CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERRED STOCK OF LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORPORATION To Be Designated Series F Preferred Stock Pursuant toSection 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
Exhibit 4.1
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
PREFERRED STOCK
OF
LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORPORATION
To Be Designated
Series F Preferred Stock
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
The undersigned DOES HEREBY CERTIFY that the following resolution was duly adopted by the Committee of Independent Directors (the Independent Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board of Directors) of Lighting Science Group Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), pursuant to the authority conferred on the Independent Committee pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors, at a meeting duly convened and held, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority conferred on the Independent Committee by the Board of Directors and by the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, the issuance of a series of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation which shall consist of 40,000 shares of preferred stock be, and the same hereby is, authorized, and each of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Secretary of the Corporation be, and each hereby is, authorized and directed to execute and file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock of the Corporation setting forth a copy of this resolution fixing the designations, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof (in addition to the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation which may be applicable to the Corporations preferred stock), as follows:
1. Number of Shares; Designation. A total of 40,000 shares (the Preferred Shares) of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation are hereby designated as Series F Preferred Stock (the Series).
2. Rank. The Series shall, with respect to rights (including to redemption payments) upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, rank:
(a) Senior and prior to the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation (the Common Stock) and any additional class or series of stock which may in the future be issued by the Corporation and is designated in the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation establishing such additional class or series of stock as ranking junior to the Preferred Shares or which do not state they are Parity Liquidation Shares (as defined below) or Senior Liquidation Shares (as defined below). Any shares of the Corporations Capital Stock which are junior to the Preferred Shares with respect to rights (including to redemption payments) upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, including upon a Liquidation Event (as defined below), are hereinafter referred to as Junior Liquidation Shares.
(b) Pari passu with any additional class or series of stock which may in the future be issued by the Corporation and is designated in the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation establishing such additional class or series of stock as ranking equal to the Preferred Shares. Any shares of the Corporations Capital Stock which are equal to the Preferred Shares with respect to rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation are hereinafter referred to as Parity Liquidation Shares.
(c) Junior to any additional class or series of stock which may in the future be issued by the Corporation and is designated in the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation establishing such additional class or series of stock as ranking senior to the Preferred Shares. Any shares of the Corporations Capital Stock that rank senior to the Preferred Shares with respect to rights (including to redemption payments) upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, including upon a Liquidation Event, are hereinafter referred to as Senior Liquidation Shares.
3. Dividends. Dividends shall accrue on each Preferred Share at an annual rate of 10.0% multiplied by the Liquidation Value (as defined below) for each Preferred Share and no more. Dividends on each Preferred Share shall accrue to the Liquidation Value, and be cumulative, whether or not earned or declared, and whether or not sufficient funds are legally available in respect thereof, from the applicable issue date of such Preferred Share and shall compound annually (the Accrual Dividend).
4. Subsequent Securities Sales
(a) At least five days prior to the closing of a Subsequent Transaction, the Corporation shall give notice of such Subsequent Transaction to the Holders setting forth the terms and conditions of such Subsequent Transaction.
(b) Simultaneous with and subject to the closing of the Subsequent Transaction, if any, each Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation, to:
(i) to the extent not prohibited by the terms of the securities issued pursuant to the Subsequent Transaction, require the Corporation to use the proceeds of such Subsequent Transaction to redeem, subject to Section 5(c), all of such Holders Preferred Shares; provided that in the event that the proceeds of the Subsequent Transaction are insufficient to redeem all of the Preferred Shares subject to requests for redemption, the Preferred Shares shall be redeemed on a pro rata basis, based on the total number of Preferred Shares owned by each requesting Holder; provided further that in the event that the Corporation is prohibited from redeeming such Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 5(c), such shares shall be redeemed no later than 20 days following the date on which such prohibition is no longer applicable and the provisions of Section 5(a)(iii) shall apply until such redemption, or
(ii) elect to convert all or any part of the Preferred Shares held by such Holder, valued at their then present Liquidation Value, into the securities offered pursuant to the Subsequent Transaction on substantially the same terms and conditions that govern the Subsequent Transaction.
