Description of

EX-4.3 2 exhibit43-10kfye21.htm EX-4.3 Document


MIND Technology, Inc.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock, certain provisions contained in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “charter”), Amended and Restated Bylaws (our “bylaws”), Certificate of Designations of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (as amended, our “Certificate of Designations”) and certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The following descriptions do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the relevant provisions of our charter, bylaws, Certificate of Designations and the DGCL. You should refer to our charter, bylaws and Certificate of Designations, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4, respectively, to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the DGCL.
Authorized Capital Stock
MIND Technology, Inc. (“we”, or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, has authorized capital stock consisting of 40,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share.
Common Stock
Shares Outstanding. As of April 13, 2021, we had 13,766,680 issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
Dividends. We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock since our inception, and our board of directors does not contemplate the payment of cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. It is the present policy of our board of directors to retain earnings, if any, for use in developing and expanding our business. In the future, our payment of dividends on our common stock will also depend on the amount of funds available, our financial condition, capital requirements and such other factors as our board of directors may consider.
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote at a meeting of our stockholders. In matters other than the election of directors, stockholder approval requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter, voting as a single class, unless the matter is one upon which, by express provision of law, our charter or our bylaws, a different vote is required. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, election of directors is determined by a plurality of the votes cast.
In addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of our preferred stock, amendments to our charter must be approved by the board of directors and thereafter by at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and a majority in voting power of each class entitled to a separate class vote. A separate class vote is provided for amendments to the charter changing the authorized shares of a class of stock (unless the charter provides otherwise), changing the par value of a class of stock, or adversely affecting the rights, powers and preferences of the class of stock.
Our bylaws may be amended by the vote of at least a majority of our board of directors or the holders of a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Series A Preferred Stock
Shares Outstanding. As of April 13, 2021, we had 1,038,232 issued and outstanding shares of our 9.00% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, which we refer to as the “Series A Preferred Stock”. Our Series A Preferred Stock represents all of the Company’s outstanding preferred stock.
Dividends. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to 9.00% per annum of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference (equivalent to $2.25 per annum per share), accruing from the date of initial issuance. Dividends will be payable to holders of our Series A Preferred Stock quarterly on or about the last day of January, April, July and October of each year. The record date for dividend payment will be the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year.
Voting Rights. Holders of our Series A Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights. However, if we do not pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly dividend periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with the holders of all other classes or series of our preferred stock



that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors to serve on our board of directors until we pay, or declare and set aside funds for the payment of, all dividends that we owe on the Series A Preferred Stock, subject to certain limitations.
In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock is required at any time for us to authorize or issue any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to amend any provision of our charter so as to materially and adversely affect any rights of the Series A Preferred Stock or to take certain other actions. If any such amendments to our charter would be material and adverse to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and any other series of parity preferred stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of the other applicable series materially and adversely affected, voting together as a class, would be required.
Maturity. The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless we decide to redeem or otherwise repurchase them or they are converted into our common stock in connection with a Change of Control as described below. We are not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.
Optional Redemption. The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable by us prior to June 8, 2021 except upon the occurrence of a Change of Control pursuant to the special optional redemption described below. On and after June 8, 2021, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date.
A “Change of Control” is deemed to occur when, after the original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, the following have occurred and are continuing:
the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of our stock entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of our directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and
following the closing of any transaction referred to in the bullet point above, neither we nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MKT”) or the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ Stock Market”), or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Conversion Rights. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right (unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined below), we have provided notice of our election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock) to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted equal to the lesser of:
the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a record date for a Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment and prior to the corresponding Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividend will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Common Stock Price (as defined below); and
25 shares of common stock per preferred share (i.e., the “Share Cap”), subject to certain adjustments;
subject, in each case, to provisions for the receipt of alternative consideration.



The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any share splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of our common stock), subdivisions or combinations with respect to our common stock.
Upon such a conversion, the holders will be limited to a maximum number of shares of our common stock equal to the Share Cap multiplied by the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock converted. If the Common Stock Price is less than $1.00, subject to adjustment, the holders will receive a maximum of 25.00 shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock, which may result in the holders receiving shares of common stock with a value that is less than the liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock.
If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided a redemption notice, whether pursuant to our special optional redemption right in connection with a Change of Control or our optional redemption right, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have any right to convert the Series A Preferred Stock in connection with the Change of Control Conversion Right, and any shares of Series A Preferred Stock selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion will be redeemed on the related date of redemption instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.
The “Change of Control Conversion Date” is the date the Series A Preferred Stock is to be converted, which will be a business day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which we provide the required notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
The “Common Stock Price” will be (i) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of our common stock is solely cash, the amount of cash consideration per share of our common stock or (ii) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by holders of our common stock is other than solely cash (x) the average of the closing sale prices per share of our common stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control as reported on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common stock is then traded, or (y) the average of the last quoted bid prices for our common stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by Pink Sheets LLC or a similar organization for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control, if our common stock is not then listed for trading on a U.S. securities exchange.
Additional Series of Preferred Stock
Our board of directors may, without the approval of holders of our common stock, designate additional shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and authorize the issuance of such shares or designate additional series of authorized preferred stock and the rights, preferences, limitations and privileges of such additional series ranking junior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock. These rights, preferences, limitations and privileges may include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of this series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of our preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of our preferred stock. However, the effects of the issuance of any shares of our preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock might include, among other things:
restricting dividends on our common stock;
diluting the voting power of our common stock;
impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock; and
delaying or preventing a change in control without further action by our stockholders.
Stock Options and Warrants
As of April 13, 2021, we had no outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock or Series A Preferred Stock. We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities.
As of April 13, 2021, we had 2,576,334 outstanding options to purchase our common stock, issued under our Amended and Restated Stock Awards Plan. We may in the future issue additional stock options to certain officers and directors and to third-party consultants pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stock Awards Plan or other equity incentive plan adopted by our board of directors.
Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, Our Charter and Our Bylaws
Provisions of our charter, bylaws and the DGCL may tend to delay, defer or prevent a potential unsolicited offer or takeover attempt that is not approved by our board of directors but that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interest, including an attempt that might result in stockholders receiving a premium over the market price for their shares.



Because our board of directors is authorized to issue preferred stock with preferences and rights as it determines, it may afford the holders of any series of preferred stock preferences, rights or voting powers superior to those of the holders of common stock. These provisions:
encourage potential acquirers to deal directly with our board of directors;
give our board of directors the time and leverage to evaluate the fairness of the proposal to all stockholders;
enhance continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by our board of directors; and
discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights.

Our board of directors has adopted an anti-takeover policy which provides that it will not use certain measures with respect to preferred stock for anti-takeover measures without prior stockholder approval.
No Cumulative Voting. Our bylaws provide that holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nomination and Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. Our bylaws prescribe specific information that the stockholder’s notice must contain, including, among other things: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder in such business; (ii) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on our books; (iii) the number of shares, number and type of derivative instruments or other interests in the Company that are beneficially owned by such stockholder; (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business; (v) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and (vi) a representation as to whether or not such stockholder will deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding stock reasonably believed by the stockholder to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees.
Generally under our bylaws, to be timely, notice must be received by the Company not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Notwithstanding the specific provisions of our bylaws, stockholders may request inclusion of proposals in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14(a)-8 under the Exchange Act or inclusion of nominees in our proxy statement pursuant to other SEC proxy rules.
Removal of Directors. Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of any series of our preferred stock with respect to the election of directors, our stockholders may remove a director, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote generally for the election of directors.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our charter limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Delaware law provides that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:
for any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
for unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification.
Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of that person’s actions as our officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit



indemnification. We believe that the limitation of liability provision in our charter and bylaws will facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Charter, our Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law, our charter and our bylaws described below contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisitions of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection and our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless the “business combination” or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved by our board of directors in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:
the transaction is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;
upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or
on or after such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Provisions of our charter and bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Among other things, our charter and bylaws:
permit our board of directors to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate;
provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;
provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of holders of the our preferred stock, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
provide that our bylaws may only be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, or by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors;



provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by a majority of the board of directors or upon the written request of the holders of 10% of the voting power of our outstanding stock;
eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty to the extent permitted by the DGCL and indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law;
provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice; and
do not provide for cumulative voting rights, therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.
Exclusive Forum Provision. Our charter contains a provision stating that unless it consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder to bring (a) any derivative action or proceeding on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company, its current or former directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or our charter or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company, its current or former directors, officers or employees or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or over which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, and (ii) the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and our Series A Preferred Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
NASDAQ Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol “MIND.” Our Series A Preferred Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol “MINDP.”