0001193125-14-237900.txt : 20140624 0001193125-14-237900.hdr.sgml : 20140624 20140616171504 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-14-237900 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20140612 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20140616 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140616 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Memorial Resource Development Corp. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001599222 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 464710769 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-36490 FILM NUMBER: 14923534 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 MCKINNEY STREET STREET 2: SUITE 2100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77010 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-588-8300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 MCKINNEY STREET STREET 2: SUITE 2100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77010 8-K 1 d742119d8k.htm 8-K 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 16, 2014 (June 12, 2014)

 

 

MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36490   46-4710769

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1301 McKinney, Suite 2100

Houston, Texas

  77010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 588-8300

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

  ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Underwriting Agreement

On June 12, 2014 Memorial Resource Development Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and MRD Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Selling Stockholder”), entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), providing for the offer and sale by the Company and the Selling Stockholder (the “Offering”), and purchase by the Underwriters, of up to 42,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”). Of the 42,800,000 shares, 21,500,000 are being sold by the Company and 21,300,000 are being sold by the Selling Stockholder. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Selling Stockholder has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,420,000 additional shares of Common Stock held by the Selling Stockholder if the Underwriters sell more than 42,800,000 shares of Common Stock.

The material terms of the Offering are described in the prospectus, dated June 12, 2014 (the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 16, 2014 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Offering is registered with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-195062), initially filed by the Company with the Commission on April 4, 2014 (the “Registration Statement”).

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder and customary conditions to closing, obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The Company and the Selling Stockholder have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

The Offering is expected to close on June 18, 2014. The Company will receive net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and expenses) from the Offering of approximately $382.1 million. As described in the Prospectus, the Company will use the net proceeds of the sale of the Common Stock to redeem its 10.00%/10.75% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”) in their entirety and to pay any applicable premium in connection with such redemption and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, and, together with borrowings under the Company’s new revolving credit facility, to pay a portion of the consideration for certain assets being contributed to the Company at the closing of the Offering, to repay outstanding borrowings under its subsidiary’s existing credit agreements and to pay for fees and expenses associated with the Company’s new revolving credit facility. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder.

The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

Relationships

As more fully described under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, certain of the Underwriters and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for the Company and its respective affiliates from time to time in the ordinary course of their business for which they have received customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In connection with the issuance of the Notes in December 2013, certain of the underwriters participated as initial purchasers and received customary fees for such services. Affiliates of certain of the Underwriters will be lenders under a new revolving credit facility the Company intends to enter into upon the closing of the Offering.


Long Term Incentive Plan

The description of the Memorial Resource Development Corp. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provided below under Item 5.02 is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference. A copy of the Plan is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) Effective June 11, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Plan. Under the Plan, awards of incentive stock options, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, bonus stock, performance awards, incentive awards, and other cash or stock-based awards may be granted to employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. Subject to adjustment for certain corporate events, 19,250,000 shares is the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance under the Plan. Common Stock withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

On June 10, 2014, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which became effective as of such date. A description of the material provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is set forth in the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus and is incorporated herein by reference. The description contained herein and in the Prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1.

Amended and Restated Bylaws

On June 10, 2014, the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws became effective upon effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. A description of the material provisions of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is set forth in the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus and is incorporated herein by reference. The description contained herein and in the Prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On June 13, 2014, the Company announced that it had priced the Offering described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8- K. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the attached Exhibit 99.1, is being “furnished” pursuant to General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and is not incorporated by reference into any Company filing, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated June 12, 2014, by and among Memorial Resource Development Corp., MRD Holdco LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein
  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated June 10, 2014
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws dated June 10, 2014
10.1    Memorial Resource Development Corp. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan
99.1    Press release dated June 13, 2014


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

      MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Date: June 16, 2014     By:  

/s/ Kyle N. Roane

      Kyle N. Roane
      Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated June 12, 2014, by and among Memorial Resource Development Corp., MRD Holdco LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein
  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated June 10, 2014
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws dated June 10, 2014
10.1    Memorial Resource Development Corp. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan
99.1    Press release dated June 13, 2014
EX-1.1 2 d742119dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Copy

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

42,800,000 Shares

Common Stock

($0.01 par value)

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York

June 12, 2014

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Memorial Resource Development Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), and MRD Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (in such capacity, the “Selling Stockholder”), propose to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, 42,800,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”) of the Company (the “Underwritten Securities”). Of the 42,800,000 shares of the Underwritten Securities, 21,500,000 are being sold by the Company and 21,300,000 are being sold by the Selling Stockholder. In addition, the Selling Stockholder proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 6,420,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Option Securities”; the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called the “Securities”). The use of the neuter in this Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20 hereof.

