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): January 14, 2015

 

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-08246   71-0205415

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

10000 Energy Drive

Spring, Texas 77389

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

(832) 796-4700

(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Common Stock and Depositary Shares

On January 14, 2015, Southwestern Energy Company (the “ Company ”) entered into (i) an Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015 (the “ Common Stock Underwriting Agreement ”), between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the underwriters named therein (the “ Common Stock Underwriters ”), with respect to the offer and sale of 30,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) (which reflects the exercise of the Common Stock Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock), and (ii) an Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015 (the “ Depositary Shares Underwriting Agreement ” and together with the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, the “ Underwriting Agreements ”), between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the underwriters named therein (the “ Depositary Shares Underwriters ” and together with the Common Stock Underwriters, the “ Underwriters ”), with respect to the offer and sale of 34,500,000 depositary shares (“ Depositary Shares ”), with each Depositary Share representing a 1/20th interest in a share of the Company’s 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (“ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ”) (which reflects the exercise of the Depositary Shares Underwriters’ option to purchase additional Depositary Shares). The securities sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreements were registered under the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-184882). The closing of the sale of Common Stock and Depositary Shares occurred on January 21, 2015.

The Common Stock Underwriting Agreement sets forth the public offering price, and provides, among other things, that the Common Stock Underwriters will purchase the Common Stock from the Company at the public offering price, less a discount of $0.69 per share.

The Depositary Shares Underwriting Agreement provides, among other things, that the Depositary Shares Underwriters will purchase the Depositary Shares from the Company at the public offering price, less a discount of $1.50 per Depositary Share.

The Company also entered into a Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2015 (the “ Deposit Agreement ”), with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as depositary (the “ Depositary ”), on behalf of all holders from time to time of the receipts issued thereunder, which governs the deposit of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock with the Depositary and the issuance by the Depositary of the Depositary Shares. A copy of the Deposit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Underwriting Agreements

The Underwriting Agreements include customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company. They also provide for customary indemnification by each of the Company and the respective Underwriters party to the relevant agreement against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with sale of the Common Stock and Depositary Shares and for customary contribution provisions in respect of those liabilities.

The Underwriters and their affiliates have provided and in the future may continue to provide various financial advisory, cash management, investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services, including the provision of credit facilities, to the Company in the ordinary course of business for which they have received and will continue to receive customary compensation.

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Underwriting Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Underwriting Agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

The Underwriting Agreements have been filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K to provide investors and security holders with information regarding their terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreements were made only for purposes of such agreements and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreements, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties. The representations and warranties may have been made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the agreements instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Underwriting Agreements and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Underwriting Agreements, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosures.


Item 3.03 Material Modification of the Rights of Security Holders

Under the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends or make distributions on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration, shares of Common Stock, or any junior stock or parity stock currently outstanding or issued in the future, will be subject to certain restrictions in the event that the Company does not pay in full or declare and set aside for payment in full all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are more fully set forth in the Certificate of Designations (as defined below) described in Item 5.03 below and attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the form of certificate for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03 Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation

In connection with the issuance of the Depositary Shares, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) setting out the form and the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, which amended the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective on January 21, 2015. The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the Company’s liquidation, winding-up or dissolution:

 

    senior to all Common Stock of the Company and each other class of other capital stock or series of preferred stock issued after the original issue date of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock unless the terms of that stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or equally with, the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock;

 

    junior to each class of capital stock established after the original issue date of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; and

 

    junior to the Company’s existing and future indebtedness (including, in the case of the Company’s subsidiaries, trade payables).

The Company will pay cumulative dividends on each share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock at a rate of 6.25% per annum on the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Dividends will accrue and cumulate from the date of issuance and, to the extent that the Company is legally permitted to pay dividends and its board of directors declares a dividend payable, the Company will pay dividends quarterly in cashon each January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15, of each year to and including January 15, 2018, commencing April 15, 2015. The Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, dividends in cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, at its election.

Each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock on January 15, 2018 if not earlier converted at the option of the holder upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Certificate of Designations). The number of shares issuable upon mandatory conversion of each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be a variable amount based on the average of the daily volume weighted average price per share of Common Stock during a specified period of 20 consecutive trading days with the number of shares of Common Stock ranging from $27.025 to $43.4782 per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.

At any time prior to January 15, 2018, holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may elect to convert their shares at the minimum conversion rate (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), and will receive accrued and unpaid dividends for past dividend periods but will not receive accrued and unpaid dividends for the current dividend period. Upon a fundamental change (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may elect to convert their shares at a fundamental change conversion rate (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), and will receive accrued and unpaid dividends. The Company may elect to pay accrued and unpaid dividends payable in connection with any conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof.

Except as required by law or the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which includes the Certificate of Designations for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the holders of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights (other than with respect to certain matters regarding the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or when dividends payable on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly divided periods, or more, whether or not consecutive, as provided in the Certificate of Designations).

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Certificate of Designations is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Certificate of Designations, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18, and shall not be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as set forth by specific reference in such filing.

On January 21, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of its Common Stock and Depositary Shares offerings, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.    Description
  1.1    Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters named therein.
  1.2    Depositary Shares Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters named therein.
  3.1    Certificate of Designations of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including form of stock certificate).
  4.1    Form of certificate for the 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 3.1).
  4.2    Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as depositary, on behalf of all holders from time to time of the receipts issued thereunder (including form of Depositary Receipt).
  4.3    Form of Depositary Receipt for the Depositary Shares (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2).
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
99.1    Press Release of Southwestern Energy Company, dated January 21, 2015.


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.

 

       SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
Dated: January 21, 2015        By:   /s/ R. Craig Owen
        

 

         Name:   R. Craig Owen
         Title:  

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.    Description
  1.1    Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters named therein.
  1.2    Depositary Shares Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters named therein.
  3.1    Certificate of Designations of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including form of stock certificate).
  4.1    Form of certificate for the 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 3.1).
  4.2    Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2015, between Southwestern Energy Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as depositary, on behalf of all holders from time to time of the receipts issued thereunder (including form of Depositary Receipt).
  4.3    Form of Depositary Receipt for the Depositary Shares (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2).
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
99.1    Press Release of Southwestern Energy Company, dated January 21, 2015.

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Southwestern Energy Company

(a Delaware corporation)

26,086,957 Shares of Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Dated: January 14, 2015

 

 

 


Southwestern Energy Company

(a Delaware corporation)

26,086,957 Shares of Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

January 14, 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

as Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreements with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto (the “Initial Securities”) and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 3,913,043 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Option Securities”). The aforesaid Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and all or any part of the Option Securities subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that up to 5% of the Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Reserved Securities”) shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain persons designated by the Company (the “Invitees”), as part of the distribution of the depositary shares by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Company has solely determined, without any direct or indirect participation by the Underwriters, the Invitees who will purchase Reserved Securities (including the amount to be purchased by such persons) sold by the Underwriters. To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.

 

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The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement”, as defined under Rule 405 (“ Rule 405 ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-184882) covering the public offering and sale of certain securities of the Company, including the Securities, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration statement became effective under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 462(e)”). Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), and is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of such registration statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to the Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus supplement and the base prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, in the form first furnished or made available to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).

As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means 6 P.M., New York City time, on January 14, 2015 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.

“General Disclosure Package” means each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus and the most recent preliminary prospectus furnished to the Underwriters for general distribution to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), or (iv) the Final Term Sheet (as defined below).

 

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“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “ bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Applicable Time; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”) incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the Applicable Time.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter at the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Incorporated Documents . The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” under Rule 405 and the Securities have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on such automatic shelf registration statement. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act Regulations, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

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The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations.

(ii) Accurate Disclosure . Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus supplement), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such incorporated documents were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any of the Underwriters through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representative consists of (A) the names of such Underwriter as presented on the front and back cover of the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, (B) the last paragraph on the cover page regarding delivery of the shares, and (C) the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Electronic Distribution,” each as set forth in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the

 

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Securities Act Regulations) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 under the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 163”) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the Securities Act provided by Rule 163.

(iv) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, and (D) at the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer”, as defined in Rule 405.

(v) Company Not Ineligible Issuer . (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Securities and (C) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(vi) Independent Accountants . The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants with respect to the Company and the Acquired Assets as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations and are an independent registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(vii) Independent Petroleum Engineers .

(a) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., whose report as of February 6, 2014, is referenced in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, was as of February 6, 2014, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company. The information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries, which was supplied by the Company to Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. for purposes of reviewing the reserve reports and estimates of the Company and preparing the letters (the “Netherland Reserve Report Letters”) of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates as of which such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; estimates of such reserves and present values as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and reflected in the Netherland Reserve Report Letters comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the Act.

 

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(b) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., whose report as of June 30, 2014, is referenced in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, was as of June 30, 2014, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to assets (“Acquired Assets”) acquired pursuant to the Chesapeake Agreement (as defined below). To the Company’s knowledge, the information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Acquired Assets, which was supplied with regard to the Acquired Assets to Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. for purposes of reviewing the reserve reports and estimates relating to the Acquired Assets and preparing the letters (the “Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters”) of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates as of which such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; estimates of such reserves and present values as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and reflected in the Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the Act.

(viii) Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures . The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or incorporated by reference therein, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ix) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) there has been no change which has had or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a

 

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“Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class or series of its capital stock.

(x) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries . Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in any Significant Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

(xii) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Historical” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(xiii) Authorization of Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

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(xiv) Authorization and Description of Securities . The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.

(xv) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement.

(xvi) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the underwriting agreement dated January 14, 2015 between the Company and the representative of the several underwriters named therein relating to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the several underwriters named therein of 30,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of its 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares Offering”), have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the (i) charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity (except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for any such violation that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect). As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other financing instrument (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of the related financing by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

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(xvii) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xviii) Absence of Proceedings . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect their respective properties or assets, the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Depositary Shares Offering. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets are the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xix) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.

(xx) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the consummation of the Depositary Shares Offering, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction or the rules of FINRA, and (B) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Securities were offered, if any.

(xxi) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, franchises, clearances and other regulatory authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and to own, lease and operate their respective properties, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxii) Title to Property . Except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has (i) satisfactory or good and defensible title to substantially all of its interests in its oil and gas properties, title investigations having been carried out by or on behalf of such person in accordance with standards generally accepted in the oil and gas industry in the areas in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate, (ii) good and defensible title to all other real property and other material properties and assets owned by the Company or such subsidiary and (iii) valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for all of the properties and assets, real or personal, leased by them, except as the enforceability thereof may limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally (the “Enforceability Exceptions”), in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or charges of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to its rights under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above or affecting or questioning its rights to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

(xxiii) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate rights to use the patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including seismic data, trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively and together with any applications or registrations for the foregoing, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property, which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv) Environmental Laws . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, permit requirement, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the use, handling,

 

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treatment, disposal, generation, transportation or release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, hazardous substances, toxic substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials, mold or radioactive or biological materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”) and (B) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries own, lease or operate any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to or regulated by any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination at current, former or third-party sites pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any pending or threatened claim, action, demand, demand letter, lien, notice of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceeding relating to any Environmental Laws, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing.

(xxv) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance . In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxvi) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls . The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13-a15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations) and systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain required disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(xxvii) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

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(xxviii) Payment of Taxes . All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The United States federal income tax returns of the Company through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 have been filed and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been established by the Company. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxix) Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, all such insurance is in full force and effect and the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects. There are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which an insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Neither of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxx) Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxxi) Absence of Manipulation . Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(xxxii) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or

 

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authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxxiii) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”). No action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(xxxiv) OFAC . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(xxxv) Sales of Reserved Securities . In connection with any offer and sale of Reserved Securities outside the United States, if any, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it was delivered to Invitees, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions, it being understood that the Company does not intend to offer Reserved Securities outside of the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the Representative to offer, Reserved Securities to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any of its affiliates to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with any such entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any of its affiliates, or their respective businesses or products.

(xxxvi) Lending Relationships . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (A) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any Underwriter or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (B) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to the Underwriter or affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

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(xxxvii) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

(xxxviii) Acquisition Agreements . Each of (a) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2014 and as amended, by and between Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. and Southwestern Energy Production Company, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Chesapeake Agreement”), (b) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2014, by and between Statoil USA Onshore Properties Inc. and SWN Production Company, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Statoil Agreement”), and (c) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2014, by and between WPX Energy Appalachia, LLC, WPX Energy Keystone, LLC and WPX Energy Marketing, LLC, and SWN Production Company, LLC and Southwestern Energy Services Company, subsidiaries of the Company (the “WPX Agreement” and, along with the Chesapeake Agreement and the Statoil Agreement, the “Acquisition Agreements”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, a subsidiary of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and, to the knowledge of the Company, each of the Acquisition Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by the Enforceability Exceptions or by general equitable principles.

(xxxix) Pending Acquisitions . The Company expects that the respective transactions contemplated by the Statoil Agreement and the WPX Agreement will be consummated in all material respects on the terms and by the date and as contemplated by the Statoil Agreement or the WPX Agreement, as applicable, and the description thereof set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(b) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

(a) Initial Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, that number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b) Option Securities . In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 3,913,043 shares of Common Stock, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representative

 

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to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) The Closing Time . Payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as the Representative and the Company shall mutually agree (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representative to the Company.

Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B, and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been used or filed, as the case may be, including any document incorporated by reference therein, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or of the

 

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issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).

(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . The Company will comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any document incorporated therein by reference, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative written notice of such event or condition, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(c) Filing or Use of Amendments or Supplements . The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time and will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or use any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Securities Act, the Securities Act

 

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Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations or otherwise, from the Applicable Time to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is no longer required by the Securities Act (without giving effect to Rule 172) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes and (ii) the Closing Time, and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(d) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify or register the Securities for offering and sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the applicable securities laws of such states and non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and the Company consent to, and to maintain such qualifications in effect in all material respects so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earnings Statement . The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Listing . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

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(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities . During a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) the concurrent Depositary Shares Offering, the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (E) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will issue an earnings release or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the restrictions imposed in this clause (i) shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless Merrill Lynch waives, in writing, such extension.

(k) Final Term Sheet . The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Final Term Sheet”), in the form set forth in Schedule D hereto, reflecting the final terms of the Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, and shall file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 within the time required by such rule.

(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representative as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

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(m) No Manipulation of Price . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Expenses . The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, and travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants (of which one-half the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show shall be paid by the Underwriters), (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA, if required, of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (x) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to Invitees, and (xi) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third sentence of Section 1(a)(ii). Except as provided in this Sections 4, 6, 7 and 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

(b) Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 5(u), 9(a)(i) or (iii) or 10 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters, severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

(c) Allocation of Expenses . The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement that the Company may make for the sharing of such costs and expenses.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

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(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement . The Registration Statement has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions, dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibits A-1 through A-3 hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request.

(c) Opinion of In-House Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters with respect to the matters reasonably requested by the Representative. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal securities laws of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(e) Officers’ Certificate . At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all

 

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conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.

(f) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate . At each of the time of execution of this Agreement and the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company a certificate, dated as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Time, respectively, in the form attached as Exhibit D hereto, relating to the accuracy of certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) Accountant’s Comfort Letter for Company . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, accountants to the Company, a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the Company’s financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Accountant’s Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(j) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(k) Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter with respect to the Netherland Reserve Report Letters, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(l) Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter with respect to the Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

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(m) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (k) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(n) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (l) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(o) Approval of Listing . At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(p) Lock-up Agreements . At the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.

(q) Maintenance of Rating . Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(r) Consummation of the Depositary Shares Offering . The Depositary Shares Offering shall be consummated concurrently with the issue and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

(s) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities . In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company and any of its subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representative shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificate . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

 

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(iv) Opinion of In-House Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(v) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.

(vi) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Company . If requested by the Representative, a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, accountants to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(vii) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . If requested by the Representative, a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(j) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(viii) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . If requested by the Representative, a letter from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(m) hereof.

(ix) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . If requested by the Representative, a letter from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(n) hereof.

(t) Additional Documents . At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

(u) Termination of Agreement . If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, or if the Company shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery, as the case may be, to sell the number of Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, this

 

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Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

SECTION 6. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (each, an “Affiliate”)), selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) hereof) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in any preliminary prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

24


(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the prior written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 6(f) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e) Other Agreements with Respect to Indemnification . The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company with respect to indemnification.

 

25


(f) Indemnification for Reserved Securities . In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Securities have been offered, if any, (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus wrapper or other material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Securities or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Securities which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement or (iv) related to, or arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Securities; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

SECTION 7. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(f) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(f) hereof.

 

26


The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company with respect to contribution.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors, any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement .

(a) Termination . The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representative, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or

 

27


the New York Stock Exchange, or (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other Governmental Entity, or (v) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities . If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representative or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (212) 230-8730); notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Southwestern Energy Company, 10000 Energy Drive, Spring, Texas 77389, attention of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (facsimile: (832) 796-4820).

 

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SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

SECTION 13. Parties . This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 14. Trial by Jury . The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 16. Consent to Jurisdiction . Each of the parties hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be

 

29


effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 17. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 19. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 20. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 21. Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, its subsidiaries and/or the offering of the Notes that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

SECTION 22. General Provisions . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not become effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 6 and the contribution provisions of Section 7, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to

 

30


investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

SECTION 23. Compliance with USA Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
By:   /s/ R. Craig Owen
  Title: Senior Vice President and           Chief Financial Officer

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

          as of the date first above written:

By:  

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

INCORPORATED

By:  

/s/ Michael Scott Van Bergh

  Authorized Signatory

For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]


SCHEDULE A

The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $23.00

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $22.31, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $0.69 per share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Name of Underwriter    Number of
Initial Securities
 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

     10,017,396   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     2,934,784   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     2,934,784   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     2,934,784   

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     847,826   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     521,739   

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

     521,739   

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

     639,130   

RBS Securities Inc.

     913,043   

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     639,130   

BBVA Securities Inc.

     352,173   

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

     352,173   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     339,130   

CIBC World Markets Corp.

     208,695   

SG Americas Securities, LLC

     208,695   

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

     143,478   

Comerica Securities, Inc.

     143,478   

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

     143,478   

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

     143,478   

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     143,478   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     143,478   

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

     143,478   

Piper Jaffray & Co.

     143,478   

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     143,478   

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

     143,478   

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     143,478   

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

     143,478   
  

 

 

 

Total

     26,086,957   
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B-1

Pricing Terms

1. The Company is selling 26,086,957 shares of Common Stock.

2. The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 3,913,043 shares of Common Stock.

3. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $23.00.

SCHEDULE B-2

Free Writing Prospectuses

Final Term Sheet dated January 14, 2015 (Schedule D)


SCHEDULE C

List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up

John D. Gass

Catherine A. Kehr

Greg D. Kerley

Vello A. Kuuskraa

Kenneth R. Mourton

Steven L. Mueller

Elliott Pew

Terry W. Rathert

Alan H. Stevens

William J. Way

Mark K. Boling

Jeffrey B. Sherrick

R. Craig Owen

John C. Ale

Jennifer N. McCauley

James W. Vick

James L. Bolander, Jr.

J. Alan Stubblefield

Randall D. Ponder

John E. Bergeron

Jim R. Dewbre

Joanne C. Hresko

Paul W. Geiger

Randy L. Curry

Douglas Van Slambrouck

Josh C. Anders

Jennifer E. Stewart


SCHEDULE D

Final Term Sheet

Southwestern Energy Company

Concurrent Offerings of

26,086,957 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per Share (the “Common Stock”)

(the “Common Stock Offering”)

and

30,000,000 Depositary Shares (the “Depositary Shares”)

Each Representing a 1/20th Interest in a Share of

6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

(the “Depositary Shares Offering”)

The information in this pricing term sheet relates only to the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering and should be read together with (i) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2015 relating to the Common Stock Offering (the “ Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein, (ii) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2015 relating to the Depositary Shares Offering (the “ Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein and (iii) the related base prospectus dated January 12, 2015, each filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Registration No. 333-184882. Neither the Common Stock Offering nor the Depositary Shares Offering is contingent on the successful completion of the other offering. Terms not defined in this pricing term sheet have the meanings given to such terms in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as applicable. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars. Southwestern Energy Company has increased the size of the Common Stock Offering to 26,086,957 shares (or 30,000,000 shares if the underwriters in the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) and the size of the Depositary Shares Offering to 30,000,000 Depositary Shares (or 34,500,000 Depositary Shares if the underwriters in the Depositary Shares Offering exercise their over-allotment option in full). The final prospectus supplements relating to the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering will reflect conforming changes relating to such increases in the size of the offerings.

 

Issuer:    Southwestern Energy Company
Ticker / Exchange for the Common Stock:    SWN / The New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”)
Trade Date:    January 15, 2015.
Settlement Date:    January 21, 2015.
Use of Proceeds:    The Issuer estimates that the net proceeds to it from the Common Stock Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Issuer for the Common Stock Offering, will be approximately $581.4 million (or approximately $668.7 million if the underwriters in the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) and that the net proceeds to it from the Depositary Shares Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Issuer for the Depositary Shares Offering, will be approximately $1,454.1 million (or approximately $1,672.3 million if the underwriters in the Depositary Shares Offering exercise their over-allotment option in full). The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering to partially repay amounts outstanding under the Issuer’s existing $4,500 million unsecured 364-day bridge term loan facility. See “Use of Proceeds” in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.


Common Stock Offering

 

Common Stock Offered:    26,086,957 shares of Common Stock
Option for Underwriters to Purchase Additional Shares of Common Stock:    3,913,043 additional shares of Common Stock
NYSE Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on January 14, 2015:    $23.02 per share

 

     Per Share of
Common Stock
     Total  

Public Offering Price

   $ 23.00       $ 600,000,011.00   

Underwriting Discounts

   $ 0.69       $ 18,000,000.33   

Proceeds to the Issuer (Before Expenses)

   $ 22.31       $ 582,000,010.67   

 

CUSIP / ISIN:    845467109 / US8454671095
Book-Running Managers:   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Senior Co-Managers:   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

RBS Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Co-Managers:   

BBVA Securities Inc.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

CIBC World Markets Corp.

SG Americas Securities, LLC

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

Piper Jaffray & Co.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.


Depositary Shares Offering

 

Depositary Shares Offered:    30,000,000 Depositary Shares, each of which represents a 1/20th interest in a share of the Issuer’s 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” ). At settlement of the Depositary Shares Offering, the Issuer will issue 1,500,000 shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Depositary Shares to cover over-allotments.
Over-Allotment Option:    4,500,000 additional Depositary Shares (corresponding to 225,000 additional shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock).

 

     Per Depositary
Share
     Total  

Public Offering Price

   $ 50.00       $ 1,500,000,000.00   

Underwriting Discounts

   $ 1.50       $ 45,000,000.00   

Proceeds to the Issuer (Before Expenses)

   $ 48.50       $ 1,455,000,000.00   

 

Dividends:   

6.25% of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock per year. Dividends will accumulate from the Settlement Date and, to the extent that the Issuer is legally permitted to pay dividends and its board of directors, or an authorized committee thereof, declares a dividend payable with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Issuer will pay such dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations, by delivery of shares of Common Stock or through any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Issuer in its sole discretion; provided that any unpaid dividends will continue to accumulate.

 

The expected dividend payable on the first Dividend Payment Date is approximately $14.5833 per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to approximately $0.72917 per Depositary Share). Each subsequent dividend is expected to be $15.6250 per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to $0.78125 per Depositary Share).

Dividend Record Dates:    The January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 immediately preceding the relevant Dividend Payment Date.
Dividend Payment Dates:    January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2015 and ending on, and including, January 15, 2018.
Mandatory Conversion Date:    The third business day immediately following the last trading day of the 20 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding January 15, 2018.
Initial Price:    Approximately $23.00, which is equal to $1,000, divided by the Maximum Conversion Rate.
Threshold Appreciation Price:    Approximately $27.025, which represents a premium of approximately 17.5% over the Initial Price and is equal to $1,000, divided by the Minimum Conversion Rate.


Floor Price:   $8.05 (approximately 35% of the Initial Price).

