Description of ATN International, Inc. securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act

EX-4.1 2 ex-4d1.htm EX-4.1 atni_EX_4-1

EXHIBIT 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

The following description sets forth certain material terms and provisions of ATN International,  Inc.’s (“we,” “us,” and “our”) securities that are registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following description is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated By-laws (our “Bylaws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.1 is a part.  The terms of these securities also may be affected by Delaware law.

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Subject to any preferential rights that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share for the election of directors and on all other matters that require stockholder approval. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, holders of the common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock

 

The outstanding shares of our common stock are legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The common stock does not have any preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. Additional shares of authorized common stock may be issued, as authorized by our Board of Directors from time to time, without stockholder approval, except as may be required by applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, our Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock.

 

Delaware law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Corporate Documents

 

Delaware Law.    We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an

"interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

      before the date that the person became an "interested stockholder," the Board of Directors approved either the "business combination" or the transaction which makes the person an "interested stockholder";

 

      upon completion of the transaction that results in the "interested stockholder" becoming an "interested stockholder," the "interested stockholder" owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or

 

      on or subsequent to the date that the person became an "interested stockholder," the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and the vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the "interested stockholder."

 

Generally, a "business combination" includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. An "interested stockholder" is a person who either owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three prior years, did own, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. The statute could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control with respect to transactions our Board of Directors does not approve in advance.

 

Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation Provisions.    Our Bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or President and shall be called by the Secretary upon the request in writing of a stockholder or stockholders holding of record at least 50% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote at such a meeting. Our Certificate of Incorporation also specifies that the Board of Directors may alter, amend or repeal our Bylaws, and it gives the Board of Directors the power to use preferred stock with any characteristics it deems fit. Further, our Certificate of Incorporation does not include a provision for cumulative voting for directors. Under cumulative voting, a minority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares may be able to ensure the election of one or more directors.

 

These provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current prices. Such provisions could also limit the ability of stockholders to remove current management or approve transactions that stockholders may deem to be in their best interests and could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

Listing on the NASDAQ Stock Market

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "ATNI."