As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. has agreed to reserve out of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite its name on the Schedule I to this Agreement, up to 856,000 shares for sale to the Company’s employees, officers and directors (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Securities to be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the “Directed Shares”) will be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participants by 7:30 A.M. New York City time on the business day following the date on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as set forth in the Prospectus.


Reference herein to: (i) “MRD Entities” means the Company, MRD LLC and their respective subsidiaries, other than the Partnership and its subsidiaries, Bluestone Natural Resources Holdings, LLC (“Bluestone”), MRD Royalty LLC (“MRD Royalty”), MRD Midstream LLC (“MRD Midstream”), Golden Energy Partners LLC, (“Golden Energy”), Classic Pipeline & Gathering, LLC (“Classic Pipeline”) or WildHorse Resources Management Company, LLC (“WHR Management”); (ii) “MRD LLC” means Memorial Resource Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; (iii) the “Partnership” means Memorial Production Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership; (iv) the “General Partner” means Memorial Production Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of the Partnership; and (v) “MRD Properties” means the properties and assets owned by the MRD Entities.

Prior to, on or after the Closing Date, the following transactions will occur:

1. Natural Gas Partners VIII, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NGP VIII”), Natural Gas Partners IX, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NGP IX”), and NGP IX Offshore Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NGP Holdings” and, together with NGP VIII and NGP IX, the “Funds”) formed the Selling Stockholder and contributed their respective membership interests in MRD LLC to the Selling Stockholder (the “Holdco Contribution”).

2. WildHorse Resources LLC (“WildHorse”) will sell WHR Management to WildHorse Resources II, LLC for approximately $0.2 million pursuant to a purchase agreement (the “WHR Purchase Agreement”).

3. Classic Hydrocarbons Holdings, L.P. (“Classic Holdings”) will distribute 100% of the membership interests in Classic Pipeline & Gathering, LLC (“Classic Pipeline”) (directly and indirectly through Classic Hydrocarbons GP Co., L.L.C. (“Classic GP”) to MRD LLC, and Black Diamond Minerals, LLC (“Black Diamond”) will distribute 100% of the membership interests in Golden Energy Partners, LLC (“Golden Energy”) to MRD LLC.

4. MRD LLC will contribute to the Company all of its interests in Black Diamond, Classic GP, Classic Holdings, WildHorse, MRD Operating LLC (“MRD Operating”), Memorial Resource Finance Corp. (“MRF Corp”), the General Partner, and Beta Operating Company, LLC (“Beta Operating”) in exchange for 128,665,677 shares of Common Stock (the “Contribution Shares”) pursuant to the Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will assume the obligations of MRD LLC under the PIK Toggle Notes Indenture (defined below) and related Debt Security Agreement.

5. MRD LLC will distribute the Contribution Shares to MRD Holdco.

6. Certain former members of WildHorse management (the “Former WHR Management”) will contribute to the Company all of their membership and incentive unit interests in WildHorse in exchange for an aggregate of 42,334,323 shares of Common Stock (the “WHR Shares”) and an aggregate cash amount of $30 million pursuant to the Contribution Agreement by and among Former WHR Management and the Company (the “WHR Management Contribution Agreement”).

 

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7. The Company will enter into a Credit Agreement, by and among the Company, as the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the other parties party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”), and borrow $616.7 million under the Credit Agreement and uses the proceeds thereof to repay and terminate the outstanding indebtedness of WildHorse.

8. MRD LLC will enter into a merger agreement (the “MRD Merger Agreement”) with MRD Operating pursuant to which, after the discharge of the PIK Toggle Notes Indenture (defined below), MRD LLC will merge into MRD Operating, with MRD Operating being the surviving entity.

