Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 23, 2018, by and among Legacy Reserves Inc., Legacy Reserves Merger Sub LLC, Legacy Reserves LP and Legacy Reserves GP, LLC

Contract Categories: Mergers & Acquisitions - Merger Agreements
EX-2.1 2 d558977dex21.htm EX-2.1 EX-2.1

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

DATED AS OF MARCH 23, 2018

BY AND AMONG

LEGACY RESERVES INC.,

LEGACY RESERVES MERGER SUB LLC,

LEGACY RESERVES LP

AND

LEGACY RESERVES GP, LLC

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                 Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2  
  

Section 1.01

    

Definitions

     2  

ARTICLE II THE MERGER

     8  
  

Section 2.01

    

The Merger and Surviving Entity

     8  
  

Section 2.02

    

Closing

     8  
  

Section 2.03

    

Effective Time

     9  
  

Section 2.04

    

Effects of the Merger

     9  
  

Section 2.05

    

Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and Partnership GP

     9  
  

Section 2.06

    

Organizational Documents of the Company

     9  
  

Section 2.07

    

Directors and Officers of the Company

     9  

ARTICLE III MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

     10  
  

Section 3.01

    

Merger Consideration

     10  
  

Section 3.02

    

Exchange of Certificates

     11  
  

Section 3.03

    

Treatment of Restricted Units; Termination of Partnership Equity Plan

     15  
  

Section 3.04

    

Adjustments

     16  
  

Section 3.05

    

No Dissenters’ Rights

     16  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP GP

     16  
  

Section 4.01

    

Organization, Standing and Corporate Power

     16  
  

Section 4.02

    

Capitalization

     17  
  

Section 4.03

    

Authority; Noncontravention; Voting Requirements

     18  
  

Section 4.04

    

Governmental Approvals

     19  
  

Section 4.05

    

No Other Representations or Warranties

     19  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND MERGER SUB

     20  
  

Section 5.01

    

Organization, Standing and Corporate Power

     20  
  

Section 5.02

    

Capitalization

     20  
  

Section 5.03

    

Authority; Noncontravention; Voting Requirements

     21  
  

Section 5.04

    

Governmental Approvals

     22  
  

Section 5.05

    

No Other Representations or Warranties

     23  

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

     23  
  

Section 6.01

    

Preparation of the Registration Statement and the Partnership Proxy Statement; Partnership Unitholder Meeting

     23  
  

Section 6.02

    

Reasonable Best Efforts

     24  
  

Section 6.03

    

Access to Information

     25  
  

Section 6.04

    

Indemnification and Insurance

     25  

 

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Section 6.05

    

Fees and Expenses

     26  
  

Section 6.06

    

Section 16 Matters

     26  
  

Section 6.07

    

Listing

     26  
  

Section 6.08

    

Dividends and Distributions

     26  
  

Section 6.09

    

Performance by Partnership GP

     27  
  

Section 6.10

    

Tax Treatment

     27  
  

Section 6.11

    

Takeover Statutes

     27  

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     27  
  

Section 7.01

    

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger

     27  
  

Section 7.02

    

Conditions to Obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger

     28  
  

Section 7.03

    

Conditions to Obligation of the Partnership to Effect the Merger

     29  
  

Section 7.04

    

Frustration of Closing Conditions

     30  

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION

     30  
  

Section 8.01

    

Termination

     30  
  

Section 8.02

    

Effect of Termination

     31  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     32  
  

Section 9.01

    

Survival

     32  
  

Section 9.02

    

Interpretation

     32  
  

Section 9.03

    

Amendment or Supplement

     32  
  

Section 9.04

    

Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc.

     33  
  

Section 9.05

    

Communications

     33  
  

Section 9.06

    

Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     34  
  

Section 9.07

    

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction

     34  
  

Section 9.08

    

Waiver of Jury Trial

     35  
  

Section 9.09

    

Execution in Counterparts

     35  
  

Section 9.10

    

Successors and Assigns

     36  
  

Section 9.11

    

Severability

     36  
  

Section 9.12

    

No-Recourse

     36  
  

Section 9.13

    

Specific Performance

     37  

 

EXHIBIT A      

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company

EXHIBIT B      

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company

EXHIBIT C      

Post-Closing Board of Directors of the Company

EXHIBIT D      

Post-Closing Officers of the Company

 

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 23, 2018 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Legacy Reserves Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Legacy Reserves Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a Subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Legacy Reserves LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and Legacy Reserves GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the general partner of the Partnership (the “Partnership GP”) and, at the Closing, a Subsidiary of the Company. The Company, Merger Sub, Partnership and Partnership GP are each referred to herein separately as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

WHEREAS, the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the Partnership GP has (i) determined that the GP Purchase (as defined below) is fair and reasonable to, and in the best interests of, the Partnership and the Partnership Unaffiliated Unitholders and (ii) approved, and recommended that the Board of Directors of the Partnership GP (the “GP Board”) approve, the GP Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby;

WHEREAS, the GP Board has determined, in the good faith exercise of its reasonable business judgment, that no conflict exists between the interests of the Partnership GP or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the interests of the Partnership and the Unaffiliated Unitholders, on the other hand, in connection with the Corporate Reorganization other than in connection with the GP Purchase;

WHEREAS, the GP Board has (i) determined that the Corporate Reorganization, including the GP Purchase, is fair and reasonable to, and in the best interests of, the Partnership and the Unitholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement (as defined below), the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement and (iii) resolved to submit this Agreement to a vote of the Unitholders and recommend approval of this Agreement by the Unitholders;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (i) determined that the Corporate Reorganization , including the GP Purchase, is in the best interests of the Company and the Company Stockholders and declared it advisable to enter into this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement and (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the GP Purchase Agreement, including the issuance of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger (the “Company Stock Issuance”);

WHEREAS, the sole member of Merger Sub has (i) determined that the Corporate Reorganization is in the best interests of Merger Sub and declared it advisable to enter into this Agreement and (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings ascribed thereto below:

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such particular Person; provided, however, that, except where otherwise expressly provided, for the purposes of this Agreement, the Partnership, the Partnership GP and their Subsidiaries shall not be considered Affiliates of the Company, Merger Sub or any of its other Subsidiaries.

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Antitrust Laws” means the Sherman Act of 1890, as amended, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, in each case including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and all other applicable Laws issued by a Governmental Entity that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition.

Average Closing Price” means, as of any date, the average of the closing sale prices of a Unit as reported on NASDAQ for the five (5) consecutive full trading days (in which such Units are traded on NASDAQ) ending at the close of trading on the full trading day immediately preceding such date.

Book-Entry Units” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(g).

Business Day” means a day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the Commission or banks in the City of Houston or New York are authorized or required by applicable Law to be closed.

Bylaws Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(g).

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

Charter Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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Company Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

Company Equity Awards” means the incentive equity awards of the Company pursuant to the Company Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Company Long-Term Incentive Plan” means the Legacy Reserves Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Company Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(a).

Company Shares” means shares of Company Common Stock.

Company Stockholders” means the holders of the outstanding Company Shares.

Contract” means any written contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, instrument, lease, license, commitment or other arrangement, understanding, undertaking, commitment or obligation.

Control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “Controlling” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Corporate Reorganization” means, collectively, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the GP Purchase.

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.

DLLCA” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time.

DRULPA” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from time to time.

Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

Environmental Law” means any Law relating to (i) pollution, the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource) or workplace health or occupational safety, or (ii) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous Substances, in each case as in effect at the date of this Agreement.

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

 

3


Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a).

Exchange Fund” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(b).

Finance Corp.” means Legacy Reserves Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

General Partner Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government.

GP Board” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

GP Member Consent” means the consent of the Members authorizing, among other things, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

GP Purchase” means the purchase of the limited liability company interest in Partnership GP by the Company from Lion GP Interests, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the admission of the Company as the sole member of Partnership GP, pursuant to the terms of the GP Purchase Agreement.

GP Purchase Agreement” means that certain GP Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2018, by and among the Company, Lion GP Interests, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Moriah Properties, Ltd. and Brothers Production Properties, Ltd., Brothers Production Company, Inc., Brothers Operating Company, Inc., J&W McGraw Properties, Ltd., DAB Resources, Ltd. and H2K Holdings, Ltd.

Hazardous Substance” means any substance, material or waste that is listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive, dangerous or a “pollutant” or “contaminant” or words of similar meaning under any applicable Environmental Law or are otherwise regulated by any Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over the environment, natural resources, or workplace health or occupational safety, including without limitation petroleum or any derivative or byproduct thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos or asbestos containing material, urea formaldehyde, foam insulation or polychlorinated biphenyls.

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

Incentive Distribution Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

4


Indemnified Person” mean any person who is now, or has been or becomes at any time prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director or employee of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or the Partnership GP and also with respect to any such Person, in their capacity as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, foundation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise (whether or not such other entity or enterprise is affiliated with the Partnership) serving at the request of or on behalf of the Partnership or the Partnership GP or any of their respective Subsidiaries and together with such Person’s heirs, executors or administrators

Issuers” means, collectively, the Partnership and Finance Corp.

Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law (including common law), rule or regulation.

Liens” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(c).

Limited Partner” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Material Adverse Effect” means, when used with respect to a Person, any change, effect, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include (i) any effect resulting from entering into this Agreement or the announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) any effect resulting from changes in general market, economic, financial, regulatory or political conditions or any outbreak of hostilities or war, terrorism, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or other natural disasters, (iii) any effect that affects the Hydrocarbon exploration, production, development, processing, gathering and/or transportation industry generally (including changes in commodity prices or general market prices in the Hydrocarbon exploration, production, development, processing, gathering and/or transportation industry generally), and (iv) any effect resulting from a change in Laws or regulatory policies.

Maximum Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(b).

Member” has the meaning specified in the Partnership GP LLC Agreement.

Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Merger Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e).

Merger Sub” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

5


Organizational Documents” means any charter, certificate of incorporation, articles of association, bylaws, operating agreement or similar formation or governing documents and instruments.

Outside Date” means December 31, 2018.

Partnership” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Partnership Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of April 10, 2017, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Partnership Board Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(b).

Partnership GP” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Partnership GP LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Partnership GP, dated as of March 15, 2006, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Partnership Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan” means the Legacy Reserves LP Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Partnership Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a).

Partnership Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04.

Partnership SEC Documents” means all reports, schedules, forms, certifications, prospectuses and registration, proxy and other statements required to be filed or furnished by the Partnership with the Commission and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement.

Partnership Security” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Partnership Unaffiliated Unitholders” means holders of Units other than the Company, Partnership GP and their Affiliates.

Partnership Unitholder Approval” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01(a).

Partnership Unitholder Meeting” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(b).

Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a Governmental Entity.

 

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Proceeding” shall mean any actual or threatened claim (including a claim of a violation of Law), action, audit, demand, suit, proceeding, investigation or other proceeding at law or in equity or order or ruling, in each case whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise and whether or not such claim, action, audit, demand, suit, proceeding, investigation or other proceeding or order or ruling results in a formal civil or criminal litigation or regulatory action.

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the Commission by the Company in connection with the issuance of Company Shares in connection with the Merger, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Representatives” means with respect to a Person, its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent or representative.

Restraints” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01(c).

Restricted Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

Rights” means, with respect to any Person, (a) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating such Person (or the general partner of such Person) to issue, transfer or sell any partnership or other equity interest of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such partnership interests or equity interests, or (b) contractual obligations of such Person (or the general partner of such Person) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership interest or other equity interest in such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (a) of this definition.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Series A Merger Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(d).

Series A Preferred Units” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Series B Merger Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e).

Series B Preferred Units” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof and (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of limited liability company, partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof with voting rights at

 

7


the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control, directly or indirectly, the manager, managing member, managing director (or a board comprised of any of the foregoing) or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

Surviving Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Takeover Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03(a).

Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local or foreign or provincial taxes, charges, imposts, levies or other assessments, including all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and similar charges, including any and all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect thereto.

Tax Return” means any return, report or similar filing (including any attached schedules, supplements and additional or supporting material) filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes, including any information return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated Taxes (and including any amendments with respect thereto).

Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01(f).

Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Unitholders” means the holders of Units.

Unit Merger Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

Section 2.01 The Merger and Surviving Entity. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DRULPA and the DLLCA, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Partnership (the “Merger”), the separate limited liability company existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Partnership shall survive and continue to exist as a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership as the surviving entity in the Merger, sometimes being referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

Section 2.02 Closing. Subject to the provisions of Article VII, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 609 Main Street, Suite 4700, Houston, Texas 77002 at 10:00 A.M., Houston, Texas time, on the second (2nd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions), or at such other place, date and time as the Partnership and the Company shall agree. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to as the “Closing Date.”

 

8


Section 2.03 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Partnership GP and the Company, as applicable, will cause each of a certificate of merger, executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Partnership Agreement, the DRULPA and the DLLCA (the “Certificate of Merger”), and the Charter Amendment, executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, to be duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger will become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date or time as may be agreed by the Partnership and the Company in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”). The Charter Amendment shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger and shall become effective at or prior to the Effective Time.

Section 2.04 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and the DLLCA.

Section 2.05 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and Partnership GP. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain unchanged and shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the Surviving Entity from and after the Effective Time, until duly amended in accordance with applicable Law, and (b) the Partnership Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain unchanged and shall be the agreement of limited partnership of the Surviving Entity from and after the Effective Time, until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and applicable Law.

Section 2.06 Organizational Documents of the Company. The certificate of incorporation of the Company shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit A (the “Charter Amendment”) and the bylaws of the Company shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit B (the “Bylaws Amendment”) prior to the Effective Time, and the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended by such Charter Amendment, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Company, and the bylaws of the Company, as amended by such Bylaws Amendment, shall be the bylaws of the Company, until thereafter amended or changed as provided herein or by applicable Law, consistent with the obligations set forth in Section 6.04(a).

Section 2.07 Directors and Officers of the Company.

(a) Directors. From and after the Effective Time, the Persons identified on Exhibit C to this Agreement as the directors of the Company shall be the directors of the Company. Such directors shall serve until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter Amendment and Bylaws Amendment.

 

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(b) Officers. From and after the Effective Time, the Persons identified on Exhibit D to this Agreement as the officers of the Company shall be the officers of the Company, holding the positions set forth on Exhibit D. Such officers shall serve until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter Amendment and Bylaws Amendment.

ARTICLE III

MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

Section 3.01 Merger Consideration. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Merger Sub, the Partnership, the Partnership GP or any holder of Company securities or Partnership Securities:

(a) Conversion of Units. Subject to Section 3.01(c), Section 3.02(h) and Section 3.04, each Unit issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive 1.0 Company Share (the “Unit Merger Consideration”), which Company Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 3.04.

(b) Equity of Merger Sub. The limited liability company interests in Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into a number of Units of the Surviving Entity equal to the number of Units converted into the right to receive the Unit Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.01(a), and the Company shall be admitted as a limited partner of the Partnership and hold such Units. At the Effective Time, the books and records of the Partnership shall be revised to reflect the conversion of all Units held by Persons other than the Partnership GP, the Company and any Subsidiaries of the Company, and the Partnership (as the Surviving Entity) shall continue without dissolution. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership GP shall continue to hold the General Partner Interest and shall continue as the general partner of the Partnership.

(c) Treatment of Partnership Owned Partnership Securities and Company Owned Partnership Interests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, all Partnership Securities that are owned immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Partnership or its Subsidiaries shall be automatically canceled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange for such canceled Partnership Securities. All Partnership Interests that are owned immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Partnership GP, the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company shall remain outstanding as Partnership Interests in the Surviving Entity, unaffected by the Merger.

(d) Treatment of Series A Preferred Units. Pursuant to Section 16.4 of the Partnership Agreement, and subject to Section 3.02(h) and Section 3.04 hereof, each Series A Preferred Unit issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive 1.9620 Company Shares (the “Series A Merger Consideration”), which Company Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 3.04. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Merger Consideration shall constitute any and all consideration to be paid in respect of Series A Preferred Units, and any rights to accumulated and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units shall be discharged on the Closing Date.

 

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(e) Treatment of Series B Preferred Units. Pursuant to Section 17.4 of the Partnership Agreement, and subject to Section 3.02(h) and Section 3.04 hereof, each Series B Preferred Unit issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive 1.72236 Company Shares (the “Series B Merger Consideration” and together with the Unit Merger Consideration and the Series A Merger Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”), which Company Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 3.04. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series B Merger Consideration shall constitute any and all consideration to be paid in respect of Series B Preferred Units, and any rights to accumulated and unpaid distributions on the Series B Preferred Units shall be discharged on the Closing Date.

(f) Treatment of Incentive Distribution Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Partnership Agreement, at the Effective Time, all Incentive Distribution Units that are issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically canceled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange for such canceled Incentive Distribution Units.

(g) Certificates. As of the Effective Time, all Partnership Securities converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.01(a), Section 3.01(d) or Section 3.01(e) shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such Partnership Securities (a “Certificate”) or non-certificated Partnership Securities represented in book-entry form immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Book-Entry Units”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration, any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.02(g) and cash in lieu of any fractional shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.02(h), in each case to be issued or paid in consideration therefor upon surrender of such Certificate or Book-Entry Unit in accordance with Section 3.02(c), without interest.

Section 3.02 Exchange of Certificates.

(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall appoint an exchange agent reasonably acceptable to the Partnership (the “Exchange Agent”) for the purpose of exchanging Certificates and Book-Entry Units for the applicable Merger Consideration and paying any dividends or other distributions to which a holder of Partnership Securities is entitled pursuant to Section 3.02(g) and any cash in lieu of any fractional shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.02(h). As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, the Company will send, or will cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of record of Partnership Securities as of the Effective Time whose Partnership Securities were converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration, a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that, with respect to certificated Partnership Securities, the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 3.02(i)) to the Exchange Agent) in such customary forms as

 

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the Partnership and the Company may reasonably agree, including, as applicable, instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 3.02(i)) and Book-Entry Units to the Exchange Agent in exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration, cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h) and any dividends or distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g).

(b) Deposit. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited with the Exchange Agent, in trust for the benefit of the holders of Partnership Securities whose Partnership Securities are converting into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration at the Effective Time, Company Shares (which shares shall be uncertificated and registered in book-entry form), payable upon due surrender of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 3.02(i) with respect to certificated Partnership Securities) or Book-Entry Units pursuant to the provisions of this Article III. Following the Effective Time, the Company agrees to make available to the Exchange Agent, from time to time as needed, cash or other consideration as applicable sufficient to pay any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g) and any Company Shares or cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h), in each case, that may be payable from time to time following the Effective Time. All Company Shares and cash or other consideration payable in respect of any dividends or distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g) deposited with the Exchange Agent or cash in lieu of any fractional shares as such holders have the right to receive pursuant to Section 3.02(h) shall be referred to in this Agreement as the “Exchange Fund.” The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions delivered by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time, deliver the applicable Merger Consideration contemplated to be issued or paid pursuant to this Article III out of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any purpose other than to pay such applicable Merger Consideration, cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h) and any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g).