5. Redemption.
(a) Mandatory Redemption. Upon the Redemption Date, the Corporation shall, subject to Section 5(c), redeem all outstanding Preferred Shares at the Liquidation Value; (the Redemption Price).
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(i) The Corporation shall, no later than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date, deliver written notice to each Holder stating (i) the Redemption Price, (ii) the place or places at which certificates representing the Preferred Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and (iii) any other information that may be required by applicable law. Each Holder shall have 30 days from receipt of such written notice to surrender the Holders certificates representing the Preferred Shares.
(ii) If on the Redemption Date, the assets of the Corporation legally available to redeem the Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to redeem all outstanding Preferred Shares to be redeemed at the Redemption Price, then (i) the Corporation shall redeem that number of Preferred Shares that may be redeemed with the assets of the Corporation legally available therefor pro rata among the redeeming Holders and (ii) any unredeemed Preferred Shares shall be carried forward and shall be redeemed at such time as funds are legally available therefor. All Preferred Shares that are subject to redemption under this Section 5 that have not been redeemed due to the insufficiency of legally available funds therefor shall continue to be outstanding and entitled to all dividends, if any, liquidation, conversion, voting and other rights, preferences and privileges of the Preferred Shares, until such shares are redeemed.
(iii) If the Corporation is unable to redeem all of the outstanding Preferred Shares on the Redemption Date, the Corporation shall make reasonable efforts to effect redemption of the outstanding Preferred Shares as promptly as practicable thereafter; provided that for so long as any Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the rights and privileges attaching thereto shall continue to survive and the Accrual Dividend shall continue to accrue and compound pursuant to Section 3.
(b) Optional Redemption. Upon giving 10 days notice to each Holder, the Corporation shall have the right at any time and from time to time to redeem, subject to Section 5(c), all of the outstanding Preferred Shares at their then Liquidation Value.
(c) Limitations on Redemption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation shall not be permitted or required to redeem any Preferred Shares: (i) unless the Corporation has funds legally available therefor and (ii) for so long as such redemption would result in an event of default under (x) that certain Second Lien Letter of Credit, Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 20, 2011, by and among the Corporation, as borrower, the guarantors and lenders party from time to time thereto and Ares Capital Corporation, as agent, or (y) that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010, by and among the Corporation, the guarantors and lenders from time to time party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as sole lead arranger, manager and bookrunner, provided that in the event that the Corporation is prohibited from redeeming such Preferred Shares pursuant to this Section 5(c), such shares shall be redeemed no later than 20 days following the date on which such prohibition is no longer applicable and the provisions of Section 5(a)(iii) shall apply until such redemption.
6. Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon a Change of Control the Corporation shall redeem all of the outstanding Preferred Shares at their then present Liquidation Value.
7. Liquidation.
(a) The liquidation value per Preferred Share, in case of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, shall be an amount equal to (i) $1,000.00 per share (the Purchase Price), subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split or similar event applicable to the Series, plus (ii) the Accrual Dividend on such Preferred Share from the date of original issuance through the applicable measurement date (the sum of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being hereinafter referred to as the Liquidation Value).
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(b) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation (a Liquidation Event), the Holders (i) shall not be entitled to receive the Liquidation Value of the Preferred Shares held by them until the liquidation value of all Senior Liquidation Shares shall have been paid in full, and (ii) shall be entitled to receive the Liquidation Value of such shares held by them in preference to and in priority over any distributions upon the Junior Liquidation Shares. Upon payment in full of the Liquidation Value to which the Holders are entitled, the Holders will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Corporation and the Preferred Shares held by such Holders shall be deemed redeemed. If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Value payable to the Holders and the liquidation value payable to the holders of any Parity Liquidation Shares, the holders of all such shares shall share ratably in such distribution of assets in accordance with the amounts that would be payable on the distribution if the amounts to which the Holders and the holders of Parity Liquidation Shares are entitled were paid in full.
(c) The Corporation shall, no later than the date on which a Liquidation Event occurs (the Deemed Redemption Date), deliver written notice of such Liquidation Event to each Holder stating (i) the Redemption Price and (ii) the date or dates when and the place or places where the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable. Any payment required by this Section 7 shall be made not less than 30 days after the Deemed Redemption Date.