Conversion Rate per Share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:

 

 

 

The conversion rate for each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will not be more than 43.4782 shares of Common Stock and not less than 37.0028 shares of Common Stock (respectively, the “ Maximum Conversion Rate ” and “ Minimum Conversion Rate ”) (and, correspondingly, the conversion rate for each Depositary Share will not be more than 2.17391 shares of Common Stock and not less than 1.85014 shares of Common Stock), depending on the applicable market value (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) of the Common Stock, as described below.

 

The following table illustrates the conversion rate per share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, based on the applicable market value of the Common Stock:

 

Applicable Market Value of
the Common Stock

 

 

Greater than the Threshold Appreciation Price

 

Equal to or less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but greater than or equal to the Initial Price

 

Less than the Initial Price

  

Conversion Rate per Share of

Mandatory Convertible

Preferred Stock

 

37.0028 shares of Common Stock

 

 

Between 37.0028 and 43.4782 shares of Common Stock, determined by dividing $1,000 by the applicable market value

 

43.4782 shares of Common Stock

  The following table illustrates the conversion rate per Depositary Share, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, based on the applicable market value of the Common Stock:
 

Applicable Market Value of
the Common Stock

 

Greater than the Threshold Appreciation Price

 

Equal to or less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but greater than or equal to the Initial Price

 

Less than the Initial Price

  

Conversion Rate per Depositary

Share

 

1.85014 shares of Common Stock

 

 

Between 1.85014 and 2.17391 shares of Common Stock, determined by dividing $50 by the applicable market value

 

2.17391 shares of Common Stock


Optional Conversion:    Other than during a fundamental change conversion period (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), at any time prior to January 15, 2018, a holder of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may elect to convert such holder’s shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock at the Minimum Conversion Rate of 37.0028 shares of Common Stock per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to 1.85014 shares of Common Stock per Depositary Share), subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. Because each Depositary Share represents a 1/20th fractional interest in a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder of Depositary Shares may only convert its Depositary Shares in lots of 20 Depositary Shares.
Fundamental Change:   

If a fundamental change (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) occurs on or prior to January 15, 2018, holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will have the right to convert their shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, into shares of Common Stock at the fundamental change conversion rate (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) during the period beginning on, and including, the effective date (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) of such fundamental change and ending on, and including, the date that is 20 calendar days after such effective date (or, if later, the date that is 20 calendar days after holders receive notice of such fundamental change, but in no event later than January 15, 2018).

 

The following table sets forth the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock based on the effective date of the fundamental change and the stock price (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) in the fundamental change:

 

Stock Price on Effective Date

 

Effective Date

  $5.00     $10.00     $15.00     $20.00     $23.00     $25.00     $27.03     $30.00     $35.00     $40.00     $45.00     $50.00     $60.00  

January 21, 2015

    44.9560        42.5280        39.4600        36.9820        36.0980        35.7400        35.5300        35.4260        35.5580        35.8260        36.0880        36.3020        36.5700   

January 15, 2016

    44.2160        43.1160        40.8200        38.1420        36.9880        36.4780        36.1540        35.9480        36.0100        36.2420        36.4600        36.6160        36.7820   

January 15, 2017

    43.6620        43.4500        42.4680        39.9640        38.3740        37.5660        37.0140        36.6220        36.5820        36.7340        36.8420        36.8940        36.9260   

January 15, 2018

    43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        40.0000        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020   


  

The exact stock price and effective date may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

 

•   if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the fundamental change conversion rates per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

 

•   if the stock price is in excess of $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be the Minimum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement; and

 

•   if the stock price is less than $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be the Maximum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

   The following table sets forth the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share based on the effective date of the fundamental change and the stock price in the fundamental change:
  

 

Stock Price on Effective Date

 

Effective Date

  $5.00     $10.00     $15.00     $20.00     $23.00     $25.00     $27.03     $30.00     $35.00     $40.00     $45.00     $50.00     $60.00  

January 21, 2015

    2.2478        2.1264        1.9730        1.8491        1.8049        1.7870        1.7765        1.7713        1.7779        1.7913        1.8044        1.8151        1.8285   

January 15, 2016

    2.2108        2.1558        2.0410        1.9071        1.8494        1.8239        1.8077        1.7974        1.8005        1.8121        1.8230        1.8308        1.8391   

January 15, 2017

    2.1831        2.1725        2.1234        1.9982        1.9187        1.8783        1.8507        1.8311        1.8291        1.8367        1.8421        1.8447        1.8463   

January 15, 2018

    2.1739        2.1739        2.1739        2.1739        2.1739        2.0000        1.8501        1.8501        1.8501        1.8501        1.8501        1.8501        1.8501   


  

The exact stock price and effective date may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

 

•   if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the fundamental change conversion rates per Depositary Share set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

 

•   if the stock price is in excess of $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be the Minimum Conversion Rate, divided by 20, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement; and

 

•   if the stock price is less than $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be the Maximum Conversion Rate, divided by 20, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

   Because each Depositary Share represents a 1/20th fractional interest in a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder of Depositary Shares may only convert its Depositary Shares upon the occurrence of a fundamental change in lots of 20 Depositary Shares.
Discount Rate for Purposes of Fundamental Change Dividend Make-Whole Amount:    The discount rate for purposes of determining the fundamental change dividend make-whole amount (as defined in the Depositary Shares Prospectus Supplement) is 6.25% per annum.
Listing:    The Issuer intends to apply to list the Depositary Shares on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SWNC” and expects trading of the Depositary Shares on The New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 days of the Settlement Date.
CUSIP / ISIN for the Depositary Shares:    845467208 / US8454672085
CUSIP / ISIN for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:    845467307 / US8454673075
Book-Running Managers:   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.


Senior Co-Managers:   

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

RBS Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Co-Managers:   

BBVA Securities Inc.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

CIBC World Markets Corp.

SG Americas Securities, LLC

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

 

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplements for the offerings) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, the related base prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway New York, NY 10038, 866-500-5408, dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, 1-800-831-9146, prospectus@citi.com; J.P. Morgan, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, 1-866-803-9204; Wells Fargo Securities, Attention: Equity Syndicate Dept, 375 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10152, 1-800-326-5897, cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com; (solely with respect to the Common Stock Offering) BMO Capital Markets. Attention: Prospectus Department, 3 Times Square, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10036, (800) 414-3627, bmoprospectus@bmo.com; or (solely with respect to the Depositary Shares Offering) BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, 787 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, (212) 841-2620.

This communication should be read in conjunction with the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, and the related base prospectus. The information in this communication supersedes the information in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, and the related base prospectus to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in such preliminary prospectus supplement or the related base prospectus.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.


Exhibit A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

1. The Company is a corporation under the DGCL with corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (in each case including the Incorporated Documents). With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, we confirm that the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when the Shares have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and issued to and paid for by you and the other Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights arising from the Governing Documents. In rendering the foregoing opinion we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements under the DGCL.

3. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

4. The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company to you and the other Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement do not on the date hereof:

 

  (i) violate the Company’s Governing Documents; or

 

  (ii) violate any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the DGCL; or

 

  (iii) require any consents, approvals, or authorizations to be obtained by the Company from, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by the Company with, any governmental authority under any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the DGCL on or prior to the date hereof that have not been obtained or made.

5. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act. With your consent, based solely on a review of the Commission’s website, we confirm that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor have been initiated by the Commission. The Preliminary Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Act, the Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rules 424(b) and 430B under the Act, and the Specified IFWP has been filed in accordance with Rule 433(d) under the Act.

6. The Registration Statement at January 14, 2015, including the information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act, and the Prospectus, as of its date, each appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the applicable form requirements for registration statements on Form S-3 under the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; it being understood, however, that we express no view with respect to Regulation S-T or the financial statements, schedules, or other financial data, included in, incorporated by reference in, or omitted from, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. For purposes of this paragraph, we have assumed that the statements made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are correct and complete.

 

A-1


7. The statements in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Specified IFWP and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Common Stock,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Common Stock, and under the caption “Description of Debt Securities,” insofar as they purport to describe or summarize certain provisions of U.S. federal and New York laws referred to therein, are accurate descriptions or summaries in all material respects.

8. The Company is not, and immediately after giving effect to the sale of the Shares in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be required to be, registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

A-2


Exhibit A-2

FORM OF NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

Based on our participation, review and reliance as described above, we advise you that no facts came to our attention that caused us to believe that:

 

    the Registration Statement at January 14, 2015, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act (together with the Incorporated Documents at that time), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

    the Preliminary Prospectus, as of 6 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on January 14, 2015 (together with the Incorporated Documents at that date and the Specified IFWP) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

    the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the date hereof, (together with the Incorporated Documents at those dates), contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

it being understood that we express no belief with respect to the financial statements, schedules, or other financial data included or incorporated by reference in, or omitted from, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Specified IFWP, the Prospectus, or the Incorporated Documents.

 

A-3


Exhibit A-3

FORM OF TAX OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

Based on such facts and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein and in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, we hereby confirm that the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

A-4


Exhibit B

FORM OF OPINION OF JOHN C. ALE

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)

 

1. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction, other than its state of incorporation, in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

2. Each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly formed and is validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has corporate or similar power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. The Significant Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation are set forth in Schedule A hereto.

 

3. To the best of my knowledge, and except as otherwise disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and the Forms 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014 or the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is or may be the subject which, if determined adversely to the company or such Significant Subsidiary, as applicable, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4. To the best of my knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation of or in default under, the agreements filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement or filed as exhibits to the reports incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (the “ Specified Agreements ”), except for violations and defaults which individually and in the aggregate are not material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or to the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock; the issue and sale of Securities and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provision of, or constitute a default under, any of the Specified Agreements or any applicable law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except for any conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults which individually and in the aggregate are not material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or to the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

B-1


Schedule A

 

Significant Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation

SWN Production (Arkansas), LLC

   Texas

SWN Production Company, LLC

   Texas

SWN Midstream Services Company, LLC

   Texas

Southwestern Energy Services Company

   Texas

DeSoto Gathering Company, LLC

   Texas

Angelina Gathering Company, L.L.C.

   Texas

 

B-2


Exhibit C

January 12, 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

          Incorporated,

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

as Representative of the several

Underwriters to be named in the

within-mentioned Underwriting Agreement

 

  Re: Proposed Public Offering by Southwestern Energy Company

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned, a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company providing for the public offering of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 90 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (subject to extensions as discussed below), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Securities, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, provided that (1) Merrill Lynch receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (3) such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (4) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:

 

  (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or

 

C-1


  (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

 

  (iii) as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or

 

  (iv) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned.

[In addition, the undersigned may make dispositions of Lock-up Securities to the Company, or the the Company may withold Lock-up Securities, solely in connection with the payment of fees, taxes and any exercise price due with respect to the vesting of restricted stock awards or the cashless exercise of stock options, insofar as such restricted stock or stock option is outstanding as of the date of the underwriting agreement; provided that, (i) no voluntary filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other public report, filing or announcement shall be made in respect of such transfer during the lock-up period, and (ii) if any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other public report, is required to be made, such report shall clearly indicate that the transfer relates to the payment of taxes due with respect to the vesting of restricted stock awards or the cashless exercise of stock options and that no shares were sold by the reporting person.] 1

Furthermore, the undersigned may sell shares of Common Stock of the Company purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the Public Offering if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if:

(1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or

(2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day lock-up period,

the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless Merrill Lynch waives, in writing, such extension.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

[Signature page follows]

 

1   Mueller and Owen lockups only.

 

C-2


Very truly yours,
Signature:                                                                                      
Print Name:                                                                                 

 

C-3


Exhibit D

FORM OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(f)

[Pricing Date][Closing Date]

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, among Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

In connection with the offering of the Securities, and to assist the Underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities, I, R. Craig Owen, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company (and not in my individual capacity), do hereby certify as follows:

 

  1. I am knowledgeable with respect to the accounting records and internal accounting practices, policies, procedures and controls of the Company and its subsidiaries, and I, along with others, have responsibility for preparing quarterly and annual financial statements and related disclosures for the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“ U.S. GAAP ”).

 

  2. I, or members of my staff, have read the amounts excerpted from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and marked as attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Certified Capsule Information ”). To my knowledge based on a reasonable inspection of the Company’s books and records, the Certified Capsule Information (a) is derived from the internal accounting records of the Company, and (b) presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial information presented therein.

 

  3. I, or members of my staff, have reviewed the key performance indicators and other operating data excerpted from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and marked as attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Certified Operating Data ”). To the best of my knowledge, the Certified Operating Data was derived from internal databases that are reliable and accurate in all material respects to produce such Certified Operating Data.

[ The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank ]

 

D-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this certificate in his sole capacity as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as of the first date set forth herein.

 

By:    
  Name:   R. Craig Owen
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

D-2

Exhibit 1.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Southwestern Energy Company

(a Delaware corporation)

30,000,000 Depositary Shares

Each representing a 1/20th Interest in a

Share of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share)

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Dated: January 14, 2015

 

 

 


Southwestern Energy Company

(a Delaware corporation)

30,000,000 Depositary Shares

Each representing a 1/20th Interest in a

Share of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share)

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

January 14, 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

as Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreements with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of its 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company set forth in Schedule A hereto (the “Initial Securities”) and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 4,500,000 additional depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of its Preferred Stock, of the Company (the “Option Securities”). The aforesaid Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and all or any part of the Option Securities subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.” The Preferred Stock will be convertible into a variable number of shares of Common Stock (the “Conversion Shares”), par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that up to 5% of the Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Reserved Securities”) shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain persons designated by the Company (the “Invitees”), as part of the distribution of the depositary shares by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and

 

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interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Company has solely determined, without any direct or indirect participation by the Underwriters, the Invitees who will purchase Reserved Securities (including the amount to be purchased by such persons) sold by the Underwriters. To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.

The Securities will be issued pursuant to a deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”), to be dated as of January 21, 2015, among the Company, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as depositary (the “Depositary”), and owners and beneficial owners from time to time of the Securities. Each Security will initially represent the right to receive a 1/20th interest in a share of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.

The terms of the Preferred Stock will be set forth in a certificate of designation (the “Certificate of Designation”) to be filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

The Company hereby confirms its engagement of SC Americas Securities, LLC (“Société Générale”) as, and Société Générale hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, the “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(12) with respect to the offering and sale of the Securities. Société Générale, solely in its capacity as the qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the “QIU.”

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement”, as defined under Rule 405 (“ Rule 405 ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-184882) covering the public offering and sale of certain securities of the Company, including the Securities, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration statement became effective under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 462(e)”). Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), and is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of such registration statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to the Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus supplement and the base prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, in the form first furnished or made available to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference

 

2


therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).

As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means 6:00 P.M., New York City time, on January 14, 2015 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.

“General Disclosure Package” means each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus and the most recent preliminary prospectus furnished to the Underwriters for general distribution to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), or (iv) the Final Term Sheet (as defined below).

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “ bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Applicable Time; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”) incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the Applicable Time.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

 

3


SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter at the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Incorporated Documents . The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” under Rule 405 and the Securities have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on such automatic shelf registration statement. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act Regulations, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations.

(ii) Accurate Disclosure . Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus supplement), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the

 

4


Registration Statement became effective or when such incorporated documents were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any of the Underwriters through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representative consists of (A) the names of such Underwriter as presented on the front and back cover of the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, (B) the last paragraph on the cover page regarding delivery of the depositary shares, and (C) the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Electronic Distribution,” each as set forth in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act Regulations) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 under the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 163”) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the Securities Act provided by Rule 163.

(iv) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, and (D) at the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer”, as defined in Rule 405.

(v) Company Not Ineligible Issuer . (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Securities and (C) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

 

5


(vi) Independent Accountants . The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants with respect to the Company and the Acquired Assets as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations and are an independent registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(vii) Independent Petroleum Engineers .

(a) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., whose report as of February 6, 2014, is referenced in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, was as of February 6, 2014, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company. The information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries, which was supplied by the Company to Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. for purposes of reviewing the reserve reports and estimates of the Company and preparing the letters (the “Netherland Reserve Report Letters”) of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates as of which such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; estimates of such reserves and present values as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and reflected in the Netherland Reserve Report Letters comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the Act.

(b) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., whose report as of June 30, 2014, is referenced in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, was as of June 30, 2014, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to assets (“Acquired Assets”) acquired pursuant to the Chesapeake Agreement (as defined below). To the Company’s knowledge, the information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Acquired Assets, which was supplied with regard to the Acquired Assets to Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. for purposes of reviewing the reserve reports and estimates relating to the Acquired Assets and preparing the letters (the “Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters”) of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates as of which such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; estimates of such reserves and present values as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and reflected in the Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the Act.

(viii) Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures . The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the

 

6


information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or incorporated by reference therein, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ix) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) there has been no change which has had or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class or series of its capital stock.

(x) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement and the Certificate of Designation (the “Transaction Documents”) , and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7


(xi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries . Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in any Significant Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

(xii) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Historical” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(xiii) Authorization of Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(xiv) Authorization of Deposit Agreement . The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions (as defined below).

(xv) Authorization of Certificate of Designation . The Certificate of Designation has been duly authorized by the Company. The Certificate of Designation sets forth the rights, preferences and priorities of the Preferred Stock, and the holders of the Preferred Stock will have the rights set forth in the Certificate of Designation upon filing with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware.

(xvi) Authorization and Description of Securities . The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. Upon the due execution and delivery by the Depositary of the Securities, upon the deposit of the Preferred Stock in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and when the Securities are issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, such Securities will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the

 

8


Company. The Preferred Stock conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. The persons in whose names the Securities are registered will be entitled to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement.

(xvii) Authorization of the Preferred Stock . The Preferred Stock, when issued by the Company, may be freely deposited by the Company with the Depositary against issuance of the Securities; the Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and deposit, and, when issued and deposited against issuance of the Securities, and upon the filing and effectiveness of the Certificate of Designation, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; upon payment of the purchase price for the Securities and deposit of the Preferred Stock against issuance of the Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, the Underwriters will receive good, valid and marketable title to the Securities, free and clear of any Liens; no holder of the Preferred Stock will be subject to personal liability solely by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the Preferred Stock is not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(xviii) Authorization of the Conversion Shares . Upon issuance and deposit of the Preferred Stock against issuance of the Securities in accordance with this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement and the Prospectus and the filing and effectiveness of the Certificate of Designation, the Preferred Stock will be convertible into the Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock and the Certificate of Designation; a number of Conversion Shares (the “Maximum Number of Conversion Shares”) equal to the sum of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable by the Company upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (including the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable by the Company upon conversion in connection with a fundamental change (as defined in the General Disclosure Package) (including the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable by the company in respect of any fundamental change dividend make-whole amount and any accumulated dividend amount (in each case, as defined in the General Disclosure Package))) and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable by the Company in respect of any early conversion additional conversion amount and any additional conversion amount (each as defined in the General Disclosure Package) (assuming the Company elects to issue and deliver the maximum number of shares of Common Stock in connection with any such early conversion additional conversion amount and any such additional conversion amount), in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Amendment, has been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action and such Conversion Shares, when issued upon such conversion or delivery (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock and the Certificate of Designation will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and will not be subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(xix) Description of the Transaction Documents . The statements in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as they summarize provisions of the Transaction Documents, fairly summarize the applicable provisions of the Transaction Documents in all material respects.

(xx) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(xxi) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and deposit of the Preferred Stock with the Depositary against issuance of the Securities and the issuance of a number of Conversion Shares equal to the Maximum Number of Conversion Shares issuable by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation, and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the underwriting agreement dated January 14, 2015 between the Company and the representative of the several underwriters named therein relating to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the several underwriters named therein of 26,086,957 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Common Stock Offering”), have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the (i) charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity (except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for any such violation that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect). As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other financing instrument (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of the related financing by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(xxii) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxiii) Absence of Proceedings . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect their respective properties or assets, the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Common Stock Offering. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets are the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.

(xxv) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder, the issuance and deposit of the Preferred Stock with the Depositary against issuance of the Securities and the issuance of a number of Conversion Shares equal to the Maximum Number of Conversion Shares issuable by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the consummation of the Common Stock Offering, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction, the rules of FINRA or any law or regulation applicable to filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (B) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Securities were offered, if any.

(xxvi) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, franchises, clearances and other regulatory authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and to own, lease and operate their respective properties, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxvii) Title to Property . Except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has (i) satisfactory or good and defensible title to substantially all of its interests in its oil and gas properties, title investigations having been carried out by or on behalf of such person in accordance with standards generally accepted in the oil and gas industry in the areas in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate, (ii) good and defensible title to all other real property and other material properties and assets owned by the Company or such subsidiary and (iii) valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for all of the properties and assets, real or personal, leased by them, except as the enforceability thereof may limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally (the “Enforceability Exceptions”), in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or charges of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to its rights under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above or affecting or questioning its rights to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

(xxviii) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate rights to use the patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including seismic data, trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively and together with any applications or registrations for the foregoing, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property, which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxix) Environmental Laws . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, permit requirement, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the use, handling, treatment, disposal, generation, transportation or release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, hazardous substances, toxic substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials, mold or radioactive or biological materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”) and (B) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries own, lease or operate any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to or regulated by any

 

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Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination at current, former or third-party sites pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any pending or threatened claim, action, demand, demand letter, lien, notice of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceeding relating to any Environmental Laws, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing.

(xxx) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance . In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxi) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls . The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13-a15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations) and systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain required disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(xxxii) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

(xxxiii) Payment of Taxes . All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against

 

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which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The United States federal income tax returns of the Company through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 have been filed and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been established by the Company. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxiv) Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, all such insurance is in full force and effect and the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects. There are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which an insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Neither of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxxv) Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxxvi) Absence of Manipulation . Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(xxxvii) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

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(xxxviii) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”). No action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(xxxix) OFAC . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(xl) Sales of Reserved Securities . In connection with any offer and sale of Reserved Securities outside the United States, if any, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it was delivered to Invitees, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions, it being understood that the Company does not intend to offer Reserved Securities outside of the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the Representative to offer, Reserved Securities to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any of its affiliates to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with any such entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any of its affiliates, or their respective businesses or products.

(xli) Lending Relationships . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (A) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any Underwriter or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (B) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to the Underwriter or affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xlii) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

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(xliii) Acquisition Agreements . Each of (a) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2014 and as amended, by and between Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. and Southwestern Energy Production Company, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Chesapeake Agreement”), (b) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2014, by and between Statoil USA Onshore Properties Inc. and SWN Production Company, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Statoil Agreement”), and (c) the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2014, by and between WPX Energy Appalachia, LLC, WPX Energy Keystone, LLC and WPX Energy Marketing, LLC, and SWN Production Company, LLC and Southwestern Energy Services Company, subsidiaries of the Company (the “WPX Agreement” and, along with the Chesapeake Agreement and the Statoil Agreement, the “Acquisition Agreements”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, a subsidiary of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and, to the knowledge of the Company, each of the Acquisition Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by the Enforceability Exceptions or by general equitable principles.

(xliv) Pending Acquisitions . The Company expects that the respective transactions contemplated by the Statoil Agreement and the WPX Agreement will be consummated in all material respects on the terms and by the date and as contemplated by the Statoil Agreement or the WPX Agreement, as applicable, and the description thereof set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(b) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

(a) Initial Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per depositary share set forth in Schedule A, that number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional depositary shares.

(b) Option Securities . In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 depositary shares, at the price per depositary share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per depositary share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional depositary shares.

 

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(c) The Closing Time . Payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as the Representative and the Company shall mutually agree (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representative to the Company.

Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B, and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been used or filed, as the case may be, including any document incorporated by reference therein, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or of the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether

 

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the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).

(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . The Company will comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any document incorporated therein by reference, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative written notice of such event or condition, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(c) Filing or Use of Amendments or Supplements . The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time and will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or use any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations or otherwise, from the Applicable Time to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is no longer required by the Securities Act (without giving effect to Rule 172) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes and (ii) the Closing Time, and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

 

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(d) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify or register the Securities for offering and sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the applicable securities laws of such states and non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and the Company consent to, and to maintain such qualifications in effect in all material respects so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earnings Statement . The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Listing . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Securities, and a number of Conversion Shares equal to the Maximum Number of Conversion Shares, on the New York Stock Exchange.

(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities . During a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii)

 

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enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, including the Preferred Stock and the Conversion Shares, (B) the concurrent Common Stock Offering, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) any Conversion Shares issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, (F) any shares of Common Stock issued and paid as a dividend on the Securities and (G) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will issue an earnings release or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the restrictions imposed in this clause (i) shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless Merrill Lynch waives, in writing, such extension.

(k) Final Term Sheet . The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Final Term Sheet”), in the form set forth in Schedule D hereto, reflecting the final terms of the Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, and shall file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 within the time required by such rule.

(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representative as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(m) No Manipulation of Price . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

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(n) Deposit of the Preferred Stock . The Company will, prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, deposit the Preferred Stock with the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and otherwise comply with the Deposit Agreement so that the Securities will be issued by the Depositary against receipt of such Preferred Stock and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor at the Closing Time or the Relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

(o) Reservation of the Conversion Shares . The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive or similar rights, a number of Conversion Shares equal to the Maximum Number of Conversion Shares.

(p) Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock . Between the date hereof and the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company will not do or authorize any act or thing that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price of the Preferred Stock.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Expenses . The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, and the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, and travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants (of which one-half the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show shall be paid by the Underwriters), (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA, if required, of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities, the Conversion Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued and paid as a dividend on the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (x) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to Invitees, (xi) the fees and expenses of the QIU and (xii) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third sentence of Section 1(a)(ii). Except as provided in this Sections 4, 6, 7 and 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

 

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(b) Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 5(u), 9(a)(i) or (iii) or 10 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters, severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

(c) Allocation of Expenses . The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement that the Company may make for the sharing of such costs and expenses.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement . The Registration Statement has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions, dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibits A-1 through A-3 hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request.

(c) Opinion of In-House Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters with respect to the matters reasonably requested by the Representative. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal securities laws of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

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(e) Officers’ Certificate . At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.

(f) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate . At each of the time of execution of this Agreement and the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company a certificate, dated as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Time, respectively, in the form attached as Exhibit D hereto, relating to the accuracy of certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) Accountant’s Comfort Letter for Company . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, accountants to the Company, a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the Company’s financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Accountant’s Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(j) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

 

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(k) Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter with respect to the Netherland Reserve Report Letters, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(l) Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter with respect to the Acquired Assets Reserve Report Letters, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(m) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (k) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(n) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (l) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(o) Approval of Listing . At the Closing Time, the Securities and a number of Conversion Shares equal to the Maximum Number of Conversion Shares shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(p) No Objection . FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

(q) Lock-up Agreements . At the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.

(r) Certificate of Designation . The Certificate of Designation shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall have become effective.

(s) Maintenance of Rating . Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

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(t) Consummation of the Common Stock Offering . The Common Stock Offering shall be consummated concurrently with the issue and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

(u) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities . In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company and any of its subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representative shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificate . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

(iv) Opinion of In-House Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(v) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . If requested by the Representative, the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.

(vi) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Company . If requested by the Representative, a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, accountants to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(vii) Bring-down Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . If requested by the Representative, a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(j) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

 

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(viii) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Company . If requested by the Representative, a letter from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(m) hereof.

(ix) Bring-down Engineers’ Comfort Letter for Acquired Assets . If requested by the Representative, a letter from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(n) hereof.

(v) Additional Documents . At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

(w) Termination of Agreement . If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, or if the Company shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery, as the case may be, to sell the number of Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

SECTION 6. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (each, an “Affiliate”)), selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) hereof) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in any preliminary prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the prior written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances; provided, however that if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 6(g) hereof in respect of such action, then in addition to such counsel for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party

 

27


shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the QIU Indemnified Parties (as defined below). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 6(f) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e) Other Agreements with Respect to Indemnification . The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company with respect to indemnification.

(f) Indemnification for Reserved Securities . In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Securities have been offered, if any, (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus wrapper or other material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Securities or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Securities which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement or (iii) related to, or arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Securities; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(g) Indemnification of the QIU . Without limitation and in addition to its obligation under the other subsections of this Section 6, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the QIU, its officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the “QIU Indemnified Parties”) from and against any loss, claim, damage, liabilities or expense, as incurred, arising out of or based upon the QIU’s acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(12)) in connection with the

 

28


offering contemplated by this Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified person for any legal or other expense reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the QIU.

SECTION 7. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(f) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(f) hereof.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

29


For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company with respect to contribution.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the QIU or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter or the QIU, its officers or directors, any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement .

(a) Termination . The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representative, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, or (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other Governmental Entity, or (v) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities . If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the

 

30


right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representative or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (212) 230-8730); notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Southwestern Energy Company, 10000 Energy Drive, Spring, Texas 77389, attention of John C. Ale, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (facsimile: (832) 796-4820).

SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

31


SECTION 13. Parties . This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the QIU and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the QIU and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 14. Trial by Jury . The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 16. Consent to Jurisdiction . Each of the parties hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 17. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 19. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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SECTION 20. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 21. Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, its subsidiaries and/or the offering of the Notes that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

SECTION 22. General Provisions . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not become effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 6 and the contribution provisions of Section 7, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

SECTION 23. Compliance with USA Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

/s/ R. Craig Owen

  Title: Senior Vice President and
            Chief Financial Officer

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
          as of the date first above written:
By:   MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                          INCORPORATED
By:  

Michael Scott Van Bergh

  Authorized Signatory

For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]


SCHEDULE A

The initial public offering price per depositary share for the Securities shall be $50.00.

The purchase price per depositary share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $48.50, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $1.50 per depositary share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Name of Underwriter

   Number of
Initial Securities
 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

     11,520,000   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     3,375,000   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     3,375,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     3,375,000   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     885,000   

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     735,000   

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

     675,000   

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

     675,000   

RBS Securities Inc.

     1,050,000   

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     675,000   

BBVA Securities Inc.

     405,000   

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

     405,000   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     390,000   

CIBC World Markets Corp.

     240,000   

SG Americas Securities, LLC

     240,000   

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

     165,000   

Comerica Securities, Inc.

     165,000   

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

     165,000   

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

     165,000   

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     165,000   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     165,000   

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

     165,000   

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     165,000   

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

     165,000   

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     165,000   

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

     165,000   

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

     165,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

     30,000,000   
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B-1

Pricing Terms

1. The Company is selling 30,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of Preferred Stock.

2. The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of Preferred Stock.

3. The initial public offering price per depositary share for the Securities shall be $50.00.

SCHEDULE B-2

Free Writing Prospectuses

Final Term Sheet dated January 14, 2015 (Schedule D)


SCHEDULE C

List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up

John D. Gass

Catherine A. Kehr

Greg D. Kerley

Vello A. Kuuskraa

Kenneth R. Mourton

Steven L. Mueller

Elliott Pew

Terry W. Rathert

Alan H. Stevens

William J. Way

Mark K. Boling

Jeffrey B. Sherrick

R. Craig Owen

John C. Ale

Jennifer N. McCauley

James W. Vick

James L. Bolander, Jr.

J. Alan Stubblefield

Randall D. Ponder

John E. Bergeron

Jim R. Dewbre

Joanne C. Hresko

Paul W. Geiger

Randy L. Curry

Douglas Van Slambrouck

Josh C. Anders

Jennifer E. Stewart


SCHEDULE D

Final Term Sheet

Southwestern Energy Company

Concurrent Offerings of

26,086,957 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per Share (the “Common Stock”)

(the “Common Stock Offering”)

and

30,000,000 Depositary Shares (the “Depositary Shares”)

Each Representing a 1/20th Interest in a Share of

6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

(the “Depositary Shares Offering”)

The information in this pricing term sheet relates only to the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering and should be read together with (i) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2015 relating to the Common Stock Offering (the “ Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein, (ii) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2015 relating to the Depositary Shares Offering (the “ Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein and (iii) the related base prospectus dated January 12, 2015, each filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Registration No. 333-184882. Neither the Common Stock Offering nor the Depositary Shares Offering is contingent on the successful completion of the other offering. Terms not defined in this pricing term sheet have the meanings given to such terms in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as applicable. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars. Southwestern Energy Company has increased the size of the Common Stock Offering to 26,086,957 shares (or 30,000,000 shares if the underwriters in the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) and the size of the Depositary Shares Offering to 30,000,000 Depositary Shares (or 34,500,000 Depositary Shares if the underwriters in the Depositary Shares Offering exercise their over-allotment option in full). The final prospectus supplements relating to the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering will reflect conforming changes relating to such increases in the size of the offerings.

 

Issuer:    Southwestern Energy Company
Ticker / Exchange for the Common Stock:    SWN / The New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”)
Trade Date:    January 15, 2015.
Settlement Date:    January 21, 2015.
Use of Proceeds:    The Issuer estimates that the net proceeds to it from the Common Stock Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Issuer for the Common Stock Offering, will be approximately $581.4 million (or approximately $668.7 million if the underwriters in the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) and that the net proceeds to it from the Depositary Shares Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Issuer for the Depositary Shares Offering, will be approximately $1,454.1 million (or approximately $1,672.3 million if the underwriters in the Depositary Shares Offering exercise their over-allotment option in full). The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering to partially repay amounts outstanding under the Issuer’s existing $4,500 million unsecured 364-day bridge term loan facility. See “Use of Proceeds” in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.


   Common Stock Offering
Common Stock Offered:    26,086,957 shares of Common Stock
Option for Underwriters to Purchase Additional Shares of Common Stock:    3,913,043 additional shares of Common Stock
NYSE Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on January 14, 2015:    $23.02 per share

 

     Per Share of
Common Stock
     Total  

Public Offering Price

   $ 23.00       $ 600,000,011.00   

Underwriting Discounts

   $ 0.69       $ 18,000,000.33   

Proceeds to the Issuer (Before Expenses)

   $ 22.31       $ 582,000,010.67   

 

CUSIP / ISIN:    845467109 / US8454671095
Book-Running Managers:   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Senior Co-Managers:   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

RBS Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Co-Managers:   

BBVA Securities Inc.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

CIBC World Markets Corp.

SG Americas Securities, LLC

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

Piper Jaffray & Co.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.


Depositary Shares Offering
Depositary Shares Offered:    30,000,000 Depositary Shares, each of which represents a 1/20th interest in a share of the Issuer’s 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” ). At settlement of the Depositary Shares Offering, the Issuer will issue 1,500,000 shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Depositary Shares to cover over-allotments.
Over-Allotment Option:    4,500,000 additional Depositary Shares (corresponding to 225,000 additional shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock).

 

     Per Depositary
Share
     Total  

Public Offering Price

   $ 50.00       $ 1,500,000,000.00   

Underwriting Discounts

   $ 1.50       $ 45,000,000.00   

Proceeds to the Issuer (Before Expenses)

   $ 48.50       $ 1,455,000,000.00   

 

Dividends:   

6.25% of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock per year. Dividends will accumulate from the Settlement Date and, to the extent that the Issuer is legally permitted to pay dividends and its board of directors, or an authorized committee thereof, declares a dividend payable with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Issuer will pay such dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations, by delivery of shares of Common Stock or through any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Issuer in its sole discretion; provided that any unpaid dividends will continue to accumulate.

 

The expected dividend payable on the first Dividend Payment Date is approximately $14.5833 per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to approximately $0.72917 per Depositary Share). Each subsequent dividend is expected to be $15.6250 per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to $0.78125 per Depositary Share).

Dividend Record Dates:    The January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 immediately preceding the relevant Dividend Payment Date.
Dividend Payment Dates:    January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2015 and ending on, and including, January 15, 2018.
Mandatory Conversion Date:    The third business day immediately following the last trading day of the 20 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding January 15, 2018.
Initial Price:    Approximately $23.00, which is equal to $1,000, divided by the Maximum Conversion Rate.
Threshold Appreciation Price:    Approximately $27.025, which represents a premium of approximately 17.5% over the Initial Price and is equal to $1,000, divided by the Minimum Conversion Rate.


Floor Price:   $8.05 (approximately 35% of the Initial Price).
Conversion Rate per Share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:  

 

 

The conversion rate for each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will not be more than 43.4782 shares of Common Stock and not less than 37.0028 shares of Common Stock (respectively, the “ Maximum Conversion Rate ” and “ Minimum Conversion Rate ”) (and, correspondingly, the conversion rate for each Depositary Share will not be more than 2.17391 shares of Common Stock and not less than 1.85014 shares of Common Stock), depending on the applicable market value (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) of the Common Stock, as described below.

 

The following table illustrates the conversion rate per share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, based on the applicable market value of the Common Stock:

 

Applicable Market Value of

the Common Stock

  

Conversion Rate per Share of

Mandatory Convertible

Preferred Stock

  Greater than the Threshold Appreciation Price    37.0028 shares of Common Stock
  Equal to or less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but greater than or equal to the Initial Price    Between 37.0028 and 43.4782 shares of Common Stock, determined by dividing $1,000 by the applicable market value
  Less than the Initial Price    43.4782 shares of Common Stock
  The following table illustrates the conversion rate per Depositary Share, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, based on the applicable market value of the Common Stock:
 

Applicable Market Value of

the Common Stock

  

Conversion Rate per Depositary

Share

  Greater than the Threshold Appreciation Price    1.85014 shares of Common Stock
  Equal to or less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but greater than or equal to the Initial Price    Between 1.85014 and 2.17391 shares of Common Stock, determined by dividing $50 by the applicable market value
  Less than the Initial Price    2.17391 shares of Common Stock


Optional Conversion:   Other than during a fundamental change conversion period (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), at any time prior to January 15, 2018, a holder of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may elect to convert such holder’s shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock at the Minimum Conversion Rate of 37.0028 shares of Common Stock per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to 1.85014 shares of Common Stock per Depositary Share), subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. Because each Depositary Share represents a 1/20th fractional interest in a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder of Depositary Shares may only convert its Depositary Shares in lots of 20 Depositary Shares.
Fundamental Change:  

If a fundamental change (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) occurs on or prior to January 15, 2018, holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will have the right to convert their shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, into shares of Common Stock at the fundamental change conversion rate (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) during the period beginning on, and including, the effective date (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) of such fundamental change and ending on, and including, the date that is 20 calendar days after such effective date (or, if later, the date that is 20 calendar days after holders receive notice of such fundamental change, but in no event later than January 15, 2018).

 

The following table sets forth the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock based on the effective date of the fundamental change and the stock price (as defined in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) in the fundamental change:

 

Stock Price on Effective Date

 

Effective Date

   $5.00      $10.00      $15.00      $20.00      $23.00      $25.00      $27.03      $30.00      $35.00      $40.00      $45.00      $50.00      $60.00  

January 21, 2015

     44.9560         42.5280         39.4600         36.9820         36.0980         35.7400         35.5300         35.4260         35.5580         35.8260         36.0880         36.3020         36.5700   

January 15, 2016

     44.2160         43.1160         40.8200         38.1420         36.9880         36.4780         36.1540         35.9480         36.0100         36.2420         36.4600         36.6160         36.7820   

January 15, 2017

     43.6620         43.4500         42.4680         39.9640         38.3740         37.5660         37.0140         36.6220         36.5820         36.7340         36.8420         36.8940         36.9260   

January 15, 2018

     43.4780         43.4780         43.4780         43.4780         43.4780         40.0000         37.0020         37.0020         37.0020         37.0020         37.0020         37.0020         37.0020   


 

The exact stock price and effective date may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

 

•   if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the fundamental change conversion rates per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

 

•   if the stock price is in excess of $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be the Minimum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement; and

 

•   if the stock price is less than $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be the Maximum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

  The following table sets forth the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share based on the effective date of the fundamental change and the stock price in the fundamental change:

 

Stock Price on Effective Date

 

Effective Date

   $5.00      $10.00      $15.00      $20.00      $23.00      $25.00      $27.03      $30.00      $35.00      $40.00      $45.00      $50.00      $60.00  

January 21, 2015

     2.2478         2.1264         1.9730         1.8491         1.8049         1.7870         1.7765         1.7713         1.7779         1.7913         1.8044         1.8151         1.8285   

January 15, 2016

     2.2108         2.1558         2.0410         1.9071         1.8494         1.8239         1.8077         1.7974         1.8005         1.8121         1.8230         1.8308         1.8391   

January 15, 2017

     2.1831         2.1725         2.1234         1.9982         1.9187         1.8783         1.8507         1.8311         1.8291         1.8367         1.8421         1.8447         1.8463   

January 15, 2018

     2.1739         2.1739         2.1739         2.1739         2.1739         2.0000         1.8501         1.8501         1.8501         1.8501         1.8501         1.8501         1.8501   


 

The exact stock price and effective date may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

 

•   if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the fundamental change conversion rates per Depositary Share set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

 

•   if the stock price is in excess of $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be the Minimum Conversion Rate, divided by 20, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement; and

 

•   if the stock price is less than $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the stock price set forth in the first row of the table above as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), then the fundamental change conversion rate per Depositary Share will be the Maximum Conversion Rate, divided by 20, subject to adjustment as described in the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

  Because each Depositary Share represents a 1/20th fractional interest in a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder of Depositary Shares may only convert its Depositary Shares upon the occurrence of a fundamental change in lots of 20 Depositary Shares.
Discount Rate for Purposes of Fundamental Change Dividend Make-Whole Amount:   The discount rate for purposes of determining the fundamental change dividend make-whole amount (as defined in the Depositary Shares Prospectus Supplement) is 6.25% per annum.
Listing:   The Issuer intends to apply to list the Depositary Shares on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SWNC” and expects trading of the Depositary Shares on The New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 days of the Settlement Date.
CUSIP / ISIN for the Depositary Shares:   845467208 / US8454672085
CUSIP / ISIN for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:   845467307 / US8454673075
Book-Running Managers:  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.


Senior Co-Managers:  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

RBS Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Co-Managers:  

BBVA Securities Inc.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

CIBC World Markets Corp.

SG Americas Securities, LLC

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

Heikkinen Energy Securities, LLC

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

 

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplements for the offerings) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, the related base prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and the Common Stock Offering and the Depositary Shares Offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway New York, NY 10038, 866-500-5408, dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, 1-800-831-9146, prospectus@citi.com; J.P. Morgan, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, 1-866-803-9204; Wells Fargo Securities, Attention: Equity Syndicate Dept, 375 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10152, 1-800-326-5897, cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com; (solely with respect to the Common Stock Offering) BMO Capital Markets. Attention: Prospectus Department, 3 Times Square, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10036, (800) 414-3627, bmoprospectus@bmo.com; or (solely with respect to the Depositary Shares Offering) BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, 787 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, (212) 841-2620.

This communication should be read in conjunction with the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, and the related base prospectus. The information in this communication supersedes the information in the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Depositary Shares Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, and the related base prospectus to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in such preliminary prospectus supplement or the related base prospectus.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.


Exhibit A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

1. The Company is a corporation under the DGCL with corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (in each case including the Incorporated Documents). With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, we confirm that the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when issued to and paid for by you and the other Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued and entitle the holders thereof to their respective rights under the Deposit Agreement.

3. The Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when the Preferred Stock has been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and issued and deposited against issuance of the Securities, and upon filing and effectiveness of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of Delaware, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights arising from the Governing Documents. In rendering the foregoing opinion we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements under the DGCL.

4. The shares of Common Stock equal to the sum of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable by the Company upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock and (ii) when the Certificate of Designations has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and become effective and such shares have been issued and delivered upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights arising from the Governing Documents. In rendering the foregoing opinion we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements under the DGCL.

5. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Underwriting Agreement and the Deposit Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

6. The execution, delivery and performance of the Certificate of Designations and Deposit Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company to you and the other Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement do not on the date hereof:

 

  (i) violate the Company’s Governing Documents; or

 

  (ii) violate any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the DGCL; or

 

  (iii) require any consents, approvals, or authorizations to be obtained by the Company from, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by the Company with, any governmental authority under any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the DGCL on or prior to the date hereof that have not been obtained or made.

7. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act. With your consent, based solely on a review of the Commission’s website, we confirm that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor have been initiated by the Commission. The Preliminary Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Act, the Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rules 424(b) and 430B under the Act, and the Specified IFWP has been filed in accordance with Rule 433(d) under the Act.

 

A-1


8. The Registration Statement at January 14, 2015, including the information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act, and the Prospectus, as of its date, each appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the applicable form requirements for registration statements on Form S-3 under the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; it being understood, however, that we express no view with respect to Regulation S-T or the financial statements, schedules, or other financial data, included in, incorporated by reference in, or omitted from, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. For purposes of this paragraph, we have assumed that the statements made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are correct and complete.

9. The statements in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Specified IFWP, and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” and “Description of Depositary Shares,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Preferred Stock or the Securities, as applicable, and under the caption “Description of Debt Securities,” insofar as they purport to describe or summarize certain provisions of U.S. federal and New York laws referred to therein, are accurate descriptions or summaries in all material respects.

10. The Company is not, and immediately after giving effect to the sale of the Shares in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be required to be, registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

A-2


Exhibit A-2

FORM OF NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

Based on our participation, review and reliance as described above, we advise you that no facts came to our attention that caused us to believe that:

 

    the Registration Statement at January 14, 2015, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act (together with the Incorporated Documents at that time), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

    the Preliminary Prospectus, as of 6 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on January 14, 2015 (together with the Incorporated Documents at that date and the Specified IFWP) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

    the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the date hereof, (together with the Incorporated Documents at those dates), contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

it being understood that we express no belief with respect to the financial statements, schedules, or other financial data included or incorporated by reference in, or omitted from, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Specified IFWP, the Prospectus, or the Incorporated Documents.

 

A-3


Exhibit A-3

FORM OF TAX OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

Based on such facts and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein and in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, we hereby confirm that the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

A-4


Exhibit B

FORM OF OPINION OF JOHN C. ALE

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)

1. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction, other than its state of incorporation, in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

2. Each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly formed and is validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has corporate or similar power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. The Significant Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation are set forth in Schedule A hereto.

3. To the best of my knowledge, and except as otherwise disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and the Forms 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014 or the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is or may be the subject which, if determined adversely to the company or such Significant Subsidiary, as applicable, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4. To the best of my knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation of or in default under, the agreements filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement or filed as exhibits to the reports incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (the “Specified Agreements”), except for violations and defaults which individually and in the aggregate are not material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or to the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock; the issue and sale of Securities and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provision of, or constitute a default under, any of the Specified Agreements or any applicable law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except for any conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults which individually and in the aggregate are not material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or to the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

B-1


Schedule A

 

Significant Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation

SWN Production (Arkansas), LLC    Texas
SWN Production Company, LLC    Texas
SWN Midstream Services Company, LLC    Texas
Southwestern Energy Services Company    Texas
DeSoto Gathering Company, LLC    Texas
Angelina Gathering Company, L.L.C.    Texas

 

B-2


Exhibit C

January 12, 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated,

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

as Representative of the several

Underwriters to be named in the

within-mentioned Underwriting Agreement

 

  Re: Proposed Public Offering by Southwestern Energy Company

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned, a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company providing for the public offering of depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of its Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 90 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (subject to extensions as discussed below), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Securities, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, provided that (1) Merrill Lynch receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (3) such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (4) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:

 

  (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or

 

C-1


  (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

 

  (iii) as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or

 

  (iv) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned.

[In addition, the undersigned may make dispositions of Lock-up Securities to the Company, or the the Company may withold Lock-up Securities, solely in connection with the payment of fees, taxes and any exercise price due with respect to the vesting of restricted stock awards or the cashless exercise of stock options, insofar as such restricted stock or stock option is outstanding as of the date of the underwriting agreement; provided that, (i) no voluntary filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other public report, filing or announcement shall be made in respect of such transfer during the lock-up period, and (ii) if any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other public report, is required to be made, such report shall clearly indicate that the transfer relates to the payment of taxes due with respect to the vesting of restricted stock awards or the cashless exercise of stock options and that no shares were sold by the reporting person.] 1

Furthermore, the undersigned may sell shares of Common Stock of the Company purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the Public Offering if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if:

(1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or

(2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day lock-up period,

the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless Merrill Lynch waives, in writing, such extension.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

[Signature page follows]

 

1   Mueller and Owen lockups only.

 

C-2


Very truly yours,
Signature:  

 

Print Name:  

 

 

C-3


Exhibit D

FORM OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(f)

[Pricing Date][Closing Date]

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement, dated January 14, 2015, among Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

In connection with the offering of the Securities, and to assist the Underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities, I, R. Craig Owen, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company (and not in my individual capacity), do hereby certify as follows:

 

  1. I am knowledgeable with respect to the accounting records and internal accounting practices, policies, procedures and controls of the Company and its subsidiaries, and I, along with others, have responsibility for preparing quarterly and annual financial statements and related disclosures for the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“ U.S. GAAP ”).

 

  2. I, or members of my staff, have read the amounts excerpted from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and marked as attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Certified Capsule Information ”). To my knowledge based on a reasonable inspection of the Company’s books and records, the Certified Capsule Information (a) is derived from the internal accounting records of the Company, and (b) presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial information presented therein.

 

  3. I, or members of my staff, have reviewed the key performance indicators and other operating data excerpted from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and marked as attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Certified Operating Data ”). To the best of my knowledge, the Certified Operating Data was derived from internal databases that are reliable and accurate in all material respects to produce such Certified Operating Data.

[ The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank ]

 

D-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this certificate in his sole capacity as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as of the first date set forth herein.

 

By:  

 

  Name:   R. Craig Owen
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

D-2

Exhibit 3.1

Certificate of Designations of

6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of

Southwestern Energy Company

Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 103, 141 and 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (a) on December 16, 2014, the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) delegated to its Ad Hoc Finance Committee (the “ Finance Committee ”) the power to determine the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions and all other terms of the issuance of a series of preferred stock; and (b) on January 14, 2015, the Finance Committee adopted the resolution shown immediately below, which resolution is now, and at all times since its date of adoption, has been in full force and effect:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”) (which authorizes 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”)), and the authority vested in the Board of Directors, a series of Preferred Stock be, and it hereby is, created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and this Certificate of Designations, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) as follows:

Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares . Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, there is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation a series of Preferred Stock consisting of 1,725,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as the “6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ”). Such number of shares may be decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, subject to the terms and conditions hereof; provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding.

Part 2. Standard Provisions . The Standard Provisions contained in Annex A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by John C. Ale, its Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, this 21st day of January, 2015.

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

By:

 

/s/ John C. Ale

 

Name:

  John C. Ale
 

Title:

  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

[ Signature Page to Certificate of Designations of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ]


ANNEX A

STANDARD PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. General Matters; Ranking . Each share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, with respect to dividend rights and/or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, as applicable, shall rank (i) senior to all Junior Stock, (ii) on a parity with all Parity Stock and (iii) junior to all Senior Stock and the Corporation’s existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables).

SECTION 2. Standard Definitions . As used herein with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:

Accumulated Dividend Amount means, with respect to any Fundamental Change Conversion, the aggregate amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, for Dividend Periods prior to the Effective Date for the relevant Fundamental Change, including for the period, if any, from, and including, the Dividend Payment Date immediately preceding such Effective Date to, but excluding, such Effective Date, subject to the proviso in Section 9(a).

Additional Fundamental Change Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(d)(iv).

ADRs ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(e).

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the resolutions first set forth herein.

Applicable Market Value ” means the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the Final Averaging Period.

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

Board of Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the caption.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

Bylaws ” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as they may be further amended or restated from time to time.

Certificate of Designations ” shall have the meaning set forth in the resolutions first set forth herein.

Clause I Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv).


Clause II Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv).

Clause IV Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv).

close of business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Common Equity ” of any Person means capital stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, subject to Section 13(e).

Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent ” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Corporation’s duly appointed conversion and dividend disbursing agent for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and any successor appointed under Section 14.

Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

Corporation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the caption.

Current Market Price ” per share of Common Stock (or, in the case of clause (ii) below, per share of Common Stock, the Corporation’s capital stock or equity interest, as applicable) on any date means, for the purposes of determining an adjustment to the Fixed Conversion Rates:

(i) for purposes of any adjustment pursuant to Section 13(a)(ii), Section 13(a)(iv) in the event of an adjustment not relating to a Spin-Off, or Section 13(a)(v), the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation;

(ii) for purposes of any adjustment pursuant to Section 13(a)(iv) in the event of an adjustment relating to a Spin-Off, the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock, the Corporation’s capital stock or equity interest, as applicable, over the first ten consecutive Trading Days commencing on, and including, the fifth Trading Day immediately following the Ex-Date of such distribution; and

(iii) for purposes of any adjustment pursuant to Section 13(a)(vi), the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the seventh Trading Day after the Expiration Date of the relevant tender offer or exchange offer.

Depositary Shares ” means the depositary shares representing fractional interests in the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

Distributed Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv).

 

2


Dividend Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

Dividend Payment Date ” means January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year commencing on April 15, 2015 to, and including, January 15, 2018.

Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Dividend Period shall commence on, and include, the Initial Issue Date and shall end on, but exclude, April 15, 2015.

Early Conversion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

Early Conversion Average Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

Early Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(b).

Effective Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Ex-Date ” when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first date on which shares of Common Stock 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 thereunder.

Exchange Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(e).

Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(vi).

Fair Market Value ” means the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof), whose determination shall be conclusive and set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors (or such authorized committee).

Final Averaging Period ” means the 20 consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the 23 rd Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding January 15, 2018.

Finance Committee ” shall have the meaning set forth in the caption.

Five-Day Average Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c)(iii).

Fixed Conversion Rates ” means the Maximum Conversion Rate and the Minimum Conversion Rate.

Floor Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e).

A “ Fundamental Change ” shall be deemed to have occurred, at any time after the Initial Issue Date, if any of the following occurs:

 

3


(i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Corporation, its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and the employee benefit plans of the Corporation and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Corporation’s Common Equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Corporation’s Common Equity or the Corporation otherwise becomes aware of such beneficial ownership;

(ii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a change only in par value, from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value, or changes resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, would be exchanged for or would represent solely the right to receive stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Corporation pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into, will be exchanged for or will represent solely the right to receive stock, other securities, other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Corporation’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or

(iii) the Common Stock (or other Exchange Property) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors);

provided , however , that a transaction or transactions described above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by all common stockholders of the Corporation (excluding cash payments for fractional shares or pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights) in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors), or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions, and as a result of such transaction or transactions the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock becomes convertible into or exchangeable for such consideration (and cash in lieu of fractional shares).

If any transaction in which the Common Stock is replaced by securities of another entity pursuant to Section 13(e) occurs, following completion of any related Fundamental Change Conversion Period (or, if none, the effective date of such transaction), references to the Corporation in this definition of “ Fundamental Change ” shall instead be references to such other entity.

Fundamental Change Conversion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Fundamental Change Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(c).

 

4


Fundamental Change Conversion Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Fundamental Change Conversion Rate ” means, for any Fundamental Change Conversion, the conversion rate set forth in the table below for the Effective Date and the Stock Price applicable to such Fundamental Change:

 

Stock Price

 

Effective Date

  $5.00     $10.00     $15.00     $20.00     $23.00     $25.00     $27.03     $30.00     $35.00     $40.00     $45.00     $50.00     $60.00  

January 21, 2015

    44.9560        42.5280        39.4600        36.9820        36.0980        35.7400        35.5300        35.4260        35.5580        35.8260        36.0880        36.3020        36.5700   

January 15, 2016

    44.2160        43.1160        40.8200        38.1420        36.9880        36.4780        36.1540        35.9480        36.0100        36.2420        36.4600        36.6160        36.7820   

January 15, 2017

    43.6620        43.4500        42.4680        39.9640        38.3740        37.5660        37.0140        36.6220        36.5820        36.7340        36.8420        36.8940        36.9260   

January 15, 2018

    43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        43.4780        40.0000        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020        37.0020   

The exact Stock Price and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table, in which case:

(i) If the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices set forth in the table above, or if the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates set forth in the table above, the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate shall be determined by straight-line interpolation between the Fundamental Change Conversion Rates set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable.

(ii) If the Stock Price is in excess of $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as adjustments are made to the Stock Prices in the column headings in the table above in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(c)(iv)), then the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate shall be the Minimum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

(iii) If the Stock Price is less than $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as adjustments are made to the Stock Prices in the column headings in the table above in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(c)(iv)), then the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate shall be the Maximum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

The Stock Prices in the column headings in the table above are subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(c)(iv). The Fundamental Change Conversion Rates set forth in the table above are each subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as each Fixed Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 13.

Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Fundamental Change Early Conversion Right ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Fundamental Change Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(b).

 

5


Holder ” means each person in whose name shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are registered, who shall be treated by the Corporation and the Registrar as the absolute owner of those shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for the purpose of making payment and settling conversions and for all other purposes.

Initial Issue Date ” shall mean January 21, 2015.

Initial Price ” equals $1,000, divided by the Maximum Conversion Rate, which quotient is initially equal to approximately $23.00 per share of Common Stock.

Junior Stock ” means (i) the Common Stock and (ii) each other class of capital stock of the Corporation established after the Initial Issue Date the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series ranks either (x) senior to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, winding-up or dissolution or (y) on a parity with the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

Liquidation Dividend Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

Liquidation Preference ” means, as to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $1,000 per share.

Make-whole Dividend Amounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Mandatory Conversion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

Mandatory Conversion Additional Conversion Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

Mandatory Conversion Date ” means the third Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the Final Averaging Period.

Mandatory Conversion Rate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Part 1 of this Certificate of Designations.

Market Disruption Event ” means (a) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (b) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock.

Maximum Conversion Rate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)(iii).

 

6


Minimum Conversion Rate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)(i).

Nonpayment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

Nonpayment Remedy ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iii).

Officer ” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Corporation.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate of the Corporation, signed by any duly authorized Officer of the Corporation.

open of business ” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Parity Stock ” means any class of capital stock of the Corporation established after the Initial Issue Date the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series shall rank on a parity with the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

Person ” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in the resolutions first set forth herein.

Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

Prospectus ” means the prospectus dated January 12, 2015, file number 333-184882, relating to securities, including the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares, to be issued from time to time by the Corporation.

Prospectus Supplement ” means the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2015, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet dated January 14, 2015, relating to the offering and sale of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares.

Record Date ” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, the January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable January 15, April 15, July 15 or October 15 Dividend Payment Date, respectively. These Record Dates shall apply regardless of whether a particular Record Date is a Business Day.

Record Holder ” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, a Holder of record of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as such Holder appears on the stock register of the Corporation at the close of business on the related Record Date.

Registrar ” shall initially mean Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Corporation’s duly appointed registrar for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any successor appointed under Section 14.

 

7


Reorganization Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(e).

Scheduled Trading Day ” means any day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day.

Senior Stock ” means each class of capital stock of the Corporation established after the Initial Issue Date the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series shall rank senior to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall mean a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the issuance of or resales of shares of Common Stock issued as payment of a dividend, including dividends paid in connection with a conversion.

Spin-Off ” means a distribution by the Corporation to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock consisting of capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange.

Stock Price ” means, for any Fundamental Change, (i) if all holders of Common Stock receive only cash in exchange for their Common Stock in such Fundamental Change, the amount of cash paid in such Fundamental Change per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Effective Date.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

Threshold Appreciation Price ” means $1,000, divided by the Minimum Conversion Rate, which quotient is initially equal to approximately $27.025 per share of Common Stock.

Trading Day ” means a day on which (x) there is no Market Disruption Event and (y) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on The New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading, except that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

8


Transfer Agent ” shall initially mean Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Corporation’s duly appointed transfer agent for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any successor appointed under Section 14.

Trigger Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv).

Unit of Exchange Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(e).

Voting Preferred Stock ” means any class or series of Preferred Stock, other than the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, ranking equally with the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which voting rights like those set forth in Section 6 have been conferred and are exercisable.

VWAP ” per share of Common Stock on any Trading Day means the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed on Bloomberg page “SWN <Equity> AQR” (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” means 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 Corporation for this purpose.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means , with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, except that, solely for purposes of this definition, the reference to “50%” in the definition of “Subsidiary” shall be deemed replaced by a reference to “100%”.

SECTION 3. Dividends . (a)  Rate . Subject to the rights of holders of any class of capital stock ranking senior to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, Holders shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) out of funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, cumulative dividends at the rate per annum of 6.25% on the Liquidation Preference per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to $62.50 per annum per share (the “ Dividend Amount ”)), payable in cash, by delivery of shares of Common Stock or through any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion (subject to the limitations described below). Declared dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be payable quarterly on each Dividend Payment Date at such annual rate, and dividends shall accumulate from the most recent date as to which dividends shall have been paid or, if no dividends have been paid, from the Initial Issue Date, whether or not in any Dividend Period or Dividend Periods there have been funds legally available for the payment of such dividends. Declared dividends shall be payable on the relevant Dividend Payment Date to Record Holders at the close of business on the immediately preceding Record Date, whether or not such Record Holders convert their shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, or such shares are automatically converted, after such Record Date and on or prior to the immediately succeeding Dividend Payment Date. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, without any interest or other payment in lieu of interest accruing with respect to this delay.

 

9


The amount of dividends payable on each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for each full Dividend Period (after the initial Dividend Period) shall be computed by dividing the annual dividend rate by four. Dividends payable on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for the initial Dividend Period and any partial Dividend Period shall be computed based upon the actual number of days elapsed during such period over a 360-day year (consisting of twelve 30-day months). Accumulated dividends shall not bear interest if they are paid subsequent to the applicable Dividend Payment Date.

No dividend shall be declared or paid upon, or any sum or number of shares of Common Stock set apart for the payment of dividends upon, any outstanding share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to any Dividend Period unless all dividends for all preceding Dividend Periods have been declared and paid upon, or a sufficient sum or number of shares of Common Stock have been set apart for the payment of such dividends upon, all outstanding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

Holders shall not be entitled to any dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, whether payable in cash, property or shares of Common Stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends.

Except as described in this Section 3(a), dividends on any share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock converted to Common Stock shall cease to accumulate on the Mandatory Conversion Date, the Fundamental Change Conversion Date or the Early Conversion Date (each, a “ Conversion Date ”), as applicable.

(b) Priority of Dividends . So long as any share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock, and no Common Stock or other Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends for all preceding Dividend Periods have been declared and paid upon, or a sufficient sum or number of shares of Common Stock have been set apart for the payment of such dividends upon, all outstanding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) a dividend payable on any Common Stock or other Junior Stock in shares of any Common Stock or other Junior Stock, (ii) the acquisition of shares of any Common Stock or other Junior Stock in exchange for shares of any 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 any Common Stock or other Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such 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 or Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any stockholders’ rights plan; (vi) the acquisition by the

 

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Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries of record ownership in Common Stock or other Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians, and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock or Parity Stock; and (vii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of other Junior Stock or other Parity Stock, as the case may be.

When dividends on Shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have not been paid in full on any Dividend Payment Date or declared and a sum or number of shares of Common Stock sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the Holders thereof on the applicable Record Date, no dividends may be declared or paid on any Parity Stock unless dividends are declared on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock such that the respective amounts of such dividends declared on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of Parity Stock shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and such class or series of Parity Stock (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) out of legally available funds) bear to each other, in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences; provided that any unpaid dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will continue to accumulate.

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and Holders shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

(c) Method of Payment of Dividends . (i) Subject to the limitations described below, any declared dividend (or any portion of any declared dividend) on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, whether or not for a current Dividend Period or any prior Dividend Period, may be paid by the Corporation, as determined in the sole discretion of the Corporation:

(A) in cash;

(B) by delivery of shares of Common Stock (or, as set forth herein, Units of Exchange Property); or

(C) through any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock (or, as set forth herein, Units of Exchange Property).

(ii) Each payment of a declared dividend on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be made in cash, except to the extent the Corporation timely elects to make all or any portion of such payment in shares of Common Stock. The Corporation shall give notice to Holders of any such election, and the portions of such payment that will be made in cash and in Common Stock, no later than 10 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Dividend Payment Date for such dividend.

 

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(iii) Any shares of Common Stock issued in payment or partial payment of a declared dividend shall be valued for such purpose at the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on the second Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date (the “ Five-Day Average Price ”), multiplied by 97%.

(d) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered by the Corporation to Holders in payment or partial payment of a dividend. A cash adjustment shall be paid by the Corporation to each Holder that would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Common Stock based on the Five-Day Average Price.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered in connection with any declared dividend exceed a number equal to the total dividend payment divided by $8.05, subject to adjustment in a manner inversely proportional to any anti-dilution adjustment to each Fixed Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 13 (such dollar amount, as adjusted from time to time, the “ Floor Price ”). To the extent that the amount of any declared dividend exceeds the product of the number of shares of Common Stock delivered in connection with such declared dividend and 97% of the Five-Day Average Price, the Corporation shall, if it is legally able to do so, notwithstanding any notice by the Corporation to the contrary, pay such excess amount in cash.

(f) To the extent that the Corporation, in its reasonable judgment, determines that a Shelf Registration Statement is required in connection with the issuance of, or for resales of, Common Stock issued as payment of a dividend, including dividends paid in connection with a conversion, the Corporation shall, to the extent such a Shelf Registration Statement is not currently filed and effective, use its commercially reasonable efforts to file and maintain the effectiveness of such a Shelf Registration Statement until the earlier of such time as all such shares of Common Stock have been resold thereunder and such time as all such shares are freely tradable without registration. To the extent applicable, the Corporation shall also use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such shares of Common Stock qualified or registered under applicable state securities laws, if required, and approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange (or if the Common Stock is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed).

SECTION 4. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . (a) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, each Holder shall be entitled to receive the Liquidation Preference per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, plus an amount (the “ Liquidation Dividend Amount ”) equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends on such shares to, but excluding, the date fixed for liquidation, winding-up or dissolution to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, after satisfaction of liabilities owed to the Corporation’s creditors and holders of any Senior Stock and before any payment or distribution is made to holders of any Junior Stock, including, without limitation, Common Stock.

(b) Neither the sale (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Corporation (other than in connection with the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation), nor the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Person, shall be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation for the purposes of this Section 4.

 

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(c) If, upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, the amounts payable with respect to (1) the Liquidation Preference plus the Liquidation Dividend Amount of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and (2) the liquidation preference of, and the amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on, all Parity Stock are not paid in full, the Holders and all holders of any Parity Stock shall share equally and ratably in any distribution of the Corporation’s assets in proportion to the respective liquidation preferences and amounts equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends to which they are entitled.

(d) After the payment to any Holder of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference and the Liquidation Dividend Amount for each of such Holder’s shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, such Holder as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

SECTION 5. No Redemption; No Sinking Fund . The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be subject to any redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions.

SECTION 6. Voting Rights .

(a) General . Holders shall not have any voting rights except as set forth in this Section 6 or as otherwise from time to time specifically required by Delaware law.

(b) Right to Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment . (i) Whenever dividends on any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid for the equivalent of six or more Dividend Periods (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Dividend Period beginning on, and including, the Initial Issue Date and ending on, but excluding, April 15, 2015), whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment ”), the Holders, voting together as a single class with holders of any and all other series of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding, shall be entitled at the Corporation’s next special or annual meeting of stockholders to vote for the election of a total of two additional members of the Board of Directors (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”); provided that the election of any such directors will not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirements of The New York Stock Exchange (or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities may be listed or quoted) that requires listed or quoted companies to have a majority of independent directors; and provided further that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors. In the event of a Nonpayment, the number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors shall be increased by two, and the new directors shall be elected at a special meeting of stockholders called by the Board of Directors, subject to its fiduciary duties, at the request of the holders of record of at least 20% of the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock ( provided that such request is received at least 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders, failing which such election shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting, so long as the Holders

 

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continue to have such voting rights. Whether a plurality, majority or other portion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any other Voting Preferred Stock have been voted in favor of any matter shall be determined by reference to the respective liquidation preference amounts of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and such other Voting Preferred Stock voted.

(ii) Any request to call a special meeting for the initial election of the Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment shall be made by written notice, signed by the requisite holders of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding, and delivered to the Corporation in such manner as provided for in Section 16 below, or as may otherwise be required by law.

(iii) If and when all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have been paid in full, or declared and a sum sufficient for such payment shall have been set aside (a “ Nonpayment Remedy ”), the Holders shall immediately and, without any further action by the Corporation, be divested of the voting rights described in this Section 6(b), subject to the revesting of such rights in the event of each subsequent Nonpayment. If such voting rights for the Holders and all other holders of Voting Preferred Stock shall have terminated, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate at such time and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall automatically decrease by two.

(iv) Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the Record Holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a single class) when they have the voting rights described in this Section 6(b). In the event that a Nonpayment shall have occurred and there has not been a Nonpayment Remedy, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director (other than prior to the initial election of Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment) may be filled by the written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office or, if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any other shares of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a single class) when they have the voting rights described in this Section 6(b); provided that the filling of each vacancy will not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirements of The New York Stock Exchange (or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities may be listed or quoted) that requires listed or quoted companies to have a majority of independent directors. Any such vote of Holders and any Voting Preferred Stock to remove, or to fill a vacancy in the office of, a Preferred Stock Director may be taken only at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, called as provided above for an initial election of Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment ( provided that such request is received at least 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, failing which election shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation). The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter than shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Each Preferred Stock Director elected at any special meeting of stockholders of the

 

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Corporation or by written consent of the other Preferred Stock Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation if such office shall not have previously terminated and such Preferred Stock Director shall not have been removed from such office, in each case as above provided.

(c) Other Voting Rights . So long as any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock 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:

(i) any amendment or alteration of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designations so as to authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of the Corporation’s assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designations so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; or

(iii) any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, unless in each case (x) the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding and are not amended in any respect or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

provided , however, that for all purposes of this Section 6(c), (1) any increase in the amount of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, (2) any increase in the amount of the Corporation’s authorized or issued shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and (3) the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any other series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock shall be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of Holders.

(d) Change for Clarification . Without the consent of the Holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock by amending or supplementing the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, this Certificate of Designations or any stock certificate representing shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock:

 

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(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, inconsistency or mistake in any such agreement or instrument;

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

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

In addition, without the consent of the Holders, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to conform the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to the description thereof in the Prospectus as supplemented and/or amended by the “Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” section of the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, in each case, for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

(e) Prior to the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding and Holders shall have no voting rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock by virtue of holding the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, including the right to vote on any amendment to the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designations that would adversely affect the rights of holders of the Common Stock.

(f) The number of votes that each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any Voting Preferred Stock participating in the votes described in this Section 6 shall have and shall be in proportion to the liquidation preference of such share.

(g) Procedures for Voting and Consents . The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the Holders (including, without limitation, 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 any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

 

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SECTION 7. Mandatory Conversion on the Mandatory Conversion Date . (a) Each outstanding share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall automatically convert (unless previously converted at the option of the Holder in accordance with Section 8 or pursuant to an exercise of a Fundamental Change Early Conversion Right pursuant to Section 9) on the Mandatory Conversion Date (“ Mandatory Conversion ”), into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Mandatory Conversion Rate.

(b) The “ Mandatory Conversion Rate ” shall, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 7(c), be as follows:

(i) if the Applicable Market Value is greater than the Threshold Appreciation Price, then the Mandatory Conversion Rate shall be equal to 37.0028 shares of Common Stock per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Minimum Conversion Rate ”);

(ii) if the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to the Threshold Appreciation Price but equal to or greater than the Initial Price, then the Mandatory Conversion Rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be equal to $1,000 divided by the Applicable Market Value, rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a share of Common Stock; or

(iii) if the Applicable Market Value is less than the Initial Price, then the Mandatory Conversion Rate shall be equal to 43.4782 shares of Common Stock per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Maximum Conversion Rate ”);

provided that the Fixed Conversion Rates, the Threshold Appreciation Price, the Initial Price and the Applicable Market Value are each subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.

(c) If on or prior to January 1, 2018, the Corporation has not declared all or any portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock through January 15, 2018, the Mandatory Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that Holders receive an additional number of shares of Common Stock equal to the amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that have not been declared (“ Mandatory Conversion Additional Conversion Amount ”), divided by the greater of (i) the Floor Price and (ii) 97% of the Five-Day Average Price. To the extent that the Mandatory Conversion Additional Conversion Amount exceeds the product of such number of additional shares and 97% of the Five-Day Average Price, the Corporation shall, if the Corporation is legally able to do so, declare and pay such excess amount in cash pro rata to the Holders.

SECTION 8 . Early Conversion at the Option of the Holder. (a) Other than during a Fundamental Change Conversion Period, the Holders shall have the right to convert their shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in whole or in part (but in no event less than one share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock), at any time prior to January 15, 2018 (“ Early Conversion ”), into shares of Common Stock at the Minimum Conversion Rate, subject to adjustment as described in Section 13 and to satisfaction of the conversion procedures set forth in Section 10.

 

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(b) If as of any Early Conversion Date relating to an Early Conversion, the Corporation has not declared all or any portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends for all full Dividend Periods ending on the Dividend Payment Date prior to such Early Conversion Date, the Minimum Conversion Rate shall be adjusted, with respect to the relevant Early Conversion, so that the converting Holder receives an additional number of shares of Common Stock equal to the amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that have not been declared for such full Dividend Periods (the “ Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount ”), divided by the greater of (i) the Floor Price and (ii) the Average VWAP per share of the Common Stock over the 20 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the third Trading Day immediately preceding such Early Conversion Date (such average being referred to as the “ Early Conversion Average Price ”). For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount exceeds the product of such number of additional shares and the Early Conversion Average Price, the Corporation will not have any obligation to pay the shortfall in cash. Except as described in the first sentence of this Section 8(b), upon any Early Conversion of any shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends on such shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, unless the Early Conversion Date occurs after the Record Date for a declared dividend and on or prior to the immediately succeeding Dividend Payment Date, in which case the Corporation shall pay such dividend on such Dividend Payment Date to the Record Holder of the converted shares as of such Record Date, in accordance with Section 3.

SECTION 9 . Fundamental Change Conversion. (a) If a Fundamental Change occurs on or prior to January 15, 2018, the Holders shall have the right (the “ Fundamental Change Early Conversion Right ”) to (i) convert their shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in whole or in part (but in no event less than one share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock) (any such conversion pursuant to this Section 9(a) being a “ Fundamental Change Conversion ”), at any time during the period (the “ Fundamental Change Conversion Period ”) that begins on, and includes, the effective date of such Fundamental Change (the “ Effective Date ”) and ends at the close of business, on the date that is 20 calendar days after the Effective Date (or, if later, the date that is 20 calendar days after Holders receive notice of such Fundamental Change, but in no event later than January 15, 2018) into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate per share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (or into Units of Exchange Property in accordance with Section 13(e)), (ii) with respect to such converted shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, receive an amount equal to the present value, calculated using a discount rate of 6.25% per annum, of all dividend payments on such shares (excluding any Accumulated Dividend Amount) for all the remaining full Dividend Periods and for the partial Dividend Period from, and including, such Effective Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date (the “ Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount ”); and (iii) with respect to such converted shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, to the extent that, as of such Effective Date, there is any Accumulated Dividend Amount, receive payment of the Accumulated Dividend Amount (the amounts described in clauses (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “ Make-whole Dividend Amounts ”), in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), subject to the Corporation’s right to deliver shares of Common Stock in lieu of all or part of such amounts as set forth in clause (d) below; provided that if such Effective Date or the relevant Fundamental Change Conversion Date falls after the Record Date for a declared dividend and prior to the next

 

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Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation shall pay such dividend on such Dividend Payment Date to the Record Holders as of such Record Date, in accordance with Section 3, such dividend shall not be included in the Accumulated Dividend Amount, and the Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount shall not include the present value of the payment of such dividend.

(b) The Corporation shall provide written notice (a “ Fundamental Change Notice ”) to Holders of the Effective Date of a Fundamental Change no later than the second Business Day following it becoming aware of such Effective Date. The Fundamental Change Notice shall state:

(i) the event causing the Fundamental Change;

(ii) the anticipated Effective Date or actual Effective Date, as the case may be;

(iii) that Holders shall have the right to effect a Fundamental Change Conversion in connection with such Fundamental Change during the Fundamental Change Conversion Period;

(iv) the Fundamental Change Conversion Period; and

(v) the instructions a Holder must follow to effect a Fundamental Change Conversion in connection with such Fundamental Change.

(c) Not later than the second Business Day following the Effective Date of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall notify (which notice may be contained in the same notice as the Fundamental Change Notice) Holders of:

(i) the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate;

(ii) the Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and whether the Corporation will pay such amount, or any portion thereof, in shares of Common Stock and, if applicable, the portion of such amount that will be paid in Common Stock; and

(iii) the Accumulated Dividend Amount and whether the Corporation will pay such amount, or any portion thereof, in shares of Common Stock and, if applicable, the portion of such amount that will be paid in Common Stock.

(d) (i) For any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock that are converted during the Fundamental Change Conversion Period, subject to the limitations described below, the Corporation may pay the Make-whole Dividend Amounts, determined in the Corporation’s sole discretion:

(A) in cash;

(B) by delivery of shares of Common Stock; or

(C) through any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock.

 

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(ii) The Corporation shall pay the Make-whole Dividend Amounts in cash, except to the extent the Corporation elects on or prior to the second Business Day following the Effective Date of a Fundamental Change to make all or any portion of such payments in shares of Common Stock. If the Corporation elects to make any such payment, or any portion thereof, in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be valued for such purpose at 97% of the applicable Stock Price.

(iii) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered by the Corporation to converting Holders in respect of the Make-whole Dividend Amounts. A cash adjustment shall be paid by the Corporation to each Holder that would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Common Stock based on the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the second Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Conversion Date.

(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the number of shares of Common Stock delivered in connection with the Make-whole Dividend Amounts exceed a number equal to the sum of such amounts (the “ Additional Fundamental Change Amount ”), divided by the greater of (i) the Floor Price and (ii) 97% of the applicable Stock Price. To the extent that the Additional Fundamental Change Amount exceeds the product of the number of shares of Common Stock delivered in respect of such Additional Fundamental Change Amount and 97% of the applicable Stock Price, the Corporation shall, if the Corporation is legally able to do so, notwithstanding any notice by the Corporation to the contrary, pay such excess amount in cash.

(v) If the Corporation is prohibited from paying or delivering, as the case may be, the Make-whole Dividend Amounts (whether in cash or in shares of Common Stock), in whole or in part, due to limitations of applicable Delaware law, the Fundamental Change Conversion Rate shall be increased by a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the cash amount of the aggregate unpaid and undelivered Make-whole Dividend Amounts, divided by the greater of (i) the Floor Price and (ii) 97% of the Stock Price for the relevant Fundamental Change. In such case, to the extent that the cash amount of the aggregate unpaid and undelivered Make-whole Dividend Amounts exceeds the product of such number of additional shares of Common Stock and 97% of the Stock Price for the relevant Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall not have any obligation to pay the shortfall in cash.

SECTION 10 . Conversion Procedures. (a) Pursuant to Section 7, on the Mandatory Conversion Date, any outstanding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into shares of Common Stock. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon Mandatory Conversion shall be treated as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Mandatory Conversion Date. Except as provided under Section 13(a)(vii), Section 13(c)(iii) and Section 13(c)(v), prior to the close of business on the Mandatory Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose and Holders shall have no rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock, including voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock, by virtue of holding the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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(b) To effect an Early Conversion pursuant to Section 8, a Holder must:

(i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate or a facsimile of such conversion notice;

(ii) deliver the completed conversion notice and the certificated shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted to the Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent;

(iii) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and

(iv) if required, pay all applicable transfer or similar taxes or duties, if any.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to effect an Early Conversion pursuant to Section 8 of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held in global form, the Holder must, in lieu of the foregoing, comply with the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company (or any other depositary for the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held in global form appointed by the Corporation).

The Early Conversion shall be effective on the date on which a Holder has satisfied the foregoing requirements, to the extent applicable (“ Early Conversion Date ”). A Holder shall not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Common Stock if such Holder exercises its conversion rights, but such Holder shall be required to pay any transfer or similar tax or duty that may be payable relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of Common Stock in a name other than the name of such Holder. A certificate representing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion shall be issued and delivered to the converting Holder, together with delivery by the Corporation to the converting Holder of any cash to which the converting Holder is entitled, on the later of the third Business Day immediately succeeding the Early Conversion Date and the Business Day after the Holder has paid in full all applicable transfer or similar taxes and duties, if any.

The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon Early Conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the applicable Early Conversion Date. Except as set forth in Section 13(a)(vii), Section 13(c)(iii) and Section 13(c)(v), prior to the close of business on such applicable Early Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose, and Holders shall have no rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock (including voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers for the Common Stock and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock) by virtue of holding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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In the event that an Early Conversion is effected with respect to shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock representing less than all the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held by a Holder, upon such Early Conversion the Corporation shall execute and instruct the Registrar and Transfer Agent to countersign and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a certificate evidencing the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to which Early Conversion was not effected.

(c) To effect a Fundamental Change Conversion pursuant to Section 9, a Holder must:

(i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate or a facsimile of such conversion notice;

(ii) deliver the completed conversion notice and the certificated shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted to the Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent;

(iii) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and

(iv) if required, pay all applicable transfer or similar taxes or duties, if any.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to effect a Fundamental Change Conversion pursuant to Section 9 of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held in global form, the Holder must, in lieu of the foregoing, comply with the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company (or any other depositary for the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held in global form appointed by the Corporation).

The Fundamental Change Conversion shall be effective on the date on which a Holder has satisfied the foregoing requirements, to the extent applicable (the “ Fundamental Change Conversion Date ”). A Holder shall not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Common Stock if such Holder exercises its conversion rights, but such Holder shall be required to pay any transfer or similar tax or duty that may be payable relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of Common Stock in a name other than the name of such Holder. A certificate representing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion shall be issued and delivered to the converting Holder, together with delivery by the Corporation to the converting Holder of any cash to which the converting Holder is entitled, on the later of the third Business Day immediately succeeding the Fundamental Change Conversion Date and the Business Day after the Holder has paid in full all applicable transfer or similar taxes and duties, if any.

The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such Fundamental Change Conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the applicable Fundamental Change Conversion Date. Except as set forth in Section 13(a)(vii), Section 13(c)(iii) and Section 13(c)(v), prior to the close of business on such applicable Fundamental Change Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose, and Holders shall have no rights with respect to the Common Stock (including voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers for the Common Stock and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock) by virtue of holding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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In the event that a Fundamental Change Conversion is effected with respect to shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock representing less than all the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held by a Holder, upon such Fundamental Change Conversion the Corporation shall execute and instruct the Registrar and Transfer Agent to countersign and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a certificate evidencing the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as to which Fundamental Change Conversion was not effected.

(d) In the event that a Holder shall not by written notice designate the name in which shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock should be registered or, if applicable, the address to which the certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock should be sent, the Corporation shall be entitled to register such shares, and make such payment, in the name of the Holder as shown on the records of the Corporation and, if applicable, to send the certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock to the address of such Holder shown on the records of the Corporation.

(e) Shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall cease to be outstanding on the applicable Conversion Date, subject to the right of Holders of such shares to receive shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and other amounts and shares of Common Stock, if any, to which they are entitled pursuant to Sections 7, 8 or 9, as applicable and, if the applicable Conversion Date occurs after the Record Date for a declared dividend and prior to the immediately succeeding Dividend Payment Date, subject to the right of the Record Holders of such shares on such Record Date to receive payment of the full amount of such declared dividend on such Dividend Payment Date pursuant to Section 3.

SECTION 11. Reservation of Common Stock . (a) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Corporation, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive or other similar rights, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of all shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including the maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion during a Fundamental Change Conversion Period). For purposes of this Section 11(a), the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be computed as if at the time of computation all such outstanding shares were held by a single Holder.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall be entitled to deliver upon conversion of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or as payment of any dividend on such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, as herein provided, shares of Common Stock reacquired and held in the treasury of the Corporation (in lieu of the issuance of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock), so long as any such treasury shares are free and clear of all liens, charges, security interests or encumbrances (other than liens, charges, security interests and other encumbrances created by the Holders).

 

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(c) All shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of, or as payment of a dividend on, the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests and other encumbrances (other than liens, charges, security interests and other encumbrances created by the Holders) and free of preemptive rights.

(d) The Corporation hereby covenants and agrees that, if at any time the Common Stock shall be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation shall, if permitted by the rules of such exchange or automated quotation system, list and use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep listed, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, all Common Stock issuable upon conversion of, or issuable in respect of the payment of dividends, the Accumulated Dividend Amount or the Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount on, the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; provided , however , that if the rules of such exchange or automated quotation system permit the Corporation to defer the listing of such Common Stock until the earlier of (x) the first conversion of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with the provisions hereof and (y) the first payment of any dividends, any Accumulated Dividend Amount or any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-Whole Amount on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation covenants to list such Common Stock issuable upon the earlier of (1) the first conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and (2) the first payment of any dividends, any Accumulated Dividend Amount or any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-Whole Amount on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the requirements of such exchange or automated quotation system at such time.

SECTION 12. Fractional Shares . (a) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of any conversion of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

(b) In lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock otherwise issuable in respect of the aggregate number of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock that are converted on the Mandatory Conversion Date pursuant to Section 7 or at the option of the Holder pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9, the Corporation shall pay an amount in cash (computed to the nearest cent) equal to the product of (i) that same fraction and (ii) the Average VWAP per share of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the second Trading Day immediately preceding the Mandatory Conversion Date, Fundamental Change Conversion Date or Early Conversion Date, as applicable.

(c) If more than one share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is surrendered for conversion at one time by or for the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock so surrendered.

 

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SECTION 13. Anti-Dilution Adjustments to the Fixed Conversion Rates . (a) Each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be subject to the following adjustments:

(i) Stock Dividends and Distributions . If the Corporation issues Common Stock to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution, each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date fixed for determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution shall be multiplied by a fraction:

(A) the numerator of which is the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and (ii) the total number of shares of Common Stock constituting such dividend or other distribution, and

(B) the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination.

Any increase made pursuant to this clause (i) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for such determination. If any dividend or distribution described in this clause (i) is declared but not so paid or made, each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) publicly announces its decision not to make such dividend or distribution, to such Fixed Conversion Rate that would be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. For the purposes of this clause (i), the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination shall not include shares held in treasury by the Corporation but shall include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in treasury by the Corporation.

(ii) Issuance of Stock Purchase Rights . If the Corporation issues to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock rights, options or warrants (other than rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or share purchase plan or other similar plans), entitling such holders, for a period of up to 45 calendar days from the date of issuance of such rights, options or warrants, to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date fixed for determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such rights, options or warrants shall be increased by multiplying such Fixed Conversion Rate by a fraction:

(A) the numerator of which is the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants, and

 

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(B) the denominator of which shall be the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of the aggregate offering price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the Current Market Price of the Common Stock.

Any increase made pursuant to this clause (ii) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for such determination. In the event that such rights, options or warrants described in this clause (ii) are not so issued, each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) publicly announces its decision not to issue such rights, options or warrants, to such Fixed Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such issuance had not been declared. To the extent that such rights, options or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or shares of Common Stock are otherwise not delivered pursuant to such rights, options or warrants upon the exercise of such rights, options or warrants, each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be decreased to such Fixed Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase made upon the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of the delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. In determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, and in determining the aggregate offering price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Corporation for such rights, options or warrants and the amount payable to the Corporation upon exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration (if other than cash) to be determined by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof). For the purposes of this clause (ii), the number of shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares held in treasury by the Corporation but shall include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not issue any such rights, options or warrants in respect of shares of Common Stock held in treasury by the Corporation.

(iii) Subdivisions and Combinations of the Common Stock . If outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock or combined into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the open of business on the effective date of such subdivision or combination shall be multiplied by a fraction:

(A) the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such subdivision or combination, and

(B) the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision or combination.

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (iii) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

 

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(iv) Debt or Asset Distribution . (A) If the Corporation distributes to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, rights to acquire the Corporation’s capital stock, cash or other assets (excluding (1) any dividend or distribution described in Section 13(a)(i), (2) any rights, options or warrants described in Section 13(a)(ii), (3) any dividend or distribution described in Section 13(a)(v), (4) any Spin-Off described in Section 13(a)(iv)(B) and (5) any distributions of Exchange Property in exchange for the Common Stock in connection with a Reorganization Event) (any such evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, rights to acquire the Corporation’s capital stock, cash or other assets, the “ Distributed Property ”), each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution shall be multiplied by a fraction:

(1) the numerator of which is the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, and

(2) the denominator of which is the Current Market Price of the Common Stock minus the Fair Market Value, on such date fixed for determination, of the portion of the Distributed Property so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock.

Any increase made pursuant to this Section 13(a)(iv)(A) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for such determination.

(B) In the case of a Spin-Off, each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution shall be multiplied by a fraction:

(1) the numerator of which is the sum of (x) the Current Market Price of the Common Stock and (y) the Current Market Price of the shares of capital stock or similar equity interests so distributed that is applicable to one share of Common Stock as of the fifteenth Trading Day after the Ex-Date for such distribution, and

(2) the denominator of which is the Current Market Price of the Common Stock.

Any increase made pursuant to this Section 13(a)(iv)(B) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of the holders of the Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution. In the event that such distribution described in this Section 13(a)(iv)(B) is not so made, each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors, or an authorized committee thereof, publicly announces its decision not to make such distribution, to such Fixed Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. If an adjustment to each Fixed Conversion Rate is required under this Section 13(a)(iv)(B) during the Final Averaging Period, delivery of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion will be delayed to the extent necessary in order to complete the calculations provided for in this Section 13(a)(iv)(B).

 

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For purposes of this clause (iv) (and subject in all respects to clause (viii)), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Corporation to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, including Common Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“ Trigger Event ”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of the Common Stock; (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this clause (iv) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this clause (iv) shall be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Fixed Conversion Rates shall be made under this clause (iv). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the Initial Issue Date, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and the date fixed for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (in which case the existing rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Fixed Conversion Rates under this clause (iv) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Fixed Conversion Rates shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Fixed Conversion Rates shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or purchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Fixed Conversion Rates shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.

For purposes of clause (i), clause (ii) and this clause (iv), if any dividend or distribution to which this clause (iv) is applicable includes one or both of:

(C) a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock to which clause (i) is applicable (the “ Clause I Distribution ”); or

(D) an issuance of rights, options or warrants to which clause (ii) is applicable (the “ Clause II Distribution ”),

 

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then (1) such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause I Distribution, if any, and the Clause II Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this clause (iv) is applicable (the “ Clause IV Distribution ”) and any Fixed Conversion Rate adjustment required by this clause (iv) with respect to such Clause IV Distribution shall then be made, and (2) the Clause I Distribution, if any, and Clause II Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause IV Distribution and any Fixed Conversion Rate adjustment required by clause (i) and clause (ii) with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Corporation (I) the date fixed for determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive any Clause I Distribution or Clause II Distribution shall be deemed to be the date fixed for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive the Clause IV Distribution and (II) any shares of Common Stock included in any Clause I Distribution or Clause II Distribution shall be deemed not to be “outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of clauses (i) and (ii).

(v) Cash Distributions . If the Corporation distributes an amount consisting exclusively of cash to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock (excluding (1) any cash that is distributed in exchange for the Common Stock in a Reorganization Event to which Section 13(e) applies, (2) any dividend or distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and (3) any consideration payable as part of a tender or exchange offer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation described in Section 13(a)(vi)), each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date fixed for determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution shall be multiplied by a fraction:

(1) the numerator of which is the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, and

(2) the denominator of which is the Current Market Price of the Common Stock minus the amount per share of Common Stock of such distribution.

Any increase made pursuant to this clause (v) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution. In the event that any distribution described in this clause (v) is not so made, each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) publicly announces its decision not to make such distribution, to such Fixed Conversion Rate which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

(vi) Self Tender Offers and Exchange Offers . If the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation successfully completes a tender or exchange offer pursuant to a Schedule TO or registration statement on Form S-4 for the Common Stock (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any securities convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock), where the cash and the value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of Common Stock exceeds the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, each Fixed Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the date of expiration of the tender or exchange offer (the “ Expiration Date ”) shall be multiplied by a fraction:

 

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(A) the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of:

(1) the aggregate cash and Fair Market Value on the Expiration Date of any other consideration paid or payable for shares of Common Stock purchased in such tender or exchange offer; and

(2) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Common Stock and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such tender or exchange offer); and

(B) the denominator of which shall be equal to the product of (1) the Current Market Price of the Common Stock and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time such tender or exchange offer expires (without giving effect to the purchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such tender or exchange offer).

Any increase made pursuant to this clause (vi) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the seventh Trading Day immediately following the Expiration Date. In the event that the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is obligated to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such tender offer or exchange offer, but the Corporation or such Subsidiary is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then each Fixed Conversation Rate shall be decreased to be such Fixed Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender offer or exchange offer had not been made. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, if the application of this clause (vi) to any tender offer or exchange offer would result in a decrease in each Fixed Conversation Rate, no adjustment shall be made for such tender offer or exchange offer under this clause (vi). If an adjustment to each Fixed Conversion Rate is required pursuant to this clause (vi) during the Final Averaging Period, delivery of the related conversion consideration shall be delayed to the extent necessary in order to complete the calculations provided for in this clause (vi).

(vii) In cases where (i) the Fair Market Value of the Distributed Property distributed per share of Common Stock as to which Section 13(a)(iv)(A) applies or (ii) the amount of cash distributed per share of Common Stock as to which Section 13(a)(v) applies, in each case, equals or exceeds the Average VWAP per share of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day before the Ex-Date for such distribution, rather than being entitled to an adjustment in each Fixed Conversion Rate, Holders shall be entitled to receive, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the kind and amount of the Distributed Property or cash, as the case may be, comprising the distribution that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned, immediately prior to the record date for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive the distribution, for each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Maximum Conversion Rate in effect on the date of such distribution.

 

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(viii) Rights Plans . To the extent that the Corporation has a rights plan in effect with respect to the Common Stock on any Conversion Date, upon conversion of any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, converting Holders shall receive, in addition to the Common Stock, the rights under such rights plan, unless, prior to such Conversion Date, the rights have separated from the Common Stock, in which case each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation of such rights as if the Corporation made a distribution to all holders of the Common Stock as described in Section 13(a)(iv)(A), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights. Any distribution of rights, options or warrants pursuant to a rights plan that would allow Holders to receive upon conversion, in addition to any shares of Common Stock, the rights described therein (unless such rights, options or warrants have separated from Common Stock (in which case each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Corporation had made a distribution to all holders of Common Stock as described in Section 13(a)(iv)(A), subject to readjustment in the event of expiration, termination or redemption of such rights)) shall not constitute a distribution of rights, options or warrants that would entitle Holders to an adjustment to the Fixed Conversion Rates.

(b) Adjustment for Tax Reasons . The Corporation may make such increases in each Fixed Conversion Rate, in addition to any other increases required by this Section 13, as the Corporation deems advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of the Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock (or issuance of rights or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes or for any other reasons; provided that the same proportionate adjustment must be made to each Fixed Conversion Rate.

(c) Calculation of Adjustments; Adjustments to Threshold Appreciation Price, Initial Price and Stock Price . (i) All adjustments to each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share of Common Stock. Prior to the first Trading Day of the Final Averaging Period, no adjustment in a Fixed Conversion Rate shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent therein. If any adjustment by reason of this Section 13(c)(i) is not required to be made because it would not change the Fixed Conversion Rates by at least one percent, such adjustment shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment; provided that with respect to adjustments to be made to the Fixed Conversion Rates in connection with cash dividends paid by the Corporation, the Fixed Conversion Rates shall be adjusted regardless of whether such aggregate adjustments amount to one percent or more of the Fixed Conversion Rates no later than January 15 of each calendar year; provided further that on (x) the earlier of an Early Conversion Date and the Effective Date of a Fundamental Change and (y) each Trading Day of the Final Averaging Period, adjustments to each Fixed Conversion Rate shall be made with respect to any such adjustment carried forward that has not been taken into account before such date.

(ii) If an adjustment is made to the Fixed Conversion Rates pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 13(b) (x) an inversely proportional adjustment shall also be made to the Threshold Appreciation Price and the Initial Price solely for purposes of determining which of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 7(b) shall apply on the Mandatory

 

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Conversion Date and (y) an inversely proportional adjustment shall also be made to the Floor Price. Such adjustment shall be made by dividing each of the Threshold Appreciation Price, the Initial Price and the Floor Price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Minimum Conversion Rate immediately after such adjustment pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 13(b) and the denominator of which shall be the Minimum Conversion Rate immediately before such adjustment. Whenever any provision of this Certificate of Designations requires the Corporation to calculate the VWAP per share of the Common Stock over a span of multiple days, the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) shall make appropriate adjustments (including, without limitation, to the Applicable Market Value, the Early Conversion Average Price, the Stock Price and the Five-Day Average Price, as the case may be) to account for any adjustments, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 13(b), to the Initial Price, the Threshold Appreciation Price and the Fixed Conversion Rates, as the case may be, that become effective, or any event that would require such an adjustment if the Ex-Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as the case may be, of such event occurs during the relevant period used to calculate such prices or values, as the case may be.

(iii) If:

(A) the record date for a dividend or distribution on Common Stock occurs after the end of the Final Averaging Period and before the Mandatory Conversion Date; and

(B) such dividend or distribution would have resulted in an adjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holders had such record date occurred on or before the last Trading Day of the Final Averaging Period,

then the Corporation shall deem the Holders to be holders of record, for each share of their Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Mandatory Conversion Rate for purposes of that dividend or distribution. In this case, the Holders would receive the dividend or distribution on Common Stock together with the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon Mandatory Conversion.

(iv) If an adjustment is made to the Fixed Conversion Rates pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 13(b), a proportional adjustment shall be made to each Stock Price column heading set forth in the table included in the definition of “Fundamental Change Conversion Rate” as of the day on which the Fixed Conversion Rates are so adjusted. Such adjustment shall be made by multiplying each Stock Price included in such table, applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Minimum Conversion Rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to such Stock Price adjustment, and the denominator of which is the Minimum Conversion Rate as so adjusted.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment to the Fixed Conversion Rates shall be made if Holders may participate (other than in the case of (x) a share subdivision or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time,

 

32


upon the same terms and otherwise on the same basis as holders of Common Stock and solely as a result of holding Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in the transaction that would otherwise give rise to an adjustment as if they held, for each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Maximum Conversion Rate then in effect. In addition, the Fixed Conversion Rates shall not be adjusted except as provided in this Section 13. Without limiting the foregoing, the Fixed Conversion Rates shall not be adjusted:

(A) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Corporation’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan;

(B) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or rights or warrants to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries;

(C) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding as of the Initial Issue Date;

(D) for a change solely in the par value of the Common Stock;

(E) for sales of Common Stock for cash, other than in a transaction described in Section 13(a)(ii) or Section 13(a)(iv)(A);

(F) stock repurchases that are not tender offers, including structured or derivative transactions;

(G) as a result of a tender offer solely to holders of fewer than 100 shares of Common Stock;

(H) a third-party tender or exchange offer, other than a tender or exchange offer by one of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries as described in Section 13(a)(vi); or

(I) for accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, except as provided in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9.

(d) Notice of Adjustment . Whenever the Fixed Conversion Rates and the Fundamental Change Conversion Rates set forth in the table in the definition of “Fundamental Change Conversion Rate” are to be adjusted, the Corporation shall:

(i) compute such adjusted Fixed Conversion Rates and Fundamental Change Conversion Rates and prepare and transmit to the Transfer Agent an Officer’s Certificate setting forth such adjusted Fixed Conversion Rates and Fundamental Change Conversion Rates, the method of calculation thereof in reasonable detail and the facts requiring such adjustment and upon which such adjustment is based;

 

33


(ii) as soon as practicable following the occurrence of an event that requires an adjustment to the Fixed Conversion Rates and the Fundamental Change Conversion Rates, provide, or cause to be provided, a written notice to the Holders of the occurrence of such event; and

(iii) as soon as practicable following the determination of such adjusted Fixed Conversion Rates and Fundamental Change Conversion Rates provide, or cause to be provided, to the Holders, upon written request by a beneficial owner of the Depositary Shares, a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the method by which the adjustments to the Fixed Conversion Rates and Fundamental Change Conversion Rates were determined and setting forth such adjusted Fixed Conversion Rates and Fundamental Change Conversion Rates.

(e) Reorganization Events . In the event of:

(i) any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another Person (other than a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the continuing corporation and in which the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger or consolidation is not exchanged for cash, securities or other property of the Corporation or another Person);

(ii) any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another Person of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries;

(iii) any reclassification of Common Stock into securities, including securities other than Common Stock; or

(iv) any statutory exchange of securities of the Corporation with another Person (other than in connection with a merger or consolidation),

in each case, as a result of which the Corporation’s Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, securities, cash or property (each, a “ Reorganization Event ”), each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization Event shall, without the consent of the Holders, become convertible into the kind of securities, cash and other property that such Holder would have been entitled to receive if such Holder had converted its Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock immediately prior to such Reorganization Event (such securities, cash and other property, the “ Exchange Property ,” with each “ Unit of Exchange Property ” meaning the kind and amount of such Exchange Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock is entitled to receive). For purposes of the foregoing, the type and amount of Exchange Property in the case of any Reorganization Event that causes the Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election) shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such an election (or of all holders of Common Stock if

 

34


none makes an election). The Corporation shall notify Holders of the weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made. The number of Units of Exchange Property for each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock converted following the effective date of such Reorganization Event shall be determined as if references in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 to shares of Common Stock were to Units of Exchange Property (without any interest thereon and without any right to dividends or distributions thereon which have a record date that is prior to such Conversion Date, except as provided in Section 13(a)(vii), Section 13(c)(iii) and Section 13(c)(v)). For the purpose of determining which of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 7(b) shall apply upon Mandatory Conversion, and for the purpose of calculating the Mandatory Conversion Rate if clause (ii) of Section 7(b) is applicable, the value of a Unit of Exchange Property shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof), except that if a Unit of Exchange Property includes common stock or American Depositary Receipts (“ ADRs ”) that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange, the value of such common stock or ADRs shall be the average over the Final Averaging Period of the volume weighted average prices for such common stock or ADRs, as displayed on the applicable Bloomberg screen (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof)); or, if such price is not available, the average market value per share of such common stock or ADRs over such period as determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Corporation for this purpose.

The provisions of this Section 13(e) shall similarly apply to successive Reorganization Events and the provisions of Section 13 shall apply to any shares of capital stock or ADRs of the Corporation (or any successor thereto) received by the holders of Common Stock in any such Reorganization Event.

The Corporation (or any successor thereto) shall, as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event within 20 calendar days) after the occurrence of any Reorganization Event, provide written notice to the Holders of such occurrence and of the kind and amount of the cash, securities or other property that constitute the Exchange Property. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the operation of this Section 13(e).

SECTION 14 . Transfer Agent, Registrar, and Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent. The duly appointed Transfer Agent, Registrar and Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the Transfer Agent, Registrar or Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the Transfer Agent, Registrar or Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent, as the case may be; provided that if the Corporation removes Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent, registrar or conversion and dividend disbursing agent, as the case may be, who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders.

SECTION 15 . Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent may deem and treat the Holder of any shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes.

 

35


SECTION 16. Notices . All notices or communications in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by electronic mail or facsimile, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws and by applicable law.

SECTION 17. No Preemptive Rights . The Holders shall have no preemptive or preferential rights to purchase or subscribe to any stock, obligations, warrants or other securities of the Corporation of any class.

SECTION 18. Other Rights . The shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.

SECTION 19. Stock Certificates.

(a) Shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be represented by stock certificates substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto.

(b) Stock certificates representing shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President of the Corporation and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, in accordance with the Bylaws and applicable Delaware law, by manual or facsimile signature.

(c) A stock certificate representing shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be valid until manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Each stock certificate representing shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be dated the date of its countersignature.

(d) If any Officer of the Corporation who has signed a stock certificate no longer holds that office at the time the Transfer Agent and Registrar countersigns the stock certificate, the stock certificate shall be valid nonetheless.

SECTION 20. Replacement Certificates .

(a) If any Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall, at the expense of the Holder, issue, in exchange and in substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate, or in lieu of and substitution for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate lost, stolen or destroyed, a new Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor and representing an equivalent Liquidation Preference of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock certificate and indemnity, if requested, reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and the Transfer Agent.

 

36


(b) The Corporation is not required to issue any certificate representing the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock on or after the Mandatory Conversion Date. In lieu of the delivery of a replacement certificate following the Mandatory Conversion Date, the Transfer Agent, upon delivery of the evidence and indemnity described above, shall deliver the shares of Common Stock (or Units of Exchange Property) issuable and any cash deliverable pursuant to the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock formerly evidenced by the certificate.

SECTION 21 . Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the sections and subsections of this Certificate of Designations have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 22. Miscellaneous . (a) The Corporation shall pay any and all stock transfer and documentary stamp taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock or other securities issued on account of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant hereto or certificates representing such shares or securities. The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any such tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock or other securities in a name other than that in which the shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which such shares or other securities are issued or delivered were registered, and the Corporation shall not be required to make any such issuance or delivery unless and until the Person otherwise entitled to such issuance or delivery has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(b) The Liquidation Preference and the Dividend Amount each shall be subject to equitable adjustment whenever there shall occur a stock split, combination, reclassification or other similar event involving the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) and submitted by the Board of Directors (or such authorized committee thereof) to the Transfer Agent.

 

37


Exhibit A

[FORM OF FACE OF MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK CERTIFICATE]

 

Certificate Number [    ]   

Number of Shares of Mandatory Convertible

Preferred Stock [            ]

CUSIP 845467307

ISIN US8454673075

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

(par value $0.01 per share)

(Liquidation Preference as specified below)

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that [            ] (the “ Holder ”), is the registered owner of [            ] fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Corporation’s designated 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a Liquidation Preference of $1,000.00 per share (the “ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ”). The shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are transferable on the books and records of the Registrar, 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 Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented hereby are and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of Southwestern Energy Company dated January 21, 2015 as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Designations ”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Certificate of Designations. The Corporation will provide a copy of the Certificate of Designations to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business. In the case of any conflict between this Certificate and the Certificate of Designations, the provisions of the Certificate of Designations shall control and govern.

Reference is hereby made to the provisions of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock set forth on the reverse hereof and in the Certificate of Designations, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Upon receipt of this executed certificate, the Holder is bound by the Certificate of Designations and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

Unless the Transfer Agent and Registrar have properly countersigned, these shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Certificate of Designations or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this certificate has been executed on behalf of the Corporation by two Officers of the Corporation this [    ] of [            ] [        ].

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-2


COUNTERSIGNATURE

These are shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock referred to in the within-mentioned Certificate of Designations.

Dated: [            ], [        ]

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as

    Registrar and Transfer Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


[FORM OF REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE FOR MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK]

Cumulative dividends on each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be payable at the applicable rate provided in the Certificate of Designations.

The shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be convertible in the manner and accordance with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

The Corporation shall furnish without charge to each Holder who so requests a summary of the authority of the Board of Directors to determine variations for future series within a class of stock and the designations, limitations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class or series of share capital issued by the Corporation and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

A-4


NOTICE OF CONVERSION

(To be Executed by the Holder

in order to Convert the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert (the “ Conversion ”) 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ”), of Southwestern Energy Company (hereinafter called the “ Corporation ”), represented by stock certificate No(s). [            ] (the “ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Certificates ”), into common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the “ Common Stock ”) according to the conditions of the Certificate of Designations of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”), as of the date written below. If Common Stock is to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto, if any. Each Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate (or evidence of loss, theft or destruction thereof) is attached hereto.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in or pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.

 

                Date of Conversion:                                                                                                                                                                                                            
   Applicable Conversion Rate:                                                                                                                                                                                            
   Shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to Be Converted:                                                                                                                 
   Shares of Common Stock to Be Issued: *                                                                                                                                                                       
   Signature:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
   Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
   Address: **                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
   Fax No.:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

*   The Corporation is not required to issue Common Stock until the original Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate(s) (or evidence of loss, theft or destruction thereof) to be converted are received by the Corporation or the Conversion and Dividend Disbursing Agent.
**   Address where Common Stock and any other payments or certificates shall be sent by the Corporation.

 

A-1


ASSIGNMENT

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

 

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or taxpayer identification number, if any)

 

 

 

 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints:

 

 

 

 

as agent to transfer the shares of Mandatory Convertible 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 Certificate)

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

(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-2

Exhibit 4.2

6.25% SERIES B MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

among

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY,

COMPUTERSHARE INC. and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

jointly as Depositary,

and

THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF

THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS DESCRIBED HEREIN

Dated as of January 21, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

     P AGE  
ARTICLE 1   
D EFINED T ERMS   

Section 1.01. Definitions

     1   
ARTICLE 2   
A PPOINTMENT OF D EPOSITARY ; R IGHTS , P RIVILEGES AND P REFERENCES ; B OOK -E NTRY S YSTEM ; F ORM OF R ECEIPTS ; D EPOSIT OF M ANDATORY C ONVERTIBLE P REFERRED S TOCK ; N O R EDEMPTION OF M ANDATORY C ONVERTIBLE P REFERRED S TOCK ; E XECUTION AND D ELIVERY ; T RANSFER , S URRENDER AND E XCHANGE OF R ECEIPTS       

Section 2.01. Appointment of Depositary

     4   

Section 2.02. Rights, Privileges and Preferences

     4   

Section 2.03. Book-Entry System; Form and Transfer of Receipts

     4   

Section 2.04. Deposit of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts

     7   

Section 2.05. No Redemption of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

     8   

Section 2.06. Registration of Transfer of Receipts

     8   

Section 2.07. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

     8   

Section 2.08. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts

     10   

Section 2.09. Lost Receipts, etc .

     10   

Section 2.10. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts

     10   

Section 2.11. Conversion at the Option of Holders

     10   

Section 2.12. No Pre-Release

     13   

Section 2.13. Receipt of Funds

     13   
ARTICLE 3   
C ERTAIN O BLIGATIONS OF R ECORD H OLDERS OF R ECEIPTS AND OF THE C ORPORATION   

Section 3.01. Filing Proofs; Certificates and Other Information

     14   

Section 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges

     14   

Section 3.03. Warranty as to Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

     14   

Section 3.04. Warranty as to Receipts and Depositary Shares

     14   

Section 3.05. Listing

     15   
ARTICLE 4   
T HE D EPOSITED S ECURITIES ; N OTICES   

Section 4.01. Cash Distributions

     15   


Section 4.02. Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Options or Privileges

     15   

Section 4.03. Subscription Rights, Options or Privileges

     17   

Section 4.04. Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Record Holders of Receipts

     18   

Section 4.05. Voting Rights

     18   

Section 4.06. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, Etc .

     19   

Section 4.07. Inspection and Delivery of Reports

     20   

Section 4.08. Lists of Receipt Record Holders

     20   
ARTICLE 5   
T HE D EPOSITARY , THE D EPOSITARY S A GENTS , THE R EGISTRAR AND THE C ORPORATION   

Section 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar; Depositary’s Agents

     20   

Section 5.02. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent

     21   

Section 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent

     21   

Section 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary

     25   

Section 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports

     26   

Section 5.06. Indemnification by the Corporation

     26   

Section 5.07. Fees, Charges and Expenses

     26   

Section 5.08. Tax Compliance

     27   
ARTICLE 6   
A MENDMENT AND T ERMINATION   

Section 6.01. Amendment Without Consent of Record Holders

     27   

Section 6.02. Amendment With Consent of Record Holders

     28   

Section 6.03. Termination

     29   
ARTICLE 7   
M ISCELLANEOUS   

Section 7.01. Counterparts

     30   

Section 7.02. Record Holders of Receipts Are Parties; Exclusive Benefit of Parties

     30   

Section 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions

     30   

Section 7.04. Notices

     30   

Section 7.05. Appointment of Registrar and Transfer Agent

     31   

Section 7.06. Governing Law

     31   

Section 7.07. Inspection of Deposit Agreement and Certificate

     31   

Section 7.08. Headings

     32   

Section 7.09. Confidentiality

     32   

Section 7.10. Further Assurance

     33   
E XHIBIT   

Exhibit A Form of Receipt

     A-1   

 

ii


THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 21, 2015 among (i) SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), (ii) COMPUTERSHARE INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Computershare ”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “ Trust Company ”), jointly as Depositary (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) the Record Holders from time to time of the Receipts described in this Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the parties desire to provide, as set forth in this Agreement, for the deposit of shares of the Corporation’s 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, from time to time with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts (as defined herein) evidencing Depositary Shares (as defined herein) in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (as defined herein) so deposited; and

WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

D EFINED T ERMS

Section 1.01 . Definitions. The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms (in the singular and plural forms of such terms) used in this Agreement:

Accumulated Dividend Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Agreement ” shall mean this agreement as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as provided herein, as so amended or supplemented.

Average VWAP ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Certificate of Designations ” shall mean the Certificate of Designations establishing the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Corporation.

Certificate of Incorporation ” shall mean the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.


“Closing Sale Price” of any security on any date shall mean the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) of such security on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which such security is traded. If such security is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Closing Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for such security in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If such security is not so quoted, the “Closing Sale Price” shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for such security on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Corporation for this purpose.

“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, subject to Section 13(e) of the Certificate of Designations.

Computershare ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Conversion Number ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement and shall include its successors and assigns.

Depositary” shall mean Computershare and the Trust Company, acting jointly, subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, shall include its successors and assigns.

Depositary Shares” shall mean the depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th fractional interest in a share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and evidenced by a Receipt.

Depositary’s Agent” shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.01.

Depositary’s Office” shall mean the principal office of the Depositary in New York, New York, at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered.

DTC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

DTC Receipt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Exchange Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Funds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

2


Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock” shall mean the shares of a series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock designated as its 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, having the rights and preferences, including conversion, dividend, liquidation and voting rights, as set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Moody’s ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

NYSE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision thereof.

Physical Receipt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

Receipt ” shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, whether in the form of DTC Receipts or Physical Receipts.

Record Holder” as applied to a Receipt shall mean the person in whose name that Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.

Registrar” shall mean the Trust Company or such other successor bank or trust company that shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts and the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as herein provided, and, if a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, references herein to “the books” of or maintained by the Depositary shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such successor Registrar for such purpose.

Remaining Fractional Share” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.

Remaining Fractional Share Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.

S&P ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

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

Signature Guarantee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

Trading Day” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

 

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Transfer Agent ” shall mean the Trust Company or any bank or trust company appointed to transfer the Receipts and the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, as herein provided.

Trust Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Unit of Exchange Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Certificate of Incorporation.

ARTICLE 2

A PPOINTMENT OF D EPOSITARY ; R IGHTS , P RIVILEGES AND P REFERENCES ; B OOK -E NTRY S YSTEM ; F ORM OF R ECEIPTS ; D EPOSIT OF M ANDATORY C ONVERTIBLE P REFERRED S TOCK ; N O R EDEMPTION OF M ANDATORY C ONVERTIBLE P REFERRED S TOCK ; E XECUTION AND D ELIVERY ; T RANSFER , S URRENDER AND E XCHANGE OF R ECEIPTS

Section 2.01. Appointment of Depositary. The Corporation hereby appoints the Depositary as depositary for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and the Depositary hereby accepts such appointment, on the express terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 2.02. Rights, Privileges and Preferences . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Record Holder of a Receipt is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt (including the conversion, dividend, voting, and liquidation rights contained in the Certificate of Incorporation) and the same proportionate interest in any and all other property received by the Depositary in respect of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and held under this Agreement.

Section 2.03. Book-Entry System; Form and Transfer of Receipts . The Corporation and the Depositary shall make application to The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) for acceptance of all of the Receipts for its book-entry settlement system. The Corporation hereby appoints the Depositary acting through any authorized officer thereof as its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, for purposes of executing any agreements, certifications or other instruments or documents necessary or desirable in order to effect the acceptance of such Receipts for DTC eligibility. So long as the Receipts are eligible for book-entry settlement with DTC, unless otherwise required by law, all Depositary Shares with book-entry settlement through DTC shall be represented by a single receipt or receipts (the “ DTC Receipt ”), which shall be deposited with DTC (or its designee) evidencing all such Depositary Shares and registered in the name of the nominee of DTC (initially Cede & Co.). The Depositary or such other entity as is agreed to by DTC may hold the DTC Receipt as custodian for DTC. Ownership of beneficial interests in the DTC Receipt shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (a) DTC or its nominee for such DTC Receipt or (b) institutions that have accounts with DTC. The DTC Receipt shall bear such legend or legends as may be required by DTC in order for it to accept the Depositary Shares for its book-

 

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entry settlement system. The aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts that may be executed and delivered under this Agreement is initially limited to 34,500,000, except for Receipts executed and delivered in respect of Depositary Shares upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Receipts pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.07 or Section 4.06.

The DTC Receipt shall be exchangeable for definitive Physical Receipts only if (i) DTC notifies the Corporation at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Receipts and a successor to DTC is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days of the date the Corporation is so informed in writing or (ii) DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor to DTC is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days. The Corporation shall provide written notice to the Depositary upon receipt of notice of the occurrence of any event described in clause (i) or clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. Until such written notice is received by the Depositary, the Depositary may presume conclusively for all purposes that the events described in clause (i) and clause (ii) of the first sentence of this paragraph have not occurred. If the beneficial owners of interests in Depositary Shares are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Receipts as the result of an event described in clause (i) or clause (ii) of the first sentence of this paragraph, then without unnecessary delay, the Depositary shall provide written instructions to DTC to deliver the DTC Receipt to the Depositary for cancellation, and, without unnecessary delay, the Corporation shall instruct the Depositary to deliver to the beneficial owners of the Depositary Shares previously evidenced by the DTC Receipt definitive Receipts in physical form (each, a “Physical Receipt ) evidencing such Depositary Shares.

Physical Receipts issued in exchange for all or a part of the DTC Receipt pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as DTC, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Depositary. Upon execution and authentication, the Depositary shall deliver such Physical Receipts to the persons or entities in whose names such Physical Receipts are so registered.

At such time as all interests in a DTC Receipt have been converted, canceled, surrendered or transferred, such DTC Receipt shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Depositary in accordance with standing procedures and existing instructions between DTC and DTC’s custodian. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a DTC Receipt is exchanged for Physical Receipts, converted, canceled, surrendered or transferred to a transferee who receives Physical Receipts therefor or any Physical Receipt is exchanged or transferred for part of such DTC Receipt, the number of Depositary Shares evidenced by such DTC Receipt shall, in accordance with the standing procedures and instructions existing between DTC and DTC’s custodian, be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such DTC Receipt, by the Depositary or DTC’s custodian, at the direction of the Depositary, to reflect such reduction or increase.

Beneficial owners of Depositary Shares through DTC shall not receive or be entitled to receive Physical Receipts or be entitled to have Depositary Shares registered in their name, except as described in the third immediately preceding paragraph, in which case the provisions set forth in such paragraph and the second immediately succeeding paragraph regarding the issuance of Physical Receipts shall apply.

 

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Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares. The Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary from time to time such quantities of Receipts as the Depositary may request to enable the Depositary to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

The DTC Receipt and Physical Receipts, if any, shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided and shall be engraved or otherwise prepared so as to comply with the applicable rules of The New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”) or any other securities exchange on which the Depositary Shares are then listed, if applicable. In the event the DTC Receipt becomes exchangeable for definitive Physical Receipts as provided in this Section 2.03, the Depositary, pending preparation of definitive Physical Receipts and upon the written order of the Corporation, delivered in compliance with Section 2.04, shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts, which may be printed, lithographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the Physical Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Corporation and the Depositary will cause Physical Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Physical Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable by the Record Holder for Physical Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 2.04, without charge to the Record Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor Physical Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Corporation’s expense and without any charge therefor to the Record Holder or the Depositary. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as Physical Receipts.

Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer thereof; provided that if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed then such Receipts shall also be countersigned by manual or facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed as provided in the preceding sentence. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.

Receipts may be endorsed with, or have incorporated in the text thereof, such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, all as may be required by the Corporation or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or

 

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with the rules and regulations of the NYSE or any other securities exchange upon which the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject.

Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt that is properly endorsed, or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided , however , that until transfer of any particular Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.06, the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof (x) for the purpose of determining the Person (i) entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions of securities, cash or other property or payments with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) entitled to exercise any voting, or conversion rights with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and (iii) entitled to receive any notice provided for in this Agreement and (y) for all other purposes.

Section 2.04. Deposit of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Corporation may from time to time deposit shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock under this Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with:

(a) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the resolutions of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, as certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation on the date thereof as being complete, accurate and in effect, relating to the issuance and sale of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock;

(b) a letter of counsel to the Corporation authorizing reliance by the Depositary on such counsel’s opinions delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement as to (i) the existence and good standing of the Corporation, (ii) the due authorization of the Depositary Shares and the status of the Depositary Shares as validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and (iii) the effectiveness of any registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offering and sale of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the offering and sale of the Depositary Shares; and

(c) a written order of the Corporation, directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to the Person or Persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

Deposited Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be held by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.

 

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Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.04, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon recordation of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock on the books of the Corporation (or its duly appointed transfer agent) in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall execute and deliver to, or upon the order of, the Person or Persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 2.04, a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such Person or Persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or, at the request of such Person or Persons, such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the Person or Persons requesting such delivery.

Section 2.05. No Redemption of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock . The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Corporation.

Section 2.06. Registration of Transfer of Receipts . The Corporation hereby appoints the Trust Company as the Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Receipts, and the Trust Company hereby accepts such appointment, on the express terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Trust Company shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by a Record Holder in person or by its duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer and appropriate evidence of authority, including a guarantee of the signature thereon by a participant in a signature guarantee medallion program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc. (the “ Signature Guarantee ”) and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Trust Company, together with evidence of the payment by the applicable party of any taxes or charges as may be required by law. Thereupon, the Trust Company shall, without unreasonable delay, execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Person entitled thereto.

Section 2.07. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock . Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the express terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered, and shall deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Record Holder of the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered.

Any Record Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw the number of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and all money and/or other property represented thereby by (x) in the case of Physical Receipt(s), surrendering such Receipt(s), or Depositary Shares represented by the Receipts, at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals and (y) in the case of a DTC Receipts, by complying with the appropriate DTC procedures for such withdrawal. Upon such surrender,

 

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upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts to the extent provided in Section 5.07, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such Record Holder, or to the Person or Persons designated by such Record Holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and all money and/or other property represented by such Receipt(s), or Depositary Shares represented by such Receipt(s), representing the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock subject to withdrawal, but Record Holders of such whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock hereunder or to receive a Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. If a Physical Receipt delivered by the Record Holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and such money and/or other property to be so withdrawn, deliver to such Record Holder, or subject to Section 2.06 upon its order, a new Physical Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares; provided , however , that such Physical Receipt shall only represent a whole number of Depositary Shares and the Depositary shall not issue any Physical Receipt evidencing a fractional Depositary Share.

Delivery of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and money and/or other property being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate, which, if required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer including, but not limited to, a Signature Guarantee.

If the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the money and/or other property being withdrawn are to be delivered to a Person or Persons other than the Record Holder of the related Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, such Record Holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary, and the Depositary may require that the Physical Receipt(s) surrendered by such Record Holder for withdrawal of such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank.

Delivery of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the money and/or other property represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the Record Holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the Record Holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such Record Holder.

A Record Holder who withdraws shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any such money and/or other property shall not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any such money and/or other property, except that such Record Holder shall be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any such money and/or other property in a name other than the name of such Record Holder.

 

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Section 2.08. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts . As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, any of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and the Corporation may require (a) payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Corporation shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the Record Holder of a Receipt pursuant to Sections 3.02 and 5.07, (b) the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature, including a Signature Guarantee, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Depositary or (c) compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Corporation may establish consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable law.

The deposit of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Corporation is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed reasonably necessary or advisable by any of the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents and the Corporation at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Agreement.

Section 2.09. Lost Receipts, etc . In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall, absent notice to the Depositary that such Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (a) the filing by the Record Holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof; (b) the Record Holder thereof furnishing of the Depositary with indemnification reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and the provision of an open penalty surety bond reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and holding it and the Corporation harmless; and (c) the payment of any reasonable expense (including reasonable fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary) in connection with such execution and delivery.

Section 2.10. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts . All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary’s Agent, including Receipts surrendered in connection with any conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized, but not required, to destroy all Receipts so cancelled.

Section 2.11. Conversion at the Option of Holders . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Record Holder of any Receipt may, at any time that Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted pursuant to Section 8(a) or 9(a) of the Certificate of Designations, by (x) in the case of a Physical Receipt, surrendering such Physical Receipt at the Depositary’s Office or such other office as the Depositary may from time to time designate for such purpose together with a notice of conversion properly completed and duly executed and

 

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a proper assignment of such Receipt to the Corporation or the Transfer Agent or in blank to the Depositary or any of the Depositary’s Agents, and (y) in the case of a DTC Receipt, complying with the procedures of DTC in effect at that time, in each case, thereby instructing the Depositary to cause the conversion of a specified number (the “ Conversion Number ”) of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, and specifying the name in which such Record Holder desires the Common Stock issuable upon conversion (including in respect of any Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount, any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, in accordance with the Certificate of Designations) to be registered and specifying payment instructions. Depositary Shares may be converted at the option of the Record Holder of any Receipt only in lots of 20 Depositary Shares or integral multiples thereof. The Depositary shall be deemed to have no knowledge of the Conversion Number unless and until it shall have actually received written notice thereof from the Corporation, and shall have no duty or obligation to investigate or inquire as to whether any Conversion Number contained in any such written notice is accurate, or whether it complies with the Certificate of Incorporation. If specified by the Record Holder in such notice of conversion that Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Depositary Shares shall be issued to a Person other than the Record Holder surrendering the Receipt for the Depositary Shares being converted, then the Record Holder shall pay or cause to be paid any transfer or similar taxes payable in connection with the Common Stock or other securities so issued that are not payable by the Corporation pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or Section 3.02. In addition, the holder shall provide any other transfer forms, tax forms or other relevant documentation required and specified by the Transfer Agent for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, if necessary, to effect the conversion.

Upon fulfillment of the requirements in the foregoing paragraph, the Depositary is hereby authorized and instructed to, and shall, as promptly as practicable, (a) give written notice to the Transfer Agent of (i) the Conversion Number (as specified in writing by the Corporation), (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon conversion of such Conversion Number of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including in respect of any Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount, any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) (as specified in writing by the Corporation), (iii) the amount of immediately available funds (as specified in writing by the Corporation), if any, to be delivered to the Record Holder of such Receipts in payment of any fractional shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon conversion of such Conversion Number of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and (iv) the amount of cash (as specified in writing by the Corporation), if any, to be delivered to the Record Holder of such Receipts in respect of any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, payable by the Corporation upon conversion of such Conversion Number of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, (b) cancel such Receipt or, if a Registrar for Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, cause such Registrar to cancel such Receipt, and (c) surrender to the Transfer Agent or any other authorized agent of the Corporation for conversion, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation (as specified in writing by the Corporation), certificates for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares as evidenced by such Receipt, together with delivery to the Corporation or the appropriate agent of the Corporation (pursuant to

 

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written instructions from the Corporation) any other information or payment required by the Certificate of Incorporation (as specified in writing by the Corporation) for such conversion, and such certificates shall thereupon be canceled by the Transfer Agent or other authorized agent. The Depositary shall have no duty or obligation to investigate or inquire as to whether the Corporation provided it with the correct number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon any conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including in respect of any Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount, any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount), or the correct amount of cash to be delivered in payment of any fractional shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or in respect of any cash payable by the Corporation upon any conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including in respect of any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount), and the Depositary may rely conclusively on any such information provided by the Corporation.

As promptly as practicable after the Transfer Agent or other authorized agent of the Corporation has received such certificates from the Depositary, (a) the Corporation shall cause to be furnished to the Depositary (i) a certificate or certificates evidencing such number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon conversion of the Conversion Number of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (including in respect of any Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount, any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation), (ii) such amount of immediately available funds, if any, to be delivered in respect of any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, payable by the Corporation upon conversion of such shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, and (iii) such amount of immediately available funds, if any, to be delivered in lieu of receiving fractional shares of Common Stock, as specified in a written notice from the Corporation and (b) the Depositary or Computershare, as the case may be, is hereby authorized and instructed to, and shall, deliver at the Depositary’s Office, (i) a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of shares of Common Stock (including in respect of any Early Conversion Additional Conversion Amount, any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) into which the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares as evidenced by such Receipt has been converted, (ii) the amount of cash payable by the Corporation upon such conversion of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in respect of any Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount and any Accumulated Dividend Amount, in each case, pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and (iii) the amount of cash payable by the Corporation upon such conversion of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in lieu of delivering fractional shares of Common Stock, in each case, as specified in writing by the Corporation and which has been provided by the Corporation.

In the event that a Record Holder of a surrendered Receipt elects to convert fewer than all Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt under this Section 2.11, upon such conversion, the Depositary shall, if requested in writing and provided with all necessary information and documents, authenticate, countersign and deliver to such Record Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares as to which such conversion was not effected.

 

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Delivery of Common Stock following a conversion pursuant to this Section 2.11 may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate, which, if required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. If such delivery is to be made otherwise than at the Depositary’s Office, such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay, at the risk of any Record Holder surrendering Receipts, and for the account of such Record Holder, to such place designated in writing by such Record Holder.

For purposes of this Section 2.11 and Section 4.02, if the Common Stock has been replaced by Exchange Property as a result of any transaction as described in Section 13(e) of the Certificate of Designations, references to Common Stock will be deemed to be references to a Unit of Exchange Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock would have been entitled to receive in such transaction as determined pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Certificate of Designations.

Section 2.12. No Pre-Release . The Depositary shall not deliver any deposited Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts prior to the receipt and cancellation of such Receipts or other similar method used with respect to Receipts held by DTC. The Depositary shall not issue any Receipts prior to the receipt by the Depositary of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock corresponding to Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts. At no time will any Receipts be outstanding if such Receipts do not evidence Depositary Shares representing Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary, subject to the rights of holders to receive distributions upon conversion of the deposited Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 4.02.

Section 2.13 Receipt of Funds . All funds received by Computershare under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by Computershare in the performance of its services hereunder (the “ Funds ”) shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Corporation and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Corporation. Until paid pursuant to this Agreement, Computershare may hold or invest the Funds through such accounts in: (i) obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America, (ii) commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“ S&P ”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”), respectively, (iii) money market funds that comply with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, or (iv) demand deposit accounts, short term certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or bankers’ acceptances, of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). The Corporation shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit or investment made by Computershare in accordance with this paragraph, except for any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party (but, for the avoidance of doubt, Computershare shall bear responsibility and liability for any diminution of the Funds, other than those resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party, such that Record Holders of Receipts receive the full amount of money and/or property under this Agreement to which they are entitled as holders fractional interests shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and such responsibility and liability shall not be subject to Section 5.03 of this Agreement). Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits or investments. Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Corporation, any holder or any other party.

 

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ARTICLE 3

C ERTAIN O BLIGATIONS OF R ECORD H OLDERS OF R ECEIPTS AND OF THE C ORPORATION

Section 3.01. Filing Proofs; Certificates and Other Information . Any Record Holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Corporation may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer or exchange, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and evidenced by a Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

Section 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges . Record Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain fees, expenses and taxes or other charges to the extent provided in Section 5.07, or provide evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that such fees, expenses, taxes or charges have been paid. Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and all money and/or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made or satisfactory evidence is provided by such Record Holder to the Depositary that such fees, taxes, charges and expenses have been paid, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the Record Holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such Record Holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the Record Holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

Section 3.03. Warranty as to Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock . The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the issuance of the related Receipts.

Section 3.04. Warranty as to Receipts and Depositary Shares . The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Receipts, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will represent legal and valid interests in the Depositary Shares and each Depositary Share will represent a legal and valid 1/20th fractional interest in a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Share. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares.

 

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Section 3.05. Listing . The Corporation hereby covenants and agrees that it will apply to list the Depositary Shares on the NYSE. If the Depositary Shares are listed on the NYSE, the Corporation covenants and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Depositary Shares listed on the NYSE.

ARTICLE 4

T HE D EPOSITED S ECURITIES ; N OTICES

Section 4.01. Cash Distributions . Whenever Computershare shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Computershare shall, as soon as practicable thereafter and subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such Record Holders; provided , however , that in case the Corporation or Computershare shall be required to withhold, and shall withhold, from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes or applicable law or regulation, the amount of cash made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly, and such withheld cash shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Record Holder of Receipts in respect of which the Corporation or Computershare, as the case may be, made such withholding. In the event that the calculation of any such cash dividend or other cash distribution to be paid to any Record Holder on the aggregate number of Depositary Shares held by such Record Holder results in an amount that is a fraction of a cent and that fraction of a cent is equal to or greater than $0.005, the amount Computershare shall distribute to such record holder shall be rounded up to the next highest whole cent; otherwise, such fractional amount shall be disregarded by the Depositary; provided , however , that the Corporation shall pay the additional amount to Computershare for distribution.

Each Record Holder of a Receipt shall provide the Depositary with its certified tax identification number on a properly completed Form W-8 or W-9, as may be applicable. Each Record Holder of a Receipt acknowledges that, in the event of non-compliance with the preceding sentence, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may require withholding by the Depositary of a portion of any of the distributions to be made hereunder.

Section 4.02. Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Options or Privileges . Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, options or privileges upon the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts held by such Record Holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution, including, without limitation, through book-entry transfer through DTC in the case of DTC Receipts; provided that, in case the Depositary shall be required to withhold from any distribution in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount of property or securities made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced as necessary to permit any

 

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withholding, and such withheld property may be disposed of by the Depositary, without any further consent or direction from the Corporation, in such manner as the Depositary reasonably deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Record Holder of the Receipt in respect of which the Depositary, as the case may be, made such withholding. The distribution described in the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to any distribution by the Depositary of shares of Common Stock deliverable to the Record Holders, as a result of the conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation; provided that in such case the distribution of shares of Common Stock shall be made to Record Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date. If, in the opinion of the Depositary, such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record Holders, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Corporation or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or governmental charges) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Corporation, such distribution not to be feasible, then the Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, in a commercially reasonable manner. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by Computershare to Record Holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Corporation shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Record Holders of Receipts, unless the Corporation shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that (i) such distribution of securities or property has been registered under the Securities Act or does not need to be so registered in connection therewith, and (ii) the securities (if any) are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

In the event of a distribution of securities, whether upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock or otherwise, fractional shares of such securities shall not be distributed to the Record Holders. Instead, a Record Holder that otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fraction of a security will receive an amount in cash, rounded to the nearest cent, equal to such Record Holder’s proportionate interest in the net proceeds from the sale in the open market by Computershare, or an agent of Computershare or other entity as so instructed in writing by the Corporation, on behalf of all such Record Holders, of the aggregate fractional shares of the securities that would otherwise have been issued, unless the distribution of securities in question is the Corporation’s issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in which case (A) such Record Holder will be entitled to receive an amount in cash (computed to the nearest cent) equal to the product of: (x) that same fraction; and (y) the Average VWAP per share of Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the second Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Conversion Date; provided that if more than one share of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is surrendered for, or subject to, conversion at one time by or for the same holder, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock so surrendered for, or subject to, conversion. The sale described in the immediately previous sentence shall occur as soon as practicable following the distribution date for such securities. In the event that such sale of the aggregate fractional shares of the

 

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securities that otherwise would have been issued is completed and a fraction of a share of such security still remains (the “ Remaining Fractional Share ”), the Depositary shall immediately notify the Corporation in writing of the Remaining Fractional Share, which notice may be delivered via electronic mail to the address set forth in Section 7.04. Upon receipt of such notice, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall determine the cash equivalent of the Remaining Fractional Share (the “ Remaining Fractional Share Amount ”), which Remaining Fractional Share Amount shall be equal to the Remaining Fractional Share, multiplied by the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the distribution of such securities. The determination of the Remaining Fractional Share Amount by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall be binding on the parties hereto and on the Record Holders. The Corporation shall promptly transfer funds for the Remaining Fractional Share Amount to an account selected by Computershare, and Computershare shall add the Remaining Fractional Share Amount to the net proceeds from the sale described above for distribution to the Record Holders otherwise entitled to receive the fractional shares of the securities.

The Person or Persons entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date.

Section 4.03 . Subscription Rights, Options or Privileges. If the Corporation shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the Persons in whose names the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is recorded on the books of the Corporation any rights, options or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, options or privileges of any other nature, the terms of such rights, options or privileges shall in each such instance be communicated promptly to the Depositary and thereafter such rights, options or privileges shall be made available by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts in such manner as the Corporation shall instruct, including either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing such rights, options or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Depositary in its discretion with the approval of the Corporation; provided , however , that (a) if at the time of issuance or offer of any such rights, options or privileges, the Corporation determines that it is not lawful or not feasible to make such rights, options or privileges available to Record Holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise or (b) if and to the extent instructed by the Record Holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, options or privileges, the Depositary shall, if so directed by the Corporation and provided with an opinion of counsel that if the Depositary undertakes such actions it will not be deemed an “issuer” under the Securities Act or an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and, if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, options or privileges permit such transfer, sell such rights, options or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper; provided further that if either the Corporation does not so direct the Depositary or does not so provide such opinion of counsel, then, in either case, the Corporation shall be required to sell such rights, options or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and deliver the proceeds of any such sale to the Depositary, in which case the Depositary shall distribute such proceeds to the Record Holders of Receipts in accordance with the immediately following sentence. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed by the Depositary to the

 

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Record Holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Depositary shall not make any distribution of such rights, options or privileges, unless the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel stating that such rights, options or privileges have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered.

The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, options or privileges relate is required in order for Record Holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which such rights, options or privileges relate, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, options or privileges and securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, options or privileges to enable such Record Holders to exercise such rights, options or privileges in compliance with the Securities Act. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the Record Holders of Receipts any right, option or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective, or the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to the Record Holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.

The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, options or privileges to be made available to Record Holders of Receipts, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, options or privileges to enable such Record Holders to exercise such rights, options or privileges.

Section 4.04 . Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Record Holders of Receipts. Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, options or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Corporation shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock) for the determination of the Record Holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, options or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reasons.

Section 4.05 . Voting Rights. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail

 

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to the Record Holders of Receipts, determined on the record date as set forth in Section 4.04, a notice prepared by the Corporation that shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting and (b) a statement that the Record Holders may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a Person designated by the Corporation) and a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Each Record Holder of Receipts on the record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock) may instruct the Depositary as to how to vote the amount of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by such Record Holder’s Receipts in accordance with these instructions. Upon the written request of the Record Holders of Receipts on the relevant record date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. The Corporation hereby agrees to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or cause such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from Record Holders of Receipts, the Depositary shall abstain from voting the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent it does not receive such specific instructions from the Record Holders of Receipts.

Section 4.06 . Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, Etc. Upon any change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation affecting the Corporation or to which it is a party, the Corporation shall instruct the Depositary in writing to, and the Depositary upon receipt of such instructions shall (a) make such adjustments as are certified by the Corporation in the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as may be necessary fully to reflect the effects of such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, or of such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and (b) treat any securities that shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or, subject to the final sentence of this Section 4.06, upon conversion of or in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as new deposited securities so received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. In any such case the Corporation may in its discretion direct the Depositary in writing to execute and deliver additional Receipts or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited securities. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, Record Holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or any such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property and cash into which the Mandatory Convertible

 

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Preferred Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock shall not constitute new deposited securities hereunder and instead the provisions set forth in Section 4.02 shall apply.

Section 4.07 . Inspection and Delivery of Reports. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by holders of Receipts at the Depositary Office, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during normal business hours, any reports and communications received from the Corporation that are both received by the Depositary as the holder of deposited Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and that the Corporation is required to furnish to the holders of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, the Depositary shall transmit, upon written request by the Corporation, notices and reports to the holders of Receipts as provided in Section 5.05.

Section 4.08 . Lists of Receipt Record Holders. Reasonably promptly upon request from time to time by the Corporation, at the sole expense of the Corporation, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all registered Record Holders of Receipts.

ARTICLE 5

T HE D EPOSITARY , THE D EPOSITARY S A GENTS , THE R EGISTRAR AND THE C ORPORATION

Section 5.01 . Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar; Depositary’s Agents. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary’s Office, facilities for the execution and delivery, transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up and combination of Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and at the offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

The Registrar shall keep books at the Depositary’s Office for the registration and transfer of Receipts. Upon direction by the Corporation and with reasonable notice to the Registrar, the Registrar shall open its books for inspection by the Record Holders of Receipts as directed by the Corporation; provided that any Record Holder shall be granted such right by the Corporation only after certifying that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such Person’s interest as an owner of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.

The Corporation may cause the Registrar to close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.

The Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the

 

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Depositary shall appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Corporation) for registration of the Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange. Such registrar (which may be the Registrar if so permitted by the requirements of any such exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar may be appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Corporation. If the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are listed on one or more other securities exchanges, the Registrar shall, at the expense and request of the Corporation, arrange such facilities for the delivery, transfer, surrender and exchange of the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as may be required by law or applicable securities exchange regulation.

The Depositary may from time to time appoint one or more Depositary’s Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Agreement and may from time to time appoint additional Depositary’s Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary’s Agents; provided that the Depositary shall notify the Corporation of any such appointment or variation or termination of such appointment.

Section 5.02 . Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent. None of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall incur any liability to any Record Holder of a Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Certificate of Incorporation or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, any such Depositary’s Agent, any such Registrar or any such Transfer Agent shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or subjected to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Agreement provide shall be done or performed. Nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent incur liability to any Record Holder of a Receipt (a) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Agreement shall provide shall or may be done or performed or (b) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Agreement except, in case of any such exercise or failure to exercise discretion not caused as aforesaid, if caused by the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the party charged with such exercise or failure to exercise, or as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Agreement.

Section 5.03 . Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent. None of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Agreement to Record Holders of Receipts, the Corporation or any other person or entity other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

None of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts, which, in its reasonable opinion, may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

 

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None of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any Person presenting Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for deposit, any Record Holder of a Receipt or any other Person believed by it in the absence of bad faith to be competent to give such information. Each of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent may rely, and shall each be protected in acting upon or omitting to act, upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar or Transfer Agent shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar or Transfer Agent.

The Depositary, its parent, affiliates and subsidiaries, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar or Transfer Agent may own, buy, sell and deal in any class of securities of the Corporation and its affiliates and in Receipts or Depositary Shares or have a pecuniary interest in any transaction in which the Corporation or its affiliates may be interested or contract with or lend money to any such Person or otherwise act as fully or as freely as if it were not the Depositary, the Depositary’s parent, affiliate or subsidiary or the Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar hereunder. The Depositary may also act as trustee, transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Corporation and its affiliates.

It is intended that none of the Depositary, its agents and any Registrar, acting as a Depositary’s Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be an “issuer” of the securities under the federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and the Registrar are acting only in a ministerial capacity as Depositary or Registrar for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

The Corporation agrees that is has previously or will register the offer and sale of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares in accordance with all applicable securities laws.

None of the Depositary, its officers, directors, employees or agents and the Registrar makes any representation or has any responsibility as to the validity of (a) the registration statement pursuant to which the offer and sale of the Depositary Shares are registered under the Securities Act, (b) the Certificate of Incorporation, (c) the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, (d) the Depositary Shares, (e) the Receipts (except for its counter-signatures thereon), (f) any instruments referred to in any of the foregoing or (g) as to the correctness of any statement made in any of the foregoing.

 

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The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the description that appears in the Receipts. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary makes no warranties or representations as to the validity or genuineness of any Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock at any time deposited with the Depositary hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement, as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right, title or interest of the Record Holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Corporation of the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages of any nature whatsoever, including, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits, occasioned by breach of any provision of this Agreement even if apprised of the possibility of such damages. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the aggregate liability of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, three times the amounts paid hereunder by the Corporation to Depositary as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses, during the twelve months immediately preceding the event for which recovery is being sought.

The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall not have any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Receipts, the Depositary Shares or the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, nor shall it be obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as required by applicable law. The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for advancing funds on behalf of the Corporation and shall have no duty or obligation to make any payments if it has not timely received sufficient funds to make timely payments.

In the event the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent or any Registrar or Transfer Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent or any Registrar or Transfer Agent hereunder, or in the administration of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Depositary shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering to take any action hereunder, the Depositary may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action and the Depositary, Depositary’s Agent or any Registrar or Transfer Agent shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Corporation, any Record Holders of Receipts or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless (i) the Depositary receives written instructions or a certificate signed by the Corporation that eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the reasonable satisfaction of the Depositary, Depositary’s Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent or that proves or establishes the applicable matter to the reasonable satisfaction of the Depositary, Depositary’s Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent or (ii) the rights of all parties have been adjudicated by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

 

23


In the event the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or Transfer Agent shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any Record Holders of Receipts, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, such party shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from the Corporation, and shall incur no liability and shall be entitled to the full indemnification set forth in Section 5.06 in connection with any action so taken, suffered or omitted to be taken.

The Depositary undertakes not to issue any Receipt other than to evidence the Depositary Shares that have been delivered to, and are then on deposit with, the Depositary. The Depositary also undertakes not to sell, except as provided herein, pledge or lend Depositary Shares or shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock held by it as Depositary.

The Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent, Transfer Agent, or Registrar will not be under any duty or responsibility to ensure compliance with any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of the Receipts, Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amendment to the Certificate of Designation shall affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary, Transfer Agent, the Depositary’s Agent or Registrar hereunder.

The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, Transfer Agent, and any Registrar hereunder:

(i) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth herein (and no implied duties or obligations), or as may subsequently be agreed to in writing by the parties;

(ii) shall have no obligation to make payment hereunder unless the Corporation shall have provided the necessary federal or other immediately available funds or securities or property, as the case may be, to pay in full amounts due and payable with respect thereto;

(iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder; if, however, the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar determines to take any legal or other action hereunder, and, where the taking of such action might in such Person’s reasonable judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability, it shall not be required to act unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it;

(iv) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or omitting to act upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission or other document or security delivered to it and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof;

(v) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or omitting to act upon the written, telephonic, electronic and oral instructions given in accordance with this Agreement, with respect to any matter relating to its actions as Depositary, Transfer Agent or Registrar covered by this Agreement (or supplementing or qualifying any such actions), of officers of the Corporation;

 

24


(vi) may consult counsel satisfactory to it (who may be an employee of the Depositary or the Registrar or counsel to the Corporation), and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in accordance with the advice of such counsel;

(vii) shall not be called upon at any time to advise any Person with respect to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Receipts;

(viii) shall not be liable or responsible for any recital or statement contained in any documents relating hereto or to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or Receipts; and

(ix) shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the parties (other than the Depositary) executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for under this Agreement.

The representations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.03 shall survive the replacement, removal or resignation of any Depositary, Registrar or Depositary’s Agent or the Transfer Agent, or the termination of this Agreement.

Section 5.04 . Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by delivering notice of its election to do so to the Corporation, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Corporation by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary hereunder and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company that (a) is not an affiliate of the Corporation, (b) has its principal office in the United States of America and (c) has, together with its affiliates, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Corporation, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any moneys, securities or

 

25


other property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor Depositary a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such records, books and other information in its possession relating thereto. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Record Holders of Receipts.

Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or its own name as successor Depositary.

The provisions of this Section 5.04 as they apply to the Depositary apply to the Registrar and Transfer Agent, as if specifically enumerated herein.

Section 5.05 . Corporate Notices and Reports. The Corporation agrees that it shall deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall, promptly after receipt thereof, transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses recorded in the Depositary’s books, copies of all notices and reports (including, without limitation, financial statements) required by law, by the rules of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange upon which the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Certificate of Incorporation, to be furnished to the Record Holders of Receipts. Such transmission will be at the Corporation’s expense and the Corporation will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary shall transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporation’s expense, including applicable fees, such other documents as may be requested by the Corporation.

Section 5.06 . Indemnification by the Corporation. Subject to Section 5.03, the Corporation shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar or Transfer Agent (including each of their officers, directors, agents and employees) against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, damage, cost, penalty, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself) which may arise out of acts performed, suffered or omitted to be taken in connection with this Agreement and the Receipts by the Depositary, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent or any of their respective agents (including any Depositary’s Agent) and any transactions or documents contemplated hereby, except for any liability arising out of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the respective parts of any such Person or Persons. The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.06 shall survive the replacement, removal, resignation or any succession of any Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositary’s Agent or termination of this Agreement.

Section 5.07. Fees, Charges and Expenses . The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Depositary the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Depositary hereunder and to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Depositary without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part (or on the part of any agent or Depositary’s Agent) in connection with the services rendered by it (or such agent or Depositary’s Agent) hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the

 

26


initial deposit of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares and any change of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 4.06. The Corporation shall pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. The Record Holders shall not be required to pay any transfer and other taxes and governmental charges relating to the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the Receipts or the Depositary Shares; provided that a Record Holder shall be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable relating to any issuance or delivery of shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or Common Stock or transfers or exchanges of Depositary Shares or Receipts, in each case, in a name other than the name of such Record Holder. If, at the request of a Record Holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which the Corporation is not otherwise liable hereunder, then such Record Holder shall be liable for such charges and expenses; provided , however , that the Depositary may, at its sole option, request that the Corporation direct a Record Holder of a Receipt to prepay the Depositary any charge or expense the Depositary has been asked to incur at the request of such Record Holder of Receipts. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Corporation at such intervals as the Corporation and the Depositary may agree.

Section 5.08 . Tax Compliance. The Depositary, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable certification, information reporting and withholding (including “backup” withholding) requirements imposed by applicable tax laws, regulations or administrative practice with respect to (a) any payments made with respect to the Depositary Shares and Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock or (b) the issuance, delivery, holding, transfer or exercise of rights under the Receipts or the Depositary Shares. Such compliance shall include, without limitation, the preparation and timely filing of required returns and the timely payment of all amounts required to be withheld to the appropriate taxing authority or its designated agent.

The Depositary shall comply with any direction received from the Corporation with respect to the application of such requirements to particular payments or holders or in other particular circumstances, and may for purposes of this Agreement rely on any such direction in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.03 hereof.

The Depositary shall maintain all appropriate records documenting compliance with such requirements, and shall make such records available on request to the Corporation or to its authorized representatives.

ARTICLE 6

A MENDMENT AND T ERMINATION

Section 6.01 . Amendment Without Consent of Record Holders. Without the consent of the Record Holders of Receipts, the Receipts and any provisions of this Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended, altered or supplemented by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary for the following purposes:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, inconsistency or mistake in this Agreement or the Receipts;

 

27


(b) to make any provision with respect to matters or questions relating to the Depositary Shares that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement that does not adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of any Record Holder of Receipts;

(c) to make any change reasonably necessary, in the Corporation’s reasonable determination, to reflect each Depositary Share’s representation of 1/20th of a share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock;

(d) to make any change reasonably necessary, in the Corporation’s reasonable determination, to comply with the procedures of the Depositary; or

(e) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of any Record Holder of Receipts.

In addition, without the consent of the Record Holders of Receipts, the Receipts and any provisions of this Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended, altered, supplemented or repealed to conform such provisions to the description thereof in the prospectus for the Depositary Shares, as supplemented and/or amended by the “Description of Depositary Shares” section of the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Depositary Shares, as further supplemented and/or amended by the pricing term sheet related thereto. Every Record Holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such action takes effect shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such action and to be bound by this Agreement.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite number of Depositary Shares have concurred in any amendment, alteration, supplement referred to in this Section 6.01, Depositary Shares that are owned by the Corporation, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination. As a condition precedent to the Depositary’s execution of any amendment pursuant to this Section 6.01, the Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Corporation that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 6.01. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Depositary may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any amendment that adversely affects its own rights, duties, obligations, responsibilities, liabilities and indemnities hereunder.

Section 6.02 . Amendment With Consent of Record Holders. With the consent of the Record Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate number of Receipts then outstanding (subject to the last paragraph of this Section 6.02), the Receipts and any provisions of this Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended, altered or supplemented by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary; provided , however , that, without the consent of each Record Holder of an outstanding Receipt affected, no such amendment, alteration or supplement shall:

(a) reduce the number of Receipts the Record Holders of which must consent to an amendment, alteration or supplement of the Receipts or this Agreement;

 

28


(b) reduce the amount payable or deliverable in respect of the Receipts or extend the stated time for such payment or delivery;

(c) impair the right, subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, Section 2.08 and Article 3, of any owner of Depositary Shares to surrender any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares to the Depositary with instructions to deliver to the Record Holder the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and all money and/or other property represented thereby;

(d) change the currency in which payments in respect of the Depositary Shares or any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares is made;

(e) impair the right of any Record Holder of Receipts to receive payments or deliveries on such Record Holder’s Receipts on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery;

(f) make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Record Holder of Receipts; or

(g) make any change that adversely affects the voting rights of any Record Holder of Receipts.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite number of Depositary Shares have concurred in any amendment, alteration, supplement referred to in this Section 6.02, Depositary Shares that are owned by the Corporation, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination. As a condition precedent to the Depositary’s execution of any amendment pursuant to this Section 6.02, the Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Corporation that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 6.02. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Depositary may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any amendment that adversely affects its own rights, duties, obligations, responsibilities, liabilities and indemnities hereunder.

Section 6.03 . Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation or the Depositary only if (a) all outstanding Depositary Shares issued hereunder have been cancelled, upon conversion of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise, or (b) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and such distribution shall have been distributed to the Record Holders of Receipts representing Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02, as applicable.

Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Corporation shall be discharged from all obligations under this Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar under Section 5.06 and 5.07.

 

29


ARTICLE 7

M ISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01 . Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or PDF shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 7.02 . Record Holders of Receipts Are Parties; Exclusive Benefit of Parties. The Record Holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts. This Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and any third-party indemnitees referenced in Section 5.06, and their respective assigns and successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other entity or person whatsoever.

Section 7.03 . Invalidity of Provisions. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby; provided , however , that if such provision affects the rights, duties, liabilities or obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary shall be entitled to resign immediately, subject to, and in accordance with, Section 5.04.

Section 7.04 . Notices. Any and all notices to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Corporation at

Southwestern Energy Company

10000 Energy Drive

Spring, Texas     77389

Phone:                (832) 796-4700

Attention:           General Counsel

Email:                 john_ale@swn.com

With a copy to (which alone shall not constitute notice):

Mr. Ryan Maierson

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street

Suite 3700

Houston, Texas     77002

Phone:                   (713) 546-7420

Email:                   ryan.maierson@lw.com

 

30


or at any other addresses of which the Corporation shall have notified the Depositary in writing.

Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office at

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

c/o Computershare Inc.

250 Royall Street

Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: 781-575-4210

or at any other address of which the Depositary shall have notified the Corporation in writing.

Subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the Depositary shall give any and all notices directed to be given by the Corporation to any Record Holder of a Receipt in writing, and such notices shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission or confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Depositary Shares are issued in book-entry form through DTC or any similar facility, such notices may be given to Record Holders in any manner permitted by DTC or such facility, as the case may be.

Delivery of a notice sent by mail or by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box. However, the Depositary or the Corporation may act upon any facsimile transmission received by it from the other, notwithstanding that such facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.

Section 7.05 . Appointment of Registrar and Transfer Agent. Unless otherwise set forth on a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of the Corporation, the Corporation hereby appoints the Trust Company as Registrar and Transfer Agent in respect of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary hereunder, and the Trust Company hereby accepts such appointment. The Trust Company, in such capacity under such appointment, shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, immunities and benefits as the Depositary hereunder as if explicitly named in each such provision.

Section 7.06 . Governing Law. This Agreement and the Receipts and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof, including without limitation any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement or the Receipts, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Section 7.07. Inspection of Deposit Agreement and Certificate . Copies of this Agreement and the Certificate of Incorporation shall be filed with the Depositary and any of the Depositary’s Agents and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Depositary’s Office by any Record Holder of any Receipt.

 

31


Section 7.08 . Headings. The headings of articles and sections in this Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.

Section 7.09. Confidentiality . The Depositary and the Corporation agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Record Holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other Person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).

Section 7.10. Further Assurance . The Corporation shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Depositary for the carrying out or performing by the Depositary of the provisions of this Agreement.

[ Signatures on following page ]

 

32


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Depositary have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

/s/ R. Craig Owen

  Name: R. Craig Owen
 

Title:   Senior Vice President and

            Chief Financial Officer

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Dennis V. Moccia

  Name: Dennis V. Moccia
  Title: Manager, Contract Administration
COMPUTERSHARE INC.
By:  

/s/ Dennis V. Moccia

  Name: Dennis V. Moccia
  Title: Manager, Contract Administration

[Deposit Agreement Signature Page]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]

THE DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS RECEIPT ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

[UNLESS THIS RECEIPT IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), TO COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY RECEIPT ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREUNDER IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.] 1

 

 

1   Insert for a DTC Receipt.

 

A-1


Number DR-            [Initially] 2                      Depositary Shares
   (CUSIP: 845467208)

DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES,

EACH REPRESENTING ONE-TWENTIETH OF ONE SHARE OF

6.25% SERIES B MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, OF

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware

(See reverse for certain definitions.)

COMPUTERSHARE INC., a Delaware corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (jointly, the “ Depositary ”), hereby certify that                      3 is the registered owner of [                     (            )] 4 [the number of] 5 DEPOSITARY SHARES (“ Depositary Shares ”) [shown on Schedule I hereto] 6 , each Depositary Share representing a one-twentieth interest in one share of the 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ”), of SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of January 21, 2015 (the “ Deposit Agreement ”), among the Corporation, the Depositary and the Record Holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts. The powers, designations, preferences and rights of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are set forth in a Certificate of Amendment for the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts that may be executed and delivered under the Deposit Agreement is initially limited to 34,500,000.

This Depositary Receipt is issuable to                      7 as the registered owner of the Depositary Shares represented hereby. By accepting this Depositary Receipt, the Record Holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

 

2   Insert for DTC Receipt.
3   Insert “CEDE & CO.” for a DTC Receipt.
4   Insert for Physical Receipt.
5   Insert for DTC Receipt.
6   Insert for DTC Receipt.
7   Insert “CEDE & CO.” for a DTC Receipt.

 

A-2


This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer and, if a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of such Registrar.

Dated:

COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary

 

By:  

 

 

Authorized Signatory

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Depositary

 

By:  

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-3


[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

UPON REQUEST, SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY (THE “ CORPORATION ”) WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH HOLDER OF A DEPOSITARY RECEIPT WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND/OR A COPY OF THE CORPORATION’S THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED (INCLUDING THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS ESTABLISHING THE TERMS OF THE CORPORATION’S 6.25% SERIES B MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK). ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE OF THIS RECEIPT.

The Corporation will furnish without charge to each Record Holder of a Receipt 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 Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Registrar.

KEEP THIS RECEIPT IN A SAFE PLACE. IF IT IS LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED THE CORPORATION WILL REQUIRE A BOND OF INDEMNITY AS A CONDITION TO THE ISSUANCE OF A REPLACEMENT RECEIPT.

 

A-4


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Receipt, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM = as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

CUST = Custodian

TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

A-5


Schedule I 8

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES

Southwestern Energy Company

Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/20th Interest in 6.25% Series B Mandatory

Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

The number of Depositary Shares initially represented by this DTC Receipt shall be [ ]. Thereafter the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall note changes in the number of Depositary Shares evidenced by this DTC Receipt in the table set forth below:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of

Decrease in

Number of

Depositary Shares

Evidenced by This

DTC Receipt

 

Amount of

Increase in

Number of

Depositary Shares

Evidenced by This

DTC Receipt

 

Number of

Depositary Shares

Represented by

This DTC Receipt

Following

Decrease or

Increase

 

Signature of

Authorized Officer

of Transfer Agent

and Registrar

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8   Attach Schedule I only to DTC Receipts.

 

A-6


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

For value received,                      hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                                          (Please insert social security or other identifying number of assignee, together with such assignee’s name and address, including zip code)                      Depositary Shares represented by the within receipt, and hereby irrevocably constitute(s) and appoint(s)                      attorney to transfer the Depositary Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: ________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

  NOTICE:    THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE RECEIPT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
 

SIGNATURE(S)

GUARANTEED:

  

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO SEC RULE 17Ad-15.

 

A-7

Exhibit 5.1

 

  811 Main Street, Suite 3700
  Houston, TX 77002
  Tel: +1.713.546.5400 Fax: +1.713.546.5401
  www.lw.com
LOGO  
  FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
 

Abu Dhabi

     Milan
 

Barcelona

     Moscow
 

Beijing

     Munich
 

Boston

     New Jersey
 

Brussels

     New York
 

Century City

     Orange County
 

Chicago

     Paris
 

Doha

     Riyadh

January 21, 2015

 

Southwestern Energy Company

10000 Energy Drive

Spring, Texas 77389

 

Dubai

     Rome
 

Düsseldorf

Frankfurt

Hamburg

Hong Kong

Houston

London

Los Angeles

Madrid

    

San Diego

San Francisco

Shanghai

Silicon Valley

Singapore

Tokyo

Washington, D.C.

Re: Offerings of Common Stock and Depositary Shares

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance of:

 

  (i) 30,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated January 14, 2015 and the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement referred to below (together, the “Common Stock Prospectus”), and an underwriting agreement dated January 14, 2015 between the Company and the underwriters named therein; and

 

  (ii) 34,500,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the “Preferred Stock” and, together with the Common Stock and the Depositary Shares, the “Securities”) pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated January 14, 2015 and the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement referred to below (together, the “Depositary Shares Prospectus” and, together with the Common Stock Prospectus, the “Prospectuses”), an underwriting agreement dated January 14, 2015 between the Company and the underwriters named therein and a deposit agreement entered into between the Company, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”).

The Securities are included in a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 9, 2012 (Registration No. 333-184882), as amended by a post-effective amendment thereto filed January 12, 2015 (as so filed and amended, the “Registration Statement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectuses, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the Securities.


January 21, 2015

Page 2

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:

 

  1. The issue and sale of the Common Stock have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and the shares of Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company complied with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

  2. The Deposit Agreement and the issue and sale of the Depositary Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and such Depositary Shares are the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

  3. The issue of the Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and the shares of Preferred Stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion we have assumed that the Company complied with all applicable notice requirements under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

  4. A number of shares of common stock of the Company equal to the maximum number of shares deliverable by the Company upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock and (ii) when such shares have been issued and delivered upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the certificate of designations for the Preferred Stock filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of Delaware on the date hereof as an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, such shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


January 21, 2015

Page 3

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K dated January 21, 2015 and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectuses under the heading “Legal Matters. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/Latham & Watkins LLP

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

NEWS RELEASE

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPLETES OFFERINGS OF 30,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND 34,500,000 DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTING INTERESTS IN MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

Spring, Texas – January 21, 2015. Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) today announced the completion of its previously announced concurrent underwritten public offerings of 30,000,000 shares of its common stock and 34,500,000 depositary shares, with net proceeds from the offerings to the company totaling approximately $2,341 million after underwriting discounts and offering expenses.

The underwriters exercised their option to purchase additional shares of common stock, which increased the size of the common stock offering from 26,086,957 shares to 30,000,000 shares. The common stock offering was priced at $23 per share. Net proceeds, after expenses, from the common stock offering were approximately $668.7 million.

The underwriters also exercised their over-allotment option to purchase additional depositary shares, which increased the size of the depositary share offering from 30,000,000 shares to 34,500,000 shares. Net proceeds, after expenses, from the depositary share offering were approximately $1,672.3 million. Each depositary share represents a 1/20th interest in a share of the company’s 6.25% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to a $50 liquidation preference per depositary share).

The proceeds from the offerings will be used to partially repay borrowings under Southwestern Energy’s $4,500,000,000 364-day bridge term loan facility.

BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities and BMO Capital Markets were joint book-running managers for the offering of the common stock. The offering of the common stock was made under an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-184882) filed by Southwestern Energy with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Prospective investors should read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus included in the registration statement and other documents Southwestern Energy has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Southwestern Energy and the offering. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to the offering may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively any underwriter or any dealer participating in the


offering of the common stock will arrange to send you the prospectus and related prospectus supplement if you request it by contacting:

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

Attention: Prospectus Department

222 Broadway

New York, NY 10038

dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com

  

Citigroup

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-800-831-9146

prospectus@citi.com

J.P. Morgan

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-866-803-9204

  

Wells Fargo Securities

Attention: Equity Syndicate Dept

375 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

1-800-326-5897

cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com

BMO Capital Markets

Attention: Prospectus Department

3 Times Square, 27 th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(800) 414-3627

bmoprospectus@bmo.com

  

BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities and BNP PARIBAS were joint book-running managers for the offering of the depositary shares. The offering of the depositary shares was made under an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-184882) filed by Southwestern Energy with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Prospective investors should read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus included in the registration statement and other documents Southwestern Energy has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Southwestern Energy and the offering. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to the offering may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering of the depositary shares will arrange to send you the prospectus and related prospectus supplement if you request it by contacting:

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

Attention: Prospectus Department

222 Broadway

New York, NY 10038

dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com

  

Citigroup

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-800-831-9146

prospectus@citi.com


J.P. Morgan

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-866-803-9204

  

Wells Fargo Securities

Attention: Equity Syndicate Dept

375 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

1-800-326-5897

cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk

787 7 th Avenue

New York, NY 10019

(212) 841-2620

  

Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy company whose wholly owned subsidiaries are engaged in natural gas and oil exploration, development and production, natural gas gathering and marketing.

 

Contacts: Steve Mueller

Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer

(832) 796-4700

R. Craig Owen

Senior Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

(832) 796-2808

  

Michael Hancock

Director, Investor Relations

(832) 796-7367

michael_hancock@swn.com

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of, or any solicitation of an offer to buy, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

All statements, other than historical facts and financial information, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements that address activities, outcomes and other matters that should or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, production and reserve growth and other plans and objectives for the company’s future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The company has no obligation and makes no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than to the extent set forth below. You should not place undue reliance on


forward-looking statements. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services and prices and cause its actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with forward-looking statements, risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the timing and extent of changes in market conditions and prices for natural gas and oil (including regional basis differentials); the company’s ability to transport its production to the most favorable markets or at all; the timing and extent of the company’s success in discovering, developing, producing and estimating reserves; the economic viability of, and the company’s success in drilling, the company’s large acreage position in various areas and, in particular, the Fayetteville Shale play, overall as well as relative to other productive shale gas areas; the company’s ability to fund the company’s planned capital investments; the impact of federal, state and local government regulation, including any legislation relating to hydraulic fracturing, the climate or over the counter derivatives; the company’s ability to determine the most effective and economic fracture stimulation for its shale plays; the costs and availability of oil field personnel services and drilling supplies, raw materials, and equipment and services; the company’s future property acquisition or divestiture activities; increased competition; the company’s ability to access debt and equity capital markets to refinance its short- and long-term bank debt; the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies; the comparative cost of alternative fuels; conditions in capital markets, changes in interest rates and the ability of the company’s lenders to provide it with funds as agreed; credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by the company’s counterparties and any other factors listed in the reports the company has filed and may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the reports filed by the company with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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