(c) Exchange. Each holder of Partnership Securities that have been converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration, upon delivery to the Exchange Agent of a properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 3.02(i) with respect to certificated Partnership Securities) or Book-Entry Units and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent (including with respect to Book-Entry Units), will be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (i) the number of Company Shares representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of Company Shares that such holder has the right to receive in accordance with the provisions of this Article III, (ii) a check in the amount of cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h) and (iii) such dividends or other distributions as such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 3.02(g). Any and all Company Shares delivered in accordance with this Section 3.02(c) shall be uncertificated and shall be registered in book-entry form. The Merger Consideration and such other amounts as reflected in the immediately preceding sentence shall be paid as promptly as practicable by mail after receipt by the Exchange Agent of the Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof pursuant to

Section 3.02(i) with respect to certificated Partnership Securities) or any applicable documentation with respect to the surrender of Book-Entry Units, and letter of transmittal in accordance with the foregoing. No interest shall be paid or accrued on any Merger Consideration, cash in lieu of fractional shares or on any unpaid dividends and distributions

 

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payable to holders of Certificates and Book-Entry Units. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate and Book-Entry Unit shall, after the Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right to receive such Merger Consideration and such other amounts as contemplated by Section 3.02(g) and Section 3.02(h).

(d) Other Payees. If any cash payment is to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the applicable surrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Unit is registered, it shall be a condition of such payment that the Person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other similar Taxes required by reason of the making of such cash payment to a Person other than the registered holder of the surrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Unit or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable. If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be registered in the name of a Person other than the Person in whose name the applicable surrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Unit is registered, it shall be a condition to the registration thereof that the surrendered Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such delivery of the Merger Consideration shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other similar Taxes required as a result of such registration in the name of a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate, or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

(e) No Further Transfers. From and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration on the books of the Partnership of transfers of Partnership Securities converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Units representing Partnership Securities converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Partnership Securities, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by applicable Law. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates or Book-Entry Units are presented to the Exchange Agent or the Company, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article III.

(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the holders of Partnership Securities converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration nine (9) months after the Effective Time shall be returned to the Company, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged his, her or its Partnership Securities for the applicable Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 3.02 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to the Company for delivery of the applicable Merger Consideration, the payment of cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h) and the payment of any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g) in respect of such holder’s Partnership Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, Merger Sub and the Partnership shall not be liable to any holder of Partnership Securities for any Merger Consideration duly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property Laws. Any Merger Consideration remaining unclaimed by holders of Partnership Securities immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Entity shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Company free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

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(g) Dividends and Distributions. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to Company Shares with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificates or Book-Entry Units with respect to Company Shares represented thereby, unless and until the holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Unit shall surrender such Certificate or Book-Entry Unit. Subject to the effect of escheat, Tax or other applicable Law, following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid by the Company to the holder of Company Shares issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such Company Shares and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions, with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date occurring after surrender, payable with respect to such Company Shares.

(h) No Fractional Shares. No fractions of a Company Share will be issued upon the surrender of Partnership Securities outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with Section 3.02(c), and such fractional interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have any rights as a holder of any Company Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of Partnership Securities converted into the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration in the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a Company Share (after taking into account all Partnership Securities exchanged by such holder) will receive, in lieu thereof, a cash payment (without interest rounded up to the nearest whole cent) in an amount equal to the product of (i) the Average Closing Price as of the Closing Date and (ii) the fraction of a Company Share that such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Article III. As promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the Company will cause the Exchange Agent to forward payments to such holders of fractional interests subject to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge that payment of such cash consideration in lieu of issuing fractional Company Shares was not separately bargained-for consideration but merely represents a mechanical rounding off for purposes of avoiding the expense and inconvenience to the Company that would otherwise be caused by the issuance of fractional Company Shares.

(i) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Company, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Company may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the applicable Partnership Securities represented by such Certificate as contemplated by this Article III and pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares payable pursuant to Section 3.02(h) and any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.02(g).

(j) Withholding Taxes. The Company, Merger Sub, the Surviving Entity and the Exchange Agent shall deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts, if any, as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder or

 

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under any provision of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law (and to the extent deduction and withholding is required, such deduction and withholding shall be taken in cash or Company Common Stock, as determined by the Company). To the extent amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the former holder of the Partnership Securities in respect of whom such withholding was made. If withholding is taken in Company Shares, the Company and the Exchange Agent shall be treated as having sold such consideration for an amount of cash equal to the fair market value of such consideration at the time of such deemed sale and paid such cash proceeds to the appropriate taxing authority.

Section 3.03 Treatment of Restricted Units; Termination of Partnership Equity Plan.

(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, and in any event prior to the Effective Time, the GP Board (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan) will adopt resolutions, and the Partnership will take all other actions as may be necessary or required in accordance with applicable Law and the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan (including, the award agreements in respect of awards granted thereunder) to give effect to this Section 3.03 to provide that each Unit subject to forfeiture or restricted unit granted under the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan (each, a “Restricted Unit”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, as of the Effective Time, automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, (i) be treated as an issued and outstanding Unit as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and otherwise subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 3.01 and Section 3.02) and (ii) shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Unit as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (which such changes as are necessary or appropriate to give effect to consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the GP Board shall take all actions necessary to terminate the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan, such termination to be effective at the Effective Time, and from and after the Effective Time, the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan shall be terminated and no Restricted Units or other rights with respect to Units or other Partnership Interests shall be granted or be outstanding thereunder, it being understood that the terminations contemplated by this Agreement shall in no respect limit the Company’s obligations under this Section 3.03 with respect to Restricted Units granted prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board or its compensation committee shall adopt the Company Long-Term Incentive Plan as of the Effective Time, authorize the Company Equity Awards at the Effective Time and shall take all other actions as may be necessary to authorize the events contemplated in Section 3.03(a). As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, the Company shall file a Form S-8 registration statement with respect to the Company Shares available for grant and delivery under the Company Long-Term Incentive Plan from and after the Effective Time and shall maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement (and maintain the current status of the prospectus contained therein) for so long as such shares are available for grant and delivery under the Company Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

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Section 3.04 Adjustments. Notwithstanding any provision of this Article III to the contrary, if between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time the number of outstanding Partnership Securities or Company Shares shall have been changed into a different number of units or shares or a different class or series by reason of the occurrence or record date of any unit or share dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, split-up, unit or share distribution, combination, exchange of units or shares or similar transaction, the Merger Consideration and any other similar dependent item, as the case may be, shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect fully the effect of such unit or share dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, split-up, unit or share distribution, combination, exchange of units or shares or similar transaction and to provide the holders of Partnership Securities the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

Section 3.05 No Dissenters Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE

PARTNERSHIP GP

The Partnership and, with respect to itself where provided for in this Article IV, the Partnership GP each represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

Section 4.01 Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.

(a) Each of the Partnership, the Partnership GP and their respective Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the applicable Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed or organized, as applicable, and has all requisite limited liability company, corporate, partnership or other applicable entity power and authority necessary to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Partnership (“Partnership Material Adverse Effect”).

(b) Each of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

(c) All the outstanding limited liability company interests, partnership interests, shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each material Subsidiary of the Partnership that are owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Organizational Documents of each such entity (in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date) and are fully paid (in the case of an interest in a limited partnership or limited liability company, to the extent required under the Organizational Documents of such entity) and nonassessable (to the extent such Subsidiary is a

 

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corporate entity) and, except as disclosed in the Partnership SEC Documents, are owned free and clear of any mortgage, claim, encumbrance, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment, preference or priority, assessment, deed of trust, charge, easement, servitude or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind (including any restriction on the right to vote or transfer the same, except for such transfer restrictions as set forth in the Organizational Documents of such Subsidiary and for such transfer restrictions of general applicability as may be provided under the Securities Act, and the “blue sky” Laws of the various states of the United States) (collectively, “Liens”).

Section 4.02 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized equity interests of the Partnership consist of Units, Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units, the Incentive Distribution Units and the General Partner Interest. As of March 20, 2018, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests and general partner interests of the Partnership consisted of (i) 76,894,049 Units, (ii) 2,300,000 Series A Preferred Units, (iii) 7,200,000 Series B Preferred Units, (iv) 100,000 Incentive Distribution Units and (v) the General Partner Interest, and there were 236,120 Restricted Units and 1,424,114 phantom units which settle in Units pursuant to the Partnership Long-Term Incentive Plan outstanding. The Partnership GP is the sole general partner of the Partnership and owns all of the General Partner Interest. All outstanding equity interests of the Partnership are, and all Units issuable pursuant to the Restricted Units, when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof, will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the DRULPA) and free of preemptive rights (except as set forth in the Partnership Agreement).

(b) As of March 23, 2018, except as set forth above in this Section 4.02 or as set forth in the Partnership’s equity plans or grant documents issued thereunder or the Partnership Agreement, (i) there are no equity securities of the Partnership issued or authorized and reserved for issuance, (ii) there are no outstanding options, profits interest units, phantom units, restricted units, unit appreciation rights, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other Rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any partnership or other equity interest of the Partnership or such Subsidiary or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such partnership interests or equity interests, or any commitment to authorize, issue or sell the same or any such equity securities, except pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) there are no contractual obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership interest or other equity interest in the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (ii) of this sentence.

(c) Neither the Partnership nor any of its Subsidiaries has any outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the holders of Units on any matter.

 

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(d) Except as disclosed in the Partnership SEC Documents, there are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting or registration of capital stock or other equity interest of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.03 Authority; Noncontravention; Voting Requirements.

(a) Each of the Partnership and the Partnership GP has all necessary entity power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to obtaining the Partnership Unitholder Approval in the case of the Partnership. The execution, delivery and performance by each of the Partnership and the Partnership GP of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, have been duly authorized and approved by the GP Board and the Members and, except for obtaining the Partnership Unitholder Approval, no other entity action on the part of the Partnership and the Partnership GP is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership and the Partnership GP of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership and the Partnership GP and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the other Parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Partnership and the Partnership GP, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms.

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Partnership or the Partnership GP nor the consummation by the Partnership and the Partnership GP of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor compliance by the Partnership and the Partnership GP with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i) assuming the Partnership Unitholder Approval is obtained, conflict with or violate any provision of the Partnership Agreement or any of the Organizational Documents of the Partnership’s material Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 4.04 and the Partnership Unitholder Approval are obtained and the filings referred to in Section 4.04 are made, (x) violate any applicable Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (y) violate, conflict with, result in the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of, the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract, to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected or (iii) result in the exercisability of any right to purchase or acquire any material asset of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clause (ii), such violations, conflicts, losses, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations or Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

(c) All of the Members have consented to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to the GP Member Consent.

 

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(d) Except for the GP Member Consent, which was obtained prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Partnership Unitholder Approval is the only vote or approval of the holders of any class or series of Partnership Interests that is necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) The GP Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that the Merger is fair and reasonable to, and in the best interests of, the Partnership and the Unitholders, (ii) approved this Agreement, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) resolved to submit this Agreement to a vote of the Unitholders and recommend approval of this Agreement by the Unitholders.

Section 4.04 Governmental Approvals. Except for (a) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, including the filing of a proxy statement/prospectus with the Commission in connection with the Merger (the “Partnership Proxy Statement”) and applicable state securities and “blue sky” laws, (b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (c) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements of, applicable Antitrust Laws or (d) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules of NASDAQ or any other National Securities Exchange, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership and the consummation by the Partnership of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, declarations or registrations that are not required to be obtained or made prior to the consummation of such transactions or, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) prevent or materially impede, interfere with or hinder the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) result in a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.05 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties set forth in this Article IV, neither the Partnership nor any other Person makes or has made any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Partnership or with respect to any other information provided to the Company or Merger Sub in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Partnership nor any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to the Company, Merger Sub or any other Person resulting from the distribution to the Company or Merger Sub (including their respective Representatives), or the Company’s or Merger Sub’s (or such Representatives’) use of, any such information, including any information, documents, projections, forecasts or other materials made available to the Company or Merger Sub in expectation of the Merger, unless any such information is the subject of an express representation or warranty set forth in this Article IV.

 

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ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND MERGER SUB

The Company represents and warrants to the Partnership as follows:

Section 5.01 Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the applicable Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed or organized, as applicable, and has all requisite partnership, corporate, limited liability company or other applicable entity power and authority necessary to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company (“Company Material Adverse Effect”).

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) All the outstanding partnership interests, limited liability company interests, shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each material Subsidiary of the Company that are owned directly or indirectly by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Organizational Documents of such entity (in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date) and are fully paid (in the case of an interest in a limited partnership or limited liability company, to the extent required under the Organizational Documents of such entity) and nonassessable (to the extent such Subsidiary is a corporate entity) and are owned free and clear of all Liens.

Section 5.02 Capitalization.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company has and will have 1,000 outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, which shares are and will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth above in this Section 5.02 and set forth in the Company’s equity plans or grant documents issued thereunder, (i) there are no partnership interests, limited liability company interests or other equity securities of the Company issued or authorized and reserved for issuance, (ii) there are no outstanding options, profits interest units, phantom units, restricted units, unit appreciation rights, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other Rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating the Company to issue, transfer or sell any equity interest of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interests, or any commitment to authorize, issue or sell the same or any such equity securities, except pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) there are no contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any other equity interest in the Company or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (ii) of this sentence.

 

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(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with Company Stockholders on any matter.

(d) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting or registration of capital stock or other equity interest of the Company.

(e) When issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, all Company Shares constituting any part of the Merger Consideration will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

(f) All of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub are beneficially owned by the Company. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except for obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with its formation and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub has not and will not have incurred, directly or indirectly, any obligations or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person.

Section 5.03 Authority; Noncontravention; Voting Requirements.

(a) Each of the Company and Merger Sub has all necessary entity power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and Merger Sub of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, have been duly authorized and approved by Merger Sub and the Company, as its sole member, and by the Company Board, and no other entity action on the part of the Company and Merger Sub is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and Merger Sub and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the other Parties hereto constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Company and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms. The Company Board has taken all necessary action so that any takeover, anti-takeover, moratorium, “fair price”, “control share” or similar Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including the restrictions on “business combinations” with an “interested stockholder” (each as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) under Section 203 of the DGCL) (“Takeover Laws”) do not, and will not, apply to this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated this Agreement, including the Merger and the Company Stock Issuance.

 

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(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Merger Sub, nor the consummation by the Company and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor compliance by the Company and Merger Sub with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of the Company’s material Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 5.04 are obtained and the filings referred to in Section 5.04 are made, (A) violate any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (B) violate, conflict with, result in the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, give rise to a right to receive a change of control payment (or similar payment) under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected or (iii) result in the exercisability of any right to purchase or acquire any material asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clause (ii), for such violations, conflicts, losses, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations or Liens that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Company Stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement and (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Stock Issuance.

Section 5.04 Governmental Approvals. Except for (a) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, including the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission and applicable state securities and “blue sky” laws, (b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (c) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements of, applicable Antitrust Laws or (d) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules of NASDAQ or any other National Securities Exchange, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and Merger Sub and the consummation by the Company and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, declarations or registrations that are not required to be obtained or made prior to consummation of such transactions or, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) prevent or materially impede, interfere with or hinder the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 5.05 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties set forth in this Article V, neither the Company nor any other Person makes or has made any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company and Merger Sub or with respect to any other information provided to the Partnership in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to the Partnership or the Partnership GP or any other Person resulting from the distribution to the Partnership (including their Representatives), or the Partnership’s or the Partnership GP’s (or such Representatives’) use of, any such information, including any information, documents, projections, forecasts or other materials made available to the Partnership and the Partnership GP in expectation of the Merger, unless any such information is the subject of an express representation or warranty set forth in this Article V.

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

Section 6.01 Preparation of the Registration Statement and the Partnership Proxy Statement; Partnership Unitholder Meeting.

(a) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Partnership and the Company shall jointly prepare and file with the Commission the Partnership Proxy Statement and the Partnership and the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission the Registration Statement, in which the Partnership Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus. Each of the Partnership and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and keep the Registration Statement effective for so long as necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Partnership and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Partnership Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Unitholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, including by incorporation by reference, the Registration Statement or the Partnership Proxy Statement will be made by any Party without providing the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating to the Partnership or the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors or officers, is discovered by the Partnership or the Company that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to either the Registration Statement or the Partnership Proxy Statement, so that any such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other Parties hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the Commission and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the Unitholders.

(b) The Partnership shall, as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of the Unitholders (the “Partnership Unitholder Meeting”) for the purpose of obtaining the Partnership Unitholder Approval. The Partnership shall, through the GP Board, recommend to the Unitholders approval of this Agreement (the “Partnership Board Recommendation”) unless the GP Board has concluded that recommending to the Unitholders approval of this

 

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Agreement would be inconsistent with its duties to the holders of Units under applicable Law, and the Partnership shall, through the GP Board, use reasonable best efforts to obtain from the Unitholders the Partnership Unitholder Approval. The Partnership Proxy Statement shall include the Partnership Board Recommendation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Partnership’s obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6.01(b) shall not be affected by the withdrawal or modification of the Partnership Board Recommendation or the GP Board’s approval of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Partnership may postpone or adjourn the Partnership Unitholder Meeting (A) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Partnership Unitholder Approval, (B) for the absence of quorum, and (C) to the extent reasonably necessary to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the Partnership Proxy Statement that the GP Board has determined after consultation with outside legal counsel is necessary under applicable Law is provided to the Unitholders within the minimum amount of time reasonably practicable prior to the Partnership Unitholder Meeting.

(c) Unless this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Article VIII, the Partnership shall submit this Agreement to the Unitholders for approval at the Partnership Unitholder Meeting.

Section 6.02 Reasonable Best Efforts.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, and each of the Partnership and the Partnership GP, on the other hand, shall cooperate with the other and use and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to use its reasonable best efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, all things, necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to the Closing to be satisfied as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than the Outside Date), including, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of the Company until the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, voting or causing to be voted all Units beneficially owned by the Company in favor of the Merger at the Partnership Unitholder Meeting, and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary filings, notifications, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents (including any required or recommended filings under applicable Antitrust Laws), (ii) obtain promptly (and in any event no later than the Outside Date) all approvals, consents, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations from any Governmental Entity or third party necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) defend any Proceedings challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Party hereto (including by their respective Subsidiaries) agrees to make an appropriate filing (if required by applicable Law) of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable and in any event within fifteen (15) Business Days after the date of this Agreement (unless a later date is mutually agreed to by the Parties hereto) and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and

 

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documentary material that may be requested by any Governmental Entity pursuant to the HSR Act or any other applicable Antitrust Law and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken (including by their respective Subsidiaries), all other actions consistent with this Section 6.02 necessary to cause the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than the Outside Date).

Section 6.03 Access to Information. Upon reasonable advance notice and subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, each Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to afford to the other Party and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours (and, with respect to books and records, the right to copy) to all of its and its Subsidiaries’ properties, commitments, books, Contracts, records and correspondence (in each case, whether in physical or electronic form), officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other Representatives.

Section 6.04 Indemnification and Insurance.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, solely to the extent that the Partnership or the Partnership GP or any applicable Subsidiary thereof would be permitted to indemnify an Indemnified Person immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company and the Surviving Entity jointly and severally agree to (i) indemnify and hold harmless against any cost or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any actual or threatened Proceeding, and provide advancement of expenses with respect to each of the foregoing to, all Indemnified Persons to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law and (ii) honor the provisions regarding elimination of liability of officers and directors, indemnification of officers, directors and employees and advancement of expenses contained in the Organizational Documents of the Partnership and the Partnership GP immediately prior to the Effective Time and ensure that the Organizational Documents of the Partnership and the Partnership GP or any of their respective successors or assigns, if applicable, shall, for a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors, officers, employees and agents of the Partnership and the Partnership GP than are presently set forth in such Organizational Documents. Any right of an Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 6.04(a) shall not be amended, repealed, terminated or otherwise modified at any time in a manner that would adversely affect the rights of such Indemnified Person as provided herein, and shall be enforceable by such Indemnified Person and their respective heirs and representatives against the Company and the Partnership GP and their respective successors and assigns.

(b) The Company shall maintain in effect for six (6) years from the Effective Time directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies covering acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time with respect to Indemnified Persons (provided that the Company may substitute therefor policies with reputable carriers of at least the same coverage containing terms and conditions that are no less favorable to the Indemnified Persons); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to expend pursuant to this Section 6.04(b) more than an amount per year equal to 300% of current annual premiums paid by the Partnership for such insurance (the “Maximum Amount”). In the event that, but for the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company would be required to expend more than the Maximum

 

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Amount, the Company shall obtain the maximum amount of such insurance as is available for the Maximum Amount. If the Company in its sole discretion elects, then, in lieu of the obligations of the Company under this Section 6.04(b), the Company may (but shall be under no obligation to), prior to the Effective Time, purchase a “tail policy” with respect to acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred prior to the Effective Time that were committed or alleged to have been committed by such Indemnified Persons in their capacity as such.

(c) The rights of any Indemnified Person under this Section 6.04 shall be in addition to any other rights such Indemnified Person may have under the Organizational Documents of the Partnership and the Partnership GP, any indemnification agreements, or the DLLCA and DRULPA. The provisions of this Section 6.04 shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for a period of six (6) years and are expressly intended to benefit each of the Indemnified Persons and their respective heirs and representatives; provided, however, that in the event that any claim or claims for indemnification or advancement set forth in this Section 6.04 are asserted or made within such six (6)-year period, all rights to indemnification and advancement in respect of any such claim or claims shall continue until disposition of all such claims. If the Company and/or the Partnership GP, or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of their businesses or assets to any other Person, then, in each such case, to the extent necessary, a proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company and/or the Partnership GP shall assume the obligations of the Company and the Partnership GP set forth in this Section 6.04.

Section 6.05 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.02(d) or Section 8.02, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Partnership.

Section 6.06 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and the Partnership shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of Partnership Securities (including derivative securities with respect to Partnership Securities) or acquisitions of Company Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to Company Common Stock) resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Partnership, or will become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to the Company, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Section 6.07 Listing. The Company shall cause the Company Common Stock to be issued pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement to be approved for listing (subject, if applicable, to notice of issuance) for trading on a National Securities Exchange prior to the Closing.

Section 6.08 Dividends and Distributions. After the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, neither the Partnership nor the Company shall declare any dividend or distribution in respect of any Company Common Stock or Partnership Securities.

 

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Section 6.09 Performance by Partnership GP. The Partnership GP shall cause the Partnership and its Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 6.10 Tax Treatment. For United States federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state, local or foreign income Tax Laws that follows the United States federal income tax treatment), the Parties agree to treat the Merger as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code. The Parties will prepare and file all Tax Returns consistent with the foregoing and will not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Return, or during the course of any Proceeding with respect to Taxes, except as otherwise required by applicable Law following a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or other administrative settlement with or final administrative decision by the relevant Governmental Entity.

Section 6.11 Takeover Statutes. If any Takeover Law shall become applicable to this Agreement, the Merger, the Company Stock Issuance or the other transactions contemplated hereby or related thereto, each of (i) the Partnership, the Partnership GP and the Partnership GP Board and (ii) the Company and the Company Board shall grant such approvals and shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions so that the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Company Stock Issuance, may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise use reasonable best efforts to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Company Stock Issuance.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 7.01 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each Party hereto to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Partnership Unitholder Approval. The affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the votes cast by Unitholders who are entitled to vote on the matter at the Partnership Unitholder Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in favor of the approval of this Agreement (the “Partnership Unitholder Approval”) shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the Organizational Documents of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be deemed to not be votes cast with respect to the Partnership Unitholder Approval.

(b) Regulatory Approval. Any waiting period applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Law, injunction, judgment or ruling enacted, promulgated, issued, entered, amended or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, “Restraints”) shall be in effect enjoining, restraining, preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or making the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal.

 

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(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(e) Stock Exchange Listing. The Company Common Stock deliverable to the Limited Partners as contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved for listing on a National Securities Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

(f) Supplemental Indentures. (i) The Second Supplemental Indenture, among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), to the Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2012, among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee relating to the issuance by the Issuers of the 8% Senior Notes due 2020 and (ii) the Second Supplemental Indenture, among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee, to the Indenture, dated as of May 28, 2013, among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee relating to the issuance by the Issuers of the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2021, shall have been entered into and all conditions precedent necessary for their effectiveness, other than any conditions related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been satisfied or waived.

(g) RBL Amendment. The Ninth Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among the Partnership, as Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Compass Bank, as Syndication Agent, UBS Securities LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents and the Lenders party thereto, dated as of April 1, 2014, shall have been entered into and all conditions precedent necessary for the effectiveness of such amendment, other than any conditions related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been satisfied or waived.

(h) Term Loan Amendment. The Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2016, by and among the Partnership, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders, and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as the Administrative Agent, shall have been entered into and all conditions precedent necessary for the effectiveness of such amendment, other than any conditions related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been satisfied or waived.

(i) GP Purchase Agreement. All conditions precedent required to consummate the GP Purchase, other than any conditions related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been satisfied or waived.

(j) Company Long-Term Incentive Plan; Company Equity Awards. The Company Board or its compensation committee shall have adopted the Company Long-Term Incentive Plan as of the Effective Time and authorized the Company Equity Awards as of the Effective Time.

Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger. The obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

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(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Partnership and the Partnership GP contained in Section 4.03(a) and Section 4.03(d) shall be true and correct in all respects, in each case both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (ii) the representations and warranties of the Partnership and the Partnership GP contained in Section 4.02(a) shall be true and correct in all respects, other than immaterial misstatements or omissions, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); and (iii) all other representations and warranties of the Partnership and the Partnership GP set forth herein shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Partnership Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) does not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Partnership and the Partnership GP by an executive officer of the Partnership GP to such effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Partnership and Partnership GP. The Partnership and the Partnership GP shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Partnership and the Partnership GP by an executive officer of the Partnership GP to such effect.

Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Partnership to Effect the Merger. The obligation of the Partnership to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 5.03(a) shall be true and correct in all respects, in each case both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 5.02(a) shall be true and correct in all respects, other than immaterial misstatements or omissions, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); and (iii) all other representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) does not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the Company to such effect.

 

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(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company and Merger Sub. Each of the Company and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date. Partnership shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the Company to such effect.

Section 7.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions.

(a) Neither the Partnership nor the Partnership GP may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.01, Section 7.02 or Section 7.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was due to the failure of either such Party to perform and comply in all material respects with the covenants and agreements to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

(b) Neither the Company nor Merger Sub may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.01, Section 7.02 or Section 7.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was due to the failure of either such Party to perform and comply in all material respects with the covenants and agreements to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

Section 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time:

(a) by the mutual written consent of the Partnership and the Company duly authorized by the Company Board and the GP Board.

(b) by either of the Partnership or the Company:

(i) if the Closing shall not have been consummated on or before the Outside Date;

(ii) if any Restraint having the effect set forth in Section 7.01(c) shall be in effect and shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(b)(ii) shall not be available to the Partnership or the Company if such Restraint was due to the failure of, in the case of the Partnership, the Partnership or the Partnership GP and in the case of the Company, the Company or Merger Sub, to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; or

(iii) if the Partnership Unitholder Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof shall have concluded and the Partnership Unitholder Approval shall not have been obtained.

 

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(c) by the Company, if the Partnership or the Partnership GP shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement (or if any of the representations or warranties of the Partnership or the Partnership GP set forth in this Agreement shall fail to be true), which breach or failure (A) would (if it occurred or was continuing as of the Closing Date) give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.02(b) and (B) is incapable of being cured, or is not cured, by the Partnership or the Partnership GP within thirty (30) days following receipt of written notice from the Company of such breach or failure; provided, however, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(c) if the Company or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

(d) by the Partnership,

(i) if the GP Board, prior to the Partnership Unitholder Meeting, shall have concluded that recommending to the Unitholders approval of this Agreement would be inconsistent with its duties to the holders of Units under applicable Law; or

(ii) if the Company shall have breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement (or if any of the representations or warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall fail to be true), which breach or failure (A) would (if it occurred or was continuing as of the Closing Date) give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.03(a) or Section 7.03(b) and (B) is incapable of being cured, or is not cured, by the Company within thirty (30) days following receipt of written notice from the Partnership of such breach or failure; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(d)(ii) if the Partnership or the Partnership GP is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

Section 8.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.01, written notice thereof shall be given to the other Party or Parties, specifying the provision of this Agreement pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void (other than the provisions in the last sentence of Section 6.03, the provisions in Section 6.05, Section 8.02 and Article IX, all of which shall survive termination of this Agreement), and, except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.02, there shall be no liability on the part of any of the Company, Merger Sub or the Partnership and the Partnership GP or their respective directors, officers and Affiliates; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve any Party hereto from (a) any liability for any failure to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement when required pursuant to this Agreement or (b) any liability for fraud.

 

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01 Survival. The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement) shall terminate at the Effective Time or, except as

otherwise provided in Section 8.02, upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, as the case may be, except that the agreements set forth in Article I, Article II, Article III and the last sentence of Section 6.03, Section 6.05 and Section 6.07 and any other agreement in this Agreement that contemplates performance after the Effective Time shall survive the Effective Time.

Section 9.02 Interpretation. The provision of a table of contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, subsection, clause or other subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words “this Article,” “this Section,” “this subsection,” “this clause,” and words of similar import, refer only to the Article, Section, subsection and clause hereof in which such words occur. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to the lawful currency of the United States of America. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under GAAP as interpreted as of the date of this Agreement. Unless expressly provided to the contrary, the word “or” is not exclusive. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. Appendices and Exhibits referred to herein are attached to and by this reference incorporated herein for all purposes. Reference herein to any federal, state, local or foreign Law shall be deemed to also refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “day” or “days” shall mean calendar day, unless denoted as a Business Day. The words “will” and “will not” are expressions of command and not merely expressions of future intent or expectation. When used in this Agreement, the word “either” shall be deemed to mean “one or the other”, not “both”. Unless otherwise noted, references herein to a “party” are references to the applicable Party to this Agreement.

Section 9.03 Amendment or Supplement. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether before or after receipt of the Partnership Unitholder Approval, by written agreement of the Parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by the Company Board and the GP Board; provided, however, that following receipt of the Partnership Unitholder Approval, there shall be no amendment or change to the provisions of this Agreement which by applicable Law or stock exchange rule would require further approval by the Unitholders, without such approval. Unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, whenever a determination, decision, approval or consent of the Partnership or Partnership GP is required pursuant to this Agreement, such determination, decision, approval or consent must be authorized by the GP Board.

 

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Section 9.04 Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the Effective Time, any Party may, subject to applicable Law, (a) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other Party hereto, (b) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of any other Party hereto, (c) waive compliance by the other Party with any of the agreements contained herein or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such Party’s conditions or (d) make or grant any consent under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Partnership, the Partnership GP, the Company or Merger Sub in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a Party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party.

Section 9.05 Communications. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopy, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or personal delivery to the following addresses:

If to the Company or Merger Sub, to:

Legacy Reserves Inc.

303 W. Wall Street, Suite 1800

Midland, Texas 79701

Attention:     Bert Ferrara

Email:            ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:     Matthew R. Pacey, P.C.

                     Michael P. Fisherman

Email:           ***@***

                      ***@***

If to the Partnership or the Partnership GP, to:

Legacy Reserves LP

303 W. Wall Street, Suite 1800

Midland, Texas 79701

Attention:     Bert Ferrara

Email:            ***@***

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:     Matthew R. Pacey, P.C.

                     Michael P. Fisherman

Email:           ***@***

                      ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.

One Rodney Square

920 North King Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Attention:     Srinivas M. Raju

                     Kenneth E. Jackman

Email:           ***@***

                      ***@***

or to such other address as the Parties hereto may designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; upon actual receipt if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; upon actual receipt of the overnight courier copy, if sent via facsimile; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Section 9.06 Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and any certificates delivered by any Party pursuant to this Agreement (a) constitute the entire agreement and understanding, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and thereof and (b) shall not confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto any rights (including third-party beneficiary rights or otherwise) or remedies hereunder, except for, in the case of clause (b), the provisions of Section 6.04 and Section 9.12 and the right of the holders of Partnership Securities to receive the applicable Merger Consideration after the Closing (a claim by the holders of Partnership Securities with respect to which may not be made unless and until the Closing shall have occurred). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 9.07 and Section 9.12 shall be for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any financing sources or lender providing financing in connection with the Merger.

Section 9.07 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

(a) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

 

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(b) Each of the Parties agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties hereto in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (i) to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (ii)(1) to the extent such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal process and notify the other Party or Parties hereto of the name and address of such agent, and (2) that service of process may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that service made pursuant to (ii)(1) or (2) above shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. Any action against any Party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, solely if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over any action, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if the subject matter jurisdiction over the action is vested exclusively in the federal courts of the United States of America, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate courts of any thereof. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the Parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

Section 9.08 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES TO CAUSE ITS AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (A) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

Section 9.09 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

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Section 9.10 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. No Party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (including any transfer by way of merger or operation of law) without the consent of each other Party, except that Merger Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any Subsidiary of the Company, but no such assignment shall relieve the Company or Merger Sub of any of its obligations hereunder, and any such purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.10 shall be void ab initio.

Section 9.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but, if any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction in such manner as will effect as nearly as lawfully possible the purposes and intent of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

Section 9.12 No-Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement or any document, agreement, or instrument delivered contemporaneously herewith, and notwithstanding the fact that any Party may be a partnership or limited liability company, each Party hereto, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Persons other than the Parties to this Agreement (and their respective successors and assigns) shall have any obligation hereunder and that it has no rights of recovery hereunder against, and no recourse hereunder or under any documents, agreements, or instruments delivered contemporaneously herewith or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against, (a) any former, current or future director, officer, agent, Affiliate, manager, advisor, subadvisor, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative or employee of any Party (or any of their successors or permitted assignees), (b) any former, current, or future general or limited partner, manager, stockholder or member of any Party (or any of their successors or permitted assignees) or (c) any Affiliate thereof or against any former, current or future director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate, manager, advisor, subadvisor, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative, general or limited partner, stockholder, manager or member of any of the foregoing, or in each case, any financing sources of any of the foregoing, but in each case not including the Parties to this Agreement (and their respective successors and assigns), whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) by or on behalf of such Party against such persons and entities, by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on, or otherwise be incurred by any such Persons, as such, for any obligations of the applicable Party under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, under any documents or instruments delivered contemporaneously herewith, or in connection or contemplation hereof, in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith, or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.12 shall limit any liability of the Parties to this Agreement for breaches of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.13 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the Parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in each case, in accordance with this Section 9.13 in the Delaware Court of Chancery or any federal court sitting in the State of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the Parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief as provided herein on the basis that (a) either Party has an adequate remedy at law or (b) an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. Each Party further agrees that no Party shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 9.13, and each Party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:
LEGACY RESERVES INC.
By:  

/s/ James Daniel Westcott

Name:   James Daniel Westcott
Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer
MERGER SUB:
LEGACY RESERVES MERGER SUB LLC
By:   Legacy Reserves Inc.,
  its sole member
By:  

/s/ James Daniel Westcott

Name:   James Daniel Westcott
Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer
PARTNERSHIP:
LEGACY RESERVES LP
By:   Legacy Reserves GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ James Daniel Westcott

Name:   James Daniel Westcott
Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer
PARTNERSHIP GP:
LEGACY RESERVES GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ James Daniel Westcott

Name:   James Daniel Westcott
Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to the Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

THE COMPANY

[See attached.]

[Exhibit A to the Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 


Final

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

LEGACY RESERVES INC.

 

ARTICLE I

Offices

Section 1.01    Registered Office. The registered office and registered agent of Legacy Reserves Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below). The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere (and may change the Corporation’s registered agent) as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require as determined by any officer of the Corporation.

ARTICLE II

Meetings of Stockholders

Section 2.01    Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.12 in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 2.02    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board or the Chairman of the Board shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board or the Chairman of the Board. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.


Section 2.03    Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(A)    Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.05, (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any authorized committee thereof, (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.03 and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 as to such business or nomination, or (d) with respect to nominations, by any Eligible Stockholder (as defined in paragraph (C)(2) of this Section 2.03) whose Stockholder Nominee (as defined in paragraph (C)(1) of this Section 2.03) is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting. Clauses (c) and (d) of the foregoing sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make director nominations and clause (c) of the foregoing sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Corporation’s notice of meetings) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(2)    Without qualification, for nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, such stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on May 15, 2018); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is increased, and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.03 shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for

 

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any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(3)    To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.03 must: (a) set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith; (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, the beneficial owner, or any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith have any right to vote any class or series of shares of any security of the Corporation, and any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, the purpose or effect of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Section 2.03 a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security) involving such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith that are separated or separable from the

 

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underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or short interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement) (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date); (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (y) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the business to be proposed or to elect the nominee and/or (z) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or the nomination; (b) if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business and (ii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; (c) set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee of the stockholder and to serving as a director if elected) and (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and

 

4


any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination, such beneficial owner, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and a description of any other agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among such stockholder, such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the nomination by such stockholder; and (d) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.04. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

(B)    Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 2.03 with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.04) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C)    Proxy Access for Director Nominations.

(1)    Subject to the terms and conditions of these Bylaws and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, the Corporation will include in its proxy

 

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statement and on its form of proxy and on any ballot distributed at such annual meeting (in addition to the persons nominated for election by the Board or any committee thereof) the name of a nominee for election to the Board submitted pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 (a “Stockholder Nominee”), and will include in its proxy statement information relating to the Stockholder Nominee (the “Required Information,” as defined below), if (i) the Stockholder Nominee satisfies the eligibility requirements in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, (ii) the Stockholder Nominee is identified in a notice (the “Stockholder Notice”) that is timely and proper and delivered in accordance with this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 by a stockholder that qualifies as, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder (as defined below), (iii) the Eligible Stockholder expressly elects at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have the Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.03(C), and (iv) the additional requirements of these Bylaws are met.

(2)    To qualify as an “Eligible Stockholder,” a stockholder or beneficial owner must (i) Own and have Owned, continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares that represents at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares of the Voting Stock (as defined below) as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the “Required Shares”), and (ii) thereafter continue to own the Required Shares through such annual meeting of stockholders. For purposes of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, “Voting Stock” shall mean the capital stock of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors. For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirements of this paragraph (C)(2) of Section 2.03, a group of no more than twenty (20) stockholders and/or beneficial owners may aggregate the shares of Voting Stock that each stockholder and/or beneficial owner has Owned continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice. No stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may be a member of more than one group of stockholders constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 per each annual meeting of stockholders. A group of funds that are (i) under common management and investment control, (ii) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer or (iii) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one stockholder or beneficial owner. Whenever an Eligible Stockholder consists of a group of stockholders and/or beneficial owners, any and all requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 must be satisfied by each such stockholder or beneficial owner, except that shares may be aggregated as specified in this paragraph (C)(2) of Section 2.03.

(3)    For purposes of this paragraph (C) or Section 2.03:

(a)    A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares of Voting Stock as to which such person possesses both (A) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) shall not include any shares (1) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (2) borrowed by such person or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative

 

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or similar agreement entered into by such person or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of Voting Stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such person’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such person or its affiliates. The terms “Owned,” “Owning” and other variations of the word “Own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, shall have correlative meanings.

(b)    A stockholder or beneficial owner shall “Own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. The person’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the person.

(c)    A stockholder or beneficial owner’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned such shares provided that the person (A) both has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days’ notice and recalls the loaned shares within five business days of being notified that its Stockholder Nominee will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting, and (B) holds the recalled shares through the annual meeting.

(4)    For purposes of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, the “Required Information that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is:

(a)    The information concerning each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and

(b)    If the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (or, in the case of a group, a written statement of the group), not to exceed five-hundred (500) words, in support of each Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting (the “Statement”).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is untrue in any material respect (or omits a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading) or would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.

 

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(5)    Within the time period specified herein, the Stockholder Notice shall be delivered by a stockholder and shall set forth all information, representations and agreements required under paragraphs (A)(3)(a) and (A)(3)(c) of this Section 2.03 above (and for such purposes, references therein to “stockholder” and to the “beneficial owner,” if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made shall be deemed to refer to “Eligible Stockholder”), and in addition such Stockholder Notice shall include:

(a)    a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act,

(b)     a statement setting forth and certifying to the number of shares of Voting Stock the Eligible Stockholder Owns and has Owned (as defined in paragraph (C)(3) of this Section 2.03 of these Bylaws) continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and agreeing to continue to Own such shares through the annual meeting and stating whether it intends to maintain Ownership of the Required Shares for at least one year following the annual meeting, which statement shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC,

(c)    the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder addressed to the Corporation, setting forth the following additional agreements, representations, and warranties:

i.    it will provide (1) the information required under paragraph (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 as of the record date, (2) notification in writing verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares as of the record date, and (3) immediate notice to the Corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the annual meeting of stockholders,

ii.    it (1) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Corporation, and does not presently have any such intent, (2) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, (3) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not been and will not be a participant (as defined in Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 14A) in, a solicitation within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee or a nominee of the Board, and (4) will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation, and

iii.    it will (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03,

 

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(3) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, (4) file all materials described below in clause (c) of paragraph (C)(7) of this Section 2.03 with the SEC, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, and (5) promptly provide to the Corporation prior to the day of the annual meeting such additional information as reasonably requested by the Corporation, and

iv.    in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the nominating stockholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination.

(6)    To be timely under this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, the Stockholder Notice must be delivered by a stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the date (as stated in the Corporation’s proxy materials) the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on April 15, 2018); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, recess or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Stockholder Notice as described above.

(7)    An Eligible Stockholder must:

(a)    within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide to the Corporation one or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously in compliance with this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03,

(b)    include in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC (A) the number of shares of Voting Stock Owned by the Eligible Stockholder and (B) a statement certifying that it Owns and has Owned the Required Shares in compliance with this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03,

 

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(c)    file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the Corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders, one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, and

(d)    as to any group of funds whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder, within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide to the Corporation documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds satisfy the requirements of the fifth sentence of paragraph (C)(2) of this Section 2.03.

The information provided pursuant to this paragraph (C)(7) of Section 2.03 shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03

(8)    Within the time period and in the manner prescribed in paragraph (C)(6) of this Section 2.03 for delivery of the Stockholder Notice, a written representation and agreement of each Stockholder Nominee shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, which shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 and signed by each Stockholder Nominee and representing and agreeing that such Stockholder Nominee:

(a)    consents to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected,

(b)    is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Stockholder Nominee, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and

(c)    is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with candidacy or service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation.

The Stockholder Nominee must promptly provide to the Corporation prior to the date of the annual meeting such other information as it may reasonably request. The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies the requirements of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03.

(9)    In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), each Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete

 

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and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03.

(10)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:

(a)    the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its respective agreements, representations, or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03) or any of the information in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03) was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the requirements of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 have otherwise not been met,

(b)    the Stockholder Nominee (A) is not independent under any applicable listing standards, any applicable rules of the SEC, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (B) does not qualify either (1) as independent under the audit committee independence requirements set forth in the rules of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or (2) as a “non-employee director” under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3 (or any successor provision), (C) is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined for purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (D) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), is a named subject of a pending civil fraud investigation or has been convicted of fraud in a civil proceeding, in each case, within the past ten (10) years, or (E) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,

(c)    the Corporation has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director in paragraph (A)(3) of this Section 2.03,

(d)    the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board would cause the Corporation to violate the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard, or

(e)    the Eligible Stockholder or applicable Stockholder Nominee fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to these Bylaws, including but not limited to its obligations under this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03.

(11)    The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by all Eligible Stockholders that may be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this

 

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paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 shall not exceed the greater of (i) two or (ii) twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 with respect to the annual meeting, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number (rounding down) below twenty percent (20%) (such resulting number, the “Permitted Number”); provided that the Permitted Number shall be reduced by: (i) any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 but who the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee or whose name is withdrawn, (ii) any nominees who were previously elected to the Board as Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two annual meetings and who are nominated for election at such annual meeting by the Board as a Board nominee, (iii) any director currently serving on the Board who was a Stockholder Nominee at any of the two preceding annual meetings and (iv) any director currently serving on the Board who was a Stockholder Nominee at the third preceding annual meeting and who the Board decides to nominate as a Board nominee at the upcoming annual meeting. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the date of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 exceeds the Permitted Number, the Corporation shall determine which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials in accordance with the following provisions: each Eligible Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of Voting Stock each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its respective Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached. Following such determination, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 thereafter is nominated by the Board, thereafter is not included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for director election in substitution thereof.

(12)    Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but either (i) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these Bylaws (provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice) or (ii) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election at least equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors, will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 for the next two annual meetings.

 

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(13)    The Board (and any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall have the power and authority to interpret this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (i) whether one or more stockholders or beneficial owners qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder, (ii) whether a Stockholder Notice complies with this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 and has otherwise met the requirements of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, (iii) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, and (iv) whether any and all requirements of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board (or any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall be binding on all persons, including the Corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (C) of Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting or the Board, if the Eligible Stockholder (or a qualified representative (as defined below) of the Eligible Stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Corporation. This paragraph (C) of Section 2.03 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the Corporation’s proxy materials.

(D)    General.

(1)    Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws, including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, at the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (A)(3)(a)(iv) of this Section 2.03 and, (b) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed

 

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by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

(2)    Whenever used in these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (a) in a press release released by the Corporation; provided such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service, or is generally available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including paragraph (A)(1)(c) and paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03), and compliance with paragraph (A)(1)(c) and paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 of these Bylaws shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the last sentence of (A)(1), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.

 

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Section 2.04    Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver by mail (in the case of nominee nominated by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.03, in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.03 of these Bylaws, as applicable) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with such person’s candidacy or service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (iii) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors.

Section 2.05    Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

Section 2.06    Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. Once a quorum is present to

 

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organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, the chairman of the meeting or stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 2.11.

Section 2.07    Voting. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Unless required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote and voting on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation)), all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

Section 2.08    Chairman of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or, in his or her absence or disability, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, a person designated by the Board shall be the chairman of the meeting and, as such, preside at all meetings of the stockholders.

Section 2.09    Secretary of Meetings. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint a person to act as Secretary at such meetings.

 

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Section 2.10    Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with applicable law.

Section 2.11    Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 2.12    Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

 

  (A) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(B)    be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that:

(1)    the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;

(2)    the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and

(3)    if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

Section 2.13    Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate

 

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inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

Section 3.01    Powers. Except as otherwise provided by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board. The Board may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 3.02    Number and Term; Chairman. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specific circumstances, if any, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and the term of each director shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders. The Board shall elect from its ranks a Chairman of the Board, who shall have the powers and perform such duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board may from time to time prescribe. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he or she is present. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one (1) of their members to preside over such meeting.

Section 3.03    Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time or upon the happening of any event specified therein, and if no specification is so made, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.

 

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Section 3.04    Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

Section 3.05    Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to applicable law and the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

Section 3.06    Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Chairman of the Board, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation if directed by the Board and shall be at such places and times as they or he or she shall fix. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board. At least twenty-four (24) hours before each special meeting of the Board, either written notice, notice by electronic transmission or oral notice (either in person or by telephone) of the time, date and place of the meeting shall be given to each director; provided, however, that if written notice is given only by United States mail, such notice be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid at least five (5) days before such special meeting of the Board. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 3.07    Quorum, Voting and Adjournment. Unless otherwise provided by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.

Section 3.08    Committees; Committee Rules. The Board may designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the

 

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Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; provided that no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing these Bylaws. Each committee of the Board may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 3.09    Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in the minutes of proceedings of the Board. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 3.10    Remote Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.11    Compensation. The Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

Section 3.12    Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.01    Number. The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the Board and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. In addition, the Board may elect a President, one or more Vice Presidents, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

Section 4.02    Other Officers and Agents. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more officers called a Vice Chairman, each of whom does not need to be a member of the Board.

Section 4.03    Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, subject to the determination of the Board, shall have general executive charge, management, and control of the properties and operations of the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such properties and operations as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities. If the Board has not elected a Chairman of the Board or in the absence or inability to act as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chairman of the Board, but only if the Chief Executive Officer is a director of the Corporation.

Section 4.04    President. The President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 4.05    Vice Presidents. Each Vice President, if any are elected, of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 4.06    Treasurer.

(A)    The Treasurer, if any, shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board or its designees selected for such purposes. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefor. The Treasurer shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board shall prescribe.

 

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(B)    In addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 4.07    Secretary. The Secretary shall: (A) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept properly; (B) cause all notices required by these Bylaws or otherwise to be given properly; (C) see that the minute books, stock books, and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (D) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required. The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 4.08    Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

Section 4.09    Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board.

Section 4.10    Contracts and Other Documents. The Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Board or any other committee given specific authority in the premises by the Board during the intervals between the meetings of the Board, shall have power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

Section 4.11    Ownership of Equity Interests or Other Securities of Another Entity. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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Section 4.12    Delegation of Duties. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.

Section 4.13    Resignation and Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board. Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed for directors under Section 3.03 of these Bylaws.

Section 4.14    Vacancies. The Board shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.

ARTICLE V

Stock

Section 5.01    Certificated Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two authorized officers of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The Board shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

Section 5.02    Uncertificated Shares. If the Board chooses to issue uncertificated shares, the Corporation, if required by the DGCL, shall, within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of uncertificated shares, send the stockholder a written statement of the information required by the DGCL. The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates; provided that the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted by applicable law.

Section 5.03    Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation represented by certificates shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Certificates representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon be issued. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with any procedures adopted by the Corporation or its agents and applicable law. A record shall be made of each transfer. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so

 

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expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation do so. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation and uncertificated shares.

Section 5.04    Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. A new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in its discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as the Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith. A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the Corporation, the posting of a bond by such owner in an amount sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it in connection therewith.

Section 5.05    List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network; provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 5.06    Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(A)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record

 

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date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

(B)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(C)    Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

Section 5.07    Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or notification to the Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

 

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ARTICLE VI

Notice and Waiver of Notice

Section 6.01    Notice. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

Section 6.02    Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE VII

Indemnification

Section 7.01    Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

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Section 7.02    Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.01, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in appearing at, participating in or defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII (which shall be governed by Section 7.03 (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”)); provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall be responsible for an advancement of expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board; provided, further, however, that, if the DGCL requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Section 7.01 and this Section 7.02 or otherwise.

Section 7.03    Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 is not paid in full by the Corporation within (A) sixty (60) days after a written claim for indemnification has been received by the Corporation or (B) twenty (20) days after a claim for an advancement of expenses has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or to obtain advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met

 

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the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

Section 7.04    Indemnification Not Exclusive.

(A)    General. The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article VII, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article VII, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

(B)    Responsibility for Payment.

(1)    Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VII, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 7.04(B), entitled to enforce this Section 7.04(B).

(2)    For purposes of this Section 7.04(B), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)    The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or

 

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other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation.

(b)    The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the indemnitee-related entities and the Corporation pursuant to applicable law, any agreement, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

Section 7.05    Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

Section 7.06    Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 7.07    Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

Section 8.01    Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

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Section 8.02    Corporate Seal. The Board may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

Section 8.03    Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year.

Section 8.04    Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

Section 8.05    Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

Section 9.01    Amendments. The Board is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Stockholders shall also have the power to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without any requirement to obtain separate Board approval; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), these Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds (66 2/3%) in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, this Section 9.01). No Bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any alteration or amendment thereto or repeal or rescission thereof, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY

[See attached.]

[Exhibit B to the Agreement and Plan of Merger]


Final

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

LEGACY RESERVES INC.

ARTICLE I

Section 1.1.    Name. The name of the corporation is Legacy Reserves Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

Section 2.1.    Address. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1675 S. State Street, Suite B, Dover, Kent County, Delaware 19001, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Capitol Services, Inc.

ARTICLE III

Section 3.1.    Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

Section 4.1.    Capitalization. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 935,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 85,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”) and (ii) 850,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). The number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

Section 4.2.    Preferred Stock.

(A)    The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, at any time and from time to time, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series, and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series and to cause to be filed with the Secretary of

 

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State of the State of Delaware a certificate of designation with respect thereto. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

(B)    Except as otherwise required by law, holders of a series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

Section 4.3.    Common Stock.

(A)    Voting Rights.

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

(2)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or required by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of such other series of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders generally.

(B)    Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends in cash, property of the Corporation or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, such dividends may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board in its discretion shall determine.

(C)    Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock as to distributions upon dissolution or liquidation or winding up, the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder.

 

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ARTICLE V

Section 5.1.    Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in any manner permitted by the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following provisions in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: this Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Article X.

Section 5.2.    Amendment of Bylaws. The Board is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “Bylaws”) without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Stockholders shall also have the power to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the Bylaws without any requirement to obtain separate Board approval; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law, by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by the Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws. No Bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any alteration or amendment thereto or repeal or rescission thereof, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

ARTICLE VI

Section 6.1.    Board of Directors.

(A)    Except as provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) and this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors, the total number of directors shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided, that each director initially appointed to Class I shall serve for an initial term expiring at the

 

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Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this provision; each director initially appointed to Class II shall serve for an initial term expiring at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this provision; and each director initially appointed to Class III shall serve for an initial term expiring at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this provision. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or his or her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class.

(B)    Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any newly created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) may only be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

(C)    Any or all of the directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

(D)    During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

(E)    Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

 

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ARTICLE VII

Section 7.1.    Limitation on Liability of Directors.

(A)    To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders.

(B)    Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

ARTICLE VIII

Section 8.1.    Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of MeetingAny action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided herein (including in a certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

Section 8.2.    Special Meetings of the Stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board or the Chairman of the Board.

Section 8.3.    Annual Meetings of the Stockholders. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those directors whose terms then expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Section 9.1.    Competition and Corporate Opportunities.

(A)    In recognition and anticipation that members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates (as defined below) may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

(B)    No Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation, pursuant to Section 122(17) of the DGCL hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 9.1(C) of this Article IX. Subject to Section 9.1(C) of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.

(C)    The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation) if such opportunity is (i) expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation or (ii) identified by a Non-Employee Director solely through the disclosure of information by or on behalf of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 9.1(B) of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

 

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(D)    In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

(E)    For purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; (ii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity; and (iii) “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(F)    To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

ARTICLE X

Section 10.1.    DGCL Section 203. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

Section 10.2.    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 10.3.    Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding

 

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brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 10.3.

*    *    *    *    

 

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EXHIBIT C

POST-CLOSING BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

Class I:

 

    Paul T. Horne

 

    Cary D. Brown

Class II:

 

    D. Dwight Scott

 

    William R. Granberry

Class III:

 

    G. Larry Lawrence

 

    Kyle D. Vann

[Exhibit C to the Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 


EXHIBIT D

POST-CLOSING OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

 

    Paul T. Horne – Chief Executive Officer

 

    James Daniel Westcott – President and Chief Financial Officer

 

    Kyle M. Hammond – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

    Kyle A. McGraw – Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer

 

    Dan G. LeRoy – Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

    Micah C. Foster – Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

 

    David J. Hartman – Vice President – Corporate Reserves and Planning

[Exhibit D to the Agreement and Plan of Merger]