) of its members as its Chairman and one (1) of its members as its Vice ChairmanChair. Such persons may also be officers of the Company. If the ChairmanChair so elected is not also the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, he or she shall confer with the Chief Executive Officer as to the content of agendas for such meetings and shall consult with the Chief Executive Officer as to matters affecting or relating to the Board of Directors. The ChairmanChair and the Vice ChairmanChair so elected shall serve until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of the shareholders. The Board of Directors shall also fix the annual rate of compensation to be paid to the ChairmanChair and the Vice ChairmanChair for serving as such in addition to compensation paid to all non-officer members of the Board of Directors. The ChairmanChair shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, preserve order, and regulate debate according to the usual parliamentary rules. In the absence of the ChairmanChair, the Vice ChairmanChair shall be the presiding officer. 

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Section 3.07            No director of this Company shall be nominated for reelection as a director at the next annual meeting of shareholders following the earlier of his or her having served on the Board of Directors for twelve years or his or her seventy-sixth (76th) birthday. A person who is age seventy-six (76) or older may not be appointed to the Board of Directors or be nominated for election as a director. In order for any officer to become a nominee for election by the shareholders as a director of the Company, such officer must have submitted to the Board of Directors prior to the time of such officer’s nomination an irrevocable resignation from the Board of Directors to take effect upon the termination of his or her employment as an officer of the Company, which resignation the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to determine whether to accept or reject, without the participation of the director whose resignation is under consideration.

 

Section 3.08            No director shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such (except to the extent otherwise provided by law) for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Title 15, Chapter 17, Subchapter B of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance), and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.

 

If the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended after November 9, 2018, the date this Section received shareholder approval, to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then a director shall not be liable, in addition to the circumstances set forth in this Section, to the fullest extent permitted by the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as so amended.

 

Section 3.09            (a) In order for any person to be nominated as a director of the Company, such person must have submitted to the Board of Directors prior to the time of such person’s nomination as a director an irrevocable conditional resignation from the Board of Directors, to take effect upon the occurrence of all of the following conditions: (i) such person stood for election to the Board of Directors at a shareholder meeting where the number of nominees did not exceed the number of directors to be elected; (ii) at such shareholder meeting the votes by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election cast against such person’s reelection (excluding abstentions) exceeded the votes cast for such person’s reelection; and (iii) such resignation having been accepted by the Board of Directors. Not later than ninety (90) days after the certification of an election by shareholders satisfying clauses (i) and (ii), the Board of Directors will decide, after receipt of a recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, whether to accept such conditional resignation. The director whose conditional resignation is being considered shall not participate in the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee or the decision of the Board of Directors with respect to his or her conditional resignation. If there are not sufficient unaffected members of the Corporate Governance Committee to form a quorum, the unaffected independent directors shall name a committee made up solely of unaffected independent directors to make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to the acceptance of tendered resignation(s). If the number of unaffected independent directors is three (3) or fewer, all directors may participate, with or without the naming of such committee as the directors may deem appropriate, in the decision as to whether to accept the tendered resignations. If the incumbent director’s resignation is not accepted by the Board of Directors, such director shall continue to serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. If a director’s resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Bylaw, or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.03 of these Bylaws or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 of these Bylaws. 

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(b) In considering the question of whether to accept a conditional resignation, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors shall be entitled to consider such facts and circumstances as deemed appropriate, including (i) whether the concerns raised by shareholders that led to the votes against can or should be cured, (ii) whether resignation of the director is an appropriate response to the concerns raised by the shareholders, (iii) the director’s historical and anticipated future commitment and contribution to the Board of Directors, (iv) whether the director’s service on the Board of Directors is consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and listing standards, and without limitation (v) other matters in the interests of the Company. The Board of Directors’ explanation of its decision shall be promptly disclosed on Form 8-K furnished to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 4.01            Directors and officers of the Company shall be indemnified as of right to the fullest extent not prohibited by law in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise) arising out of their service to the Company or to another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not indemnify any director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such director or officer (other than a proceeding to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification under this Article) unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.02            Employees of the Company who are not directors or officers of the Company shall be indemnified as of right in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise) arising out of their service to the Company or to another enterprise at the request of the Company if, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, such employee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that the Company shall not indemnify an employee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such employee (other than a proceeding to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification under this Article) unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.03            The Company may indemnify agents of the Company who are not directors, officers or employees of the Company with such scope and effect as determined by the Company.

 

Section 4.04            As soon as practicable after receipt by any person entitled to indemnification hereunder of actual knowledge of any action, suit or proceeding, such indemnified person shall notify the Company thereof if a claim for indemnification in respect thereof may be or is being made by such indemnified person against the Company under this Article. With respect to any such action, suit or proceeding, the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and may assume the defense thereof. After the Company notifies the indemnified person of its election to so assume the defense, the Company will not be liable to the indemnified person under this Article for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified person in connection with the defense. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify an indemnified person under this Article for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. 

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Section 4.05            The Company may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any director, officer, agent or employee against any liability asserted against and incurred by him or her in respect of such service, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability by law or under the provisions of this Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to persons who have ceased to be directors, officers, agents, and employees and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of persons entitled to indemnity hereunder.

 

Indemnification under this Article shall include the right to be paid expenses incurred in advance of the final disposition of any action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is provided, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company; provided, however, that the indemnified person shall reimburse the Company for any amounts paid by the Company as indemnification of expenses to the extent the indemnified person receives payment for the same expenses from any insurance carrier or from another party. The indemnification rights granted herein are not intended to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled and the Company may enter into contractual agreements with any director, officer, agent or employee to provide such individual with indemnification rights as set forth in such agreement or agreements, which rights shall be in addition to the rights set forth in this Section.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to actions, suits or proceedings commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions occurring before or after the adoption hereof.

 

ARTICLE V
STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 5.01            The Board of Directors shall have authority to appoint an Executive Committee, a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Committee, and such other committees as it deems advisable, each to consist of two (2) or more directors, and from time to time to define the duties and fix the number of members of each committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director or directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member or members.

 

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

 

Section 6.01            The principal officers of the Company shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also choose such other officers, including one (1) or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, and one (1) or more persons having such other titles, as it may determine. 

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Section 6.02            The Board of Directors shall, at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after its election, elect the principal officers of the Company, and may elect additional officers at that or any subsequent meeting. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.03            At the discretion of the Board of Directors, any two (2) of the offices mentioned in Section 6.01 hereof may be held by the same person except the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.

 

Section 6.04            The officers of the Company shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be served thereby. Such removal, however, shall be without prejudice to the contract rights of the person so removed. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

Section 6.05            The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active management of the business of the Company; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In addition to any specific powers conferred upon the Chief Executive Officer by these Bylaws, he or she shall have and exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

 

PRESIDENT

 

Section 6.06            The President shall have such duties and powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and shall also be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. During the absence or inability of the Chief Executive Officer to serve, the President shall have all the powers and perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, includingexcept as provided in the absence of the Chairman presiding at all meetings of the shareholdersSection 1.03.

 

SECRETARY

 

Section 6.07            The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the shareholders and Board of Directors; shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose; and shall perform like duties for all committees of the Board of Directors, if so designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the seal of the Company to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have custody of all contracts, leases, assignments and all other valuable instruments unless the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall otherwise direct. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all annual meetings of the shareholders and any other meetings of the shareholders and, when required, notice of the meetings of the Board of Directors; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of a secretary of a corporation, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 6.08            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries who shall perform the duties of the Secretary in the event of the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, as well as such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time designate. 

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TREASURER

 

Section 6.09            The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies and securities belonging to the Company subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall deposit all monies received by the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company in such bank or other place or places of deposit as the Board of Directors shall designate; and for that purpose the Treasurer shall have power to endorse for collection or payment all checks or other negotiable instruments drawn payable to the Treasurer’s order or to the order of the Company. The Treasurer shall disburse the monies of the Company upon properly drawn checks which shall bear the signature of the Treasurer or of any Assistant Treasureror of the Cashier (who shall be appointed by the Assistant Treasurer with the approval of the Treasurer). All checks shall be covered by vouchers which shall be certified by the Controller or the Auditor of Disbursements or such other employee of the Company (other than the Cashier) as may be designated by the Treasurer from time to time. The Treasurer may create, from time to time, such special imprest funds as may, in the Treasurer’s discretion, be deemed advisable and necessary, and may open accounts with such bank or banks as may be deemed advisable for the deposit therein of such special imprest funds, and may authorize disbursements therefrom by checks drawn against such accounts by the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer or such other employee of the Company as may be designated by the Treasurer from time to time. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 6.10            No notes or similar obligations shall be made except jointly by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, except as otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.11            The Board of Directors may elect one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers who shall perform the duties of the Treasurer in the event of the Treasurer’s absence or inability to act, as well as such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer may from time to time designate.

 

VICE PRESIDENTS AND OTHER OFFICERS

 

Section 6.12            Vice Presidents and other officers shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer as their positions are established or changed.

 

GENERAL

 

Section 6.13            Fidelity bond coverage shall be obtained on such officers and employees of the Company, and of such type and in such amounts as may be deemed proper and advisable.

 

ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED SHARES

 

Section 7.01            All classes and series of shares of capital stock of the Company, or any part thereof, shall be represented by stock certificates or shall be uncertificated shares, as determined by the Board of Directors, provided, that every shareholder shall be entitled to a share certificate if he or she so requests in the manner prescribed by the Company. 

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(a) Shares of capital stock of the Company represented by certificates shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and countersigned by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, and sealed with the corporate seal of the Company. Said certificates shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

(b) Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Company shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information otherwise required to be set forth or stated on a stock certificate.

 

Section 7.02            The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint an incorporated company or companies to act as Transfer Agent and Registrar of shares of the Company, and in the case of the appointment of such Transfer Agent, the officers of the Company may sign and seal stock certificates in blank and place them with the transfer books in the custody and control of such Transfer Agent. If any stock certificate is signed by a Transfer Agent or Registrar, the signature of any such officer and the corporate seal upon any such certificate may be a facsimile, engraved or printed.

 

Section 7.03            New certificates for shares of stock may be issued to replace certificates lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE VIII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

 

Section 8.01            Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law or the Company’s Restated Articles or these Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the state and federal courts sitting in the judicial district of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny.

 

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 9.01            (a) The Board of Directors may make, amend and repeal the Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the shareholders, subject always to the power of the shareholders to change such action as provided herein. No Bylaw may be made, amended or repealed by the shareholders unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously approved by a two-thirds vote of the whole Board of Directors, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Restated Articles or the Bylaws) the vote specified by applicable law for valid shareholder action shall be required. 

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided by a Bylaw, by the Restated Articles or by law, any Bylaw may be amended, altered or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, by vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting duly convened, but only if notice of the specific Sections to be amended, altered, repealed or added is included in the notice of meeting. No provision of the Bylaws shall vest any property or contract right in any shareholder.

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