8. Status of Shares. All Preferred Shares that are at any time converted pursuant to Section 4 or redeemed pursuant to Sections 5 or 7, and all Preferred Shares that are otherwise reacquired by the Corporation and subsequently canceled by the Board of Directors, shall be retired and shall not be subject to reissuance.
9. Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Holders shall not have the right to vote for the election of directors or on any other matters presented to the Corporations stockholders for action by their written consent or at any annual or special meeting of stockholders. On any matter on which the Holders are entitled by law or under the Certificate of Incorporation to vote separately as a class, each such Holder shall be entitled to one vote for each share held, and such matter shall be determined by a majority of the Preferred Shares voting on such matter.
10. Restrictions and Limitations.
So long as any Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the vote or written consent by the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class:
(a) alter, modify or amend (whether by merger or otherwise) the terms of the Series in any way;
(b) increase (whether by merger or otherwise) the authorized number of shares of the Series;
(c) re-issue (whether by merger or otherwise) any Preferred Shares that have been converted in accordance with the terms hereof;
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(d) issue (whether by merger or otherwise) any additional shares of the Series;
(e) enter into any definitive agreement or commitment with respect to any of the foregoing; or
(f) cause or permit any Subsidiary to engage in or enter into any definitive agreement or commitment with respect to any of the foregoing.
In the event that the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares agree to allow the Corporation to alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series pursuant to applicable law, no such change shall be effective to the extent that, by its terms, such change applies to less than all of the Preferred Shares then outstanding.
11. Transfer. Preferred Shares may only be offered, sold, transferred or assigned in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. Any attempted transfer of Preferred Shares in violation of this Section 11 shall be null and void ab initio.
12. Certain Definitions. As used in this Certificate, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
Affiliate of, or a person Affiliated with, a specified person, is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.
Capital Stock of any person or entity means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in the common stock or preferred stock of such person or entity, including, without limitation, partnership and membership interests.
Change of Control means (a) the sale, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (other than pursuant to a joint venture arrangement or other transaction in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, receives at least 50% of the voting equity in another entity or a general partnership); (b) the effectuation of a transaction or series of related transactions in which more than 50% of the voting power of the Corporation is disposed of (other than (i) as a direct result of normal, uncoordinated trading activities in the Common Stock generally or (ii) solely as a result of the disposition by a stockholder of the Corporation to an Affiliate of such stockholder); (c) the consolidation, merger or other business combination of the Corporation with or into any other entity, immediately following which the prior stockholders of the Corporation fail to own, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the voting equity of the surviving entity; (d) a transaction or series of transactions in which any person or group (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) acquires more than 50% of the voting equity of the Corporation (other than the acquisition by a person or group that is an Affiliate of or Affiliated with a person or group that immediately prior to such acquisition, beneficially owned 50% or more of the voting equity of the Corporation); (e) the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors with individuals who were not nominated or elected by at least a majority of the directors at the time of such replacement (other than as a result of the replacement of individuals previously nominated or elected by a stockholder and any of its Affiliates with individuals nominated or elected by such stockholder and its Affiliates); or (f) a transaction or series of transactions that constitutes or results in a going private transaction (as defined in Section 13(e) of the Exchange Act and the regulations of the Commission issued thereunder).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Holder means any holder of Preferred Shares, all of such holders being the Holders.
Redemption Date means the later of February 21, 2014, or up to 91 days after the maturity or redemption date related to any securities issued as part of a Subsequent Transaction, but only to the extent required by the terms of the securities issued pursuant to such Subsequent Transaction, provided that such securities contain a maturity or redemption date.
Subsequent Transaction means the sale of any securities of the Corporation (whether debt, equity or otherwise), other than pursuant to the Corporations Amended and Restated Equity-Based Compensation Plan or the Corporations 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (or any additional or successor employee equity compensation arrangements) that results in gross proceeds to the Company of at least $50,000,000.00.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly executed on its behalf by its undersigned Chief Executive Officer as of November 17, 2011.
By: | /s/ James Haworth | |
Name: | James Haworth | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |