Description of Capital Stock

EX-4.4 2 a20191231mtdr10-kex44.htm EXHIBIT 4.4 Exhibit

Exhibit 4.4

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Our authorized capital stock consists of 160,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “MTDR.”

Dividends

Holders of all of our common stock will be entitled to receive their pro rata shares of dividends in the amounts and at the times declared by our board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.

Voting

Subject to any special voting rights of any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, each share of common stock has one vote on all matters voted on by our shareholders, including the election of directors. No share of common stock has any cumulative voting or preemptive rights or is redeemable, assessable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking or repurchase fund. Holders of common stock will share equally in our assets on liquidation after payment or provision for all liabilities and any preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock then outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

At the direction of our board of directors, we may issue shares of preferred stock from time to time. Our board of directors may, without any action by holders of common stock, adopt resolutions to issue preferred stock by establishing the number, rights and preferences of, and designating, one or more series of preferred stock. No series of preferred stock has been designated and established by our board of directors. The rights of any series of preferred stock may include, among others:



•	general or special voting rights;



•	preferential liquidation or preemptive rights;



•	preferential cumulative or noncumulative dividend rights;



•	redemption or put rights; and



•	conversion or exchange rights.

We may issue shares of, or rights to purchase shares of, preferred stock the terms of which might:



•	adversely affect voting or other rights evidenced by, or amounts otherwise payable with respect to, the common stock;



•	discourage an unsolicited proposal to acquire us; or



•	facilitate a particular business combination involving us.

Any of these actions could discourage a transaction that some or a majority of our shareholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which our shareholders might receive a premium for their stock over our then market price.

Business Combinations under Texas Law

A number of provisions of Texas law, our certificate of formation and bylaws could make more difficult the acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise and the removal of incumbent officers and directors. These provisions are intended to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to negotiate first with our board of directors.

We are subject to the provisions of Title 2, Chapter 21, Subchapter M of the Texas Business Organizations Code (the “Texas Business Combination Law”). That law provides that a Texas corporation may not engage in specified types of business combinations, including mergers, consolidations and asset sales, with a person, or an affiliate or associate of that person, who is an “affiliated shareholder.” An “affiliated shareholder” is generally defined as (i) the holder of 20% or more of the corporation’s voting shares or (ii) a person who, during the preceding three year period, was a holder of 20% or more of the corporation’s voting shares. The law’s prohibitions do not apply if:



•	the business combination or the acquisition of shares by the affiliated shareholder was approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the affiliated shareholder became an affiliated shareholder; or



•	the business combination was approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation not beneficially owned by the affiliated shareholder, at a meeting of shareholders called for that purpose, not less than six months after the affiliated shareholder became an affiliated shareholder.

Because we have a class of voting shares registered under the Exchange Act, we are considered an “issuing public corporation” for purposes of this law. The Texas Business Combination Law does not apply to the following:



•	the business combination of an issuing public corporation: where the corporation’s original charter or bylaws contain a provision expressly electing not to be governed by the Texas Business Combination Law; or that adopts an amendment to its charter or bylaws, by the affirmative vote of the holders, other than affiliated shareholders, of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, expressly electing not to be governed by the Texas Business Combination Law and so long as the amendment does not take effect for 18 months following the date of the vote and does not apply to a business combination with an affiliated shareholder who became affiliated on or before the effective date of the amendment;



•	a business combination of an issuing public corporation with an affiliated shareholder that became an affiliated shareholder inadvertently, if the affiliated shareholder divests itself, as soon as possible, of enough shares to no longer be an affiliated shareholder and would not at any time within the three-year period preceding the announcement of the business combination have been an affiliated shareholder but for the inadvertent acquisition;



•	a business combination with an affiliated shareholder who became an affiliated shareholder through a transfer of shares by will or intestacy and continuously was an affiliated shareholder until the announcement date of the business combination; and



•	a business combination of a corporation with its wholly owned Texas subsidiary if the subsidiary is not an affiliate or associate of the affiliated shareholder other than by reason of the affiliated shareholder’s beneficial ownership of voting shares of the corporation.

Neither our certificate of formation nor our bylaws contain any provision expressly providing that we will not be subject to the Texas Business Combination Law. The Texas Business Combination Law may have the effect of inhibiting a non-negotiated merger or other business combination involving the Company, even if that event would be beneficial to our shareholders.

Action by Consent

Our bylaws and Texas law provide that any action that can be taken at any special or annual meeting of shareholders may be taken by unanimous written consent of all shareholders entitled to vote.

Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions

Our certificate of formation and bylaws contain certain provisions that could discourage potential takeover attempts and make it more difficult for our shareholders to change management or receive a premium for their shares. These provisions include:



•	authorization for our board of directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval;



•	a classified board of directors so that not all members of our board of directors are elected at one time;



•	the prohibition of cumulative voting in the election of directors; and



•	a limitation on the ability of shareholders to call special meetings to those owning at least 25% of our outstanding shares of common stock.