9. The Company will issue and sell, and the Selling Stockholder will sell, the Underwritten Securities to the public, and the Company will use the net proceeds thereof as set forth in the Prospectus.

10. The Company will borrow under the Credit Agreement to pay the $30 million to the Former WHR Management under the WHR Management Contribution Agreement. The Company will also borrow under the Credit Agreement to reimburse MRD Holdco for interest previously paid on the Company’s 10.00%/10.75% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2018 (the “PIK Toggle Notes”) issued under an indenture by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of December 18, 2013 (the “PIK Toggle Notes Indenture”) under the Contribution Agreement.

11. MRD LLC will distribute to MRD Holdco (i) 100% of the membership interests in BlueStone, MRD Midstream, MRD Royalty, Golden Energy and Classic Pipeline, and (ii) the subordinated units representing limited partner interests in MEMP owned by MRD LLC.

12. The Company will enter into (i) a registration rights agreement and (ii) a voting agreement, in each case with the Selling Stockholder and Former WHR Management a (the “Registration Rights Agreement” and “Voting Agreement”, respectively).

13. Black Diamond will merge with and into MRD Operating, with MRD Operating as the surviving entity.

14. Former WHR Management will enter into a transition services agreement related to the management and operations of the assets owned by WHR (the “Services Agreement”).

15. Following the Closing Date, after the redemption of the PIK Toggle Notes (or after the discharge of the PIK Toggle Notes Indenture, if earlier), the cash remaining in the MRD LLC debt service reserve account is paid over to MRD Holdco.

16. After the redemption of the PIK Toggle Notes (or after the discharge of the PIK Toggle Notes Indenture, if earlier), pursuant to the MRD Merger Agreement, MRD LLC merges with and into MRD Operating.

 

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The transactions referred to in clauses 1-16 are referred to collectively as the “Transactions,” and the WHR Purchase Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the WHR Management Contribution Agreement, the MRD Merger Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the Services Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents.”

1. Representations and Warranties.

(i) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File Number 333-195062) on Form S-1, including a related preliminary prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder and, except to the extent you shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Representatives prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

(b) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

(c) Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any date on which

 

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Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “settlement date”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act; on the Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(d) As of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and each settlement date, (i) the Disclosure Package, (ii) each electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package and (iii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

(e) The Company has made available a “bona fide electronic road show” (as defined in Rule 433) such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(f) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

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(g) From the time of initial confidential submission of the Company’s draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the Execution Time, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

(h) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule IV hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(i) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(j) Each of the MRD Entities has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization with full power and authority to enter into and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to own or lease and to operate its properties currently owned or leased or to be owned or leased on the Closing Date and each settlement date and conduct its business as currently conducted or to be conducted on the Closing Date and each settlement date, in each case, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Each of the MRD Entities is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires, or at the Closing Date and each settlement date, will require, such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, on the MRD Entities, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

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(k) MRD LLC owns, and after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date and each settlement date, the Company will own, all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the General Partner; such membership interests are duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner, as in effect on the date hereof (the “GP LLC Agreement”), and are fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”)); and the Company owns such membership interests free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or other claims (collectively, “Liens”), except for restrictions on transferability contained in the GP LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, no other interest in the General Partner will be outstanding.

(l) The General Partner is, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership with a 0.1% general partner interest in the Partnership; such general partner interest has been, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date will be, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as in effect on the date hereof (the “Partnership Agreement”); and the General Partner owns, and will own on the Closing Date and each settlement date, such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(m) The General Partner owns, and, on the Closing Date and each settlement date, will own 50% of the Incentive Distribution Rights in the Partnership (as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement, the “IDRs”) free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the IDRs and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act).

(n) Attached as Schedule VI is a true and complete list of each entity in which the Company will have a direct or indirect majority equity or voting interest, after giving effect to the Transactions (each, a “Subsidiary” and, together, the “Subsidiaries”) and its jurisdictions of organization. All of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly

 

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authorized and issued, are fully paid and (other than the general partner interests in the Partnership owned by the General Partner) are nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, Sections 101.206 and 101.613 of the Texas Business Organization Code or Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act), were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar right and, except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are owned, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, by the Company (except with respect to limited partner interests in the Partnership owned by public unitholders) free and clear of all Liens, other than transfer restrictions imposed by the 1933 Act, the securities or “blue sky” laws of certain jurisdictions or pursuant to the Credit Agreement or that certain credit agreement, dated as of December 14, 2011, by and among Memorial Production Operating LLC, as borrower, the Partnership, as parent guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent for the lenders party thereto, BNP Paribas, Citibank, N.A. and Comerica Bank, as co-documentation agents for the lenders party thereto, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended as of the date hereof.

(o) The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of Common Stock to be issued to MRD Holdco and certain former management members of WildHorse in connection with the Transactions have been duly authorized for issuance, and when issued and delivered by the Company and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the shares of Common Stock to MRD Holdco and certain former management members of WildHorse is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(p) Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no (i) preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of the MRD Entities or (ii) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the MRD Entities. Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company.

(q) The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and each of the MRD Entities has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the other Transaction Documents to which it is a

 

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party and perform its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder. On the Closing Date and each settlement date, all limited partnership, limited liability company and corporate action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the MRD Entities or any of their respective members or partners, as the case may be, for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities, the execution and delivery by the MRD Entities of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, shall have been validly taken.

(r) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(s) Each Transaction Document to which the Company or any MRD Entity is a party, as applicable, has been, or on the Closing Date will be, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or such MRD Entity, as applicable, and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Company or any MRD Entity, as applicable, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by (A) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) relating to enforceability and (B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

(t) Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof, if any, contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(u) None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents by the MRD Entities that are parties hereto or thereto, as the case may be, (iii) the consummation of the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents by the MRD Entities or (iv) the application of the proceeds as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) will conflict with, or will constitute a violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, conversion or other constituent document (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”) of any of the MRD Entities, (B) will conflict with, or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default), any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any MRD Entity is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, (C) will violate any statute, law,

 

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regulation, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any MRD Entity or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the MRD Entities (other than Liens created pursuant to the Credit Agreement), except for such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) and (D), that individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the MRD Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance by the MRD Entities that are parties thereto of their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents other than (A) registration of the Securities under the Act, which has been effected (or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed hereunder pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, will be effected in accordance herewith), (B) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered by the Underwriters, (C) under the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), (D) consents that have been, or on or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, (E) consents that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (F) as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(w) None of the MRD Entities is (i) in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents, (ii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any of the MRD Entities or any of its properties, as applicable, (iii) in breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument relating to the MRD Entities or MRD Properties to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or (iv) in breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default) or violation in the performance of, assuming the due execution by all parties thereto, the Transaction Documents, which in the case of either (ii), (iii) or (iv) would reasonably be expected to have, if continued, a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of the MRD Entities to consummate the Transactions.

 

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(x) The Securities, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement against payment therefor as provided herein, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(y) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of any of the MRD Entities exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) The historical financial statements, together with the related schedules and notes, included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the predecessor to the Company, as applicable, as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The pro forma condensed combined financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect an appropriate application of those adjustments to the historical combined financial statement amounts in the pro forma condensed combined financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The pro forma condensed combined financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act (including, without limitation, Regulations S-X and G of the Act), the Exchange Act, Item 10(e) under Regulation S-K and Financial Interpretation No. 46 and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements. The summary historical and pro forma financial and operating information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Summary—Summary Historical Consolidated and Combined Pro Forma Financial Data” and the selected historical and pro forma financial and operating information set forth under the caption “Selected Historical Financial Data” in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus is accurately presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements, as applicable, from which it has been derived, unless expressly noted otherwise.

(aa) KPMG LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement,

 

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Disclosure Package and Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and any non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP to the MRD Entities have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. The reserve engineers who prepared the reports and audits upon which the estimates of the proved reserves of the MRD Properties disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus were based, are independent petroleum engineers with respect to the MRD Entities and for the periods set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(bb) The oil and natural gas reserve estimates of the MRD Properties to be contributed to the Company by MRD LLC as of December 31, 2013 and the oil and natural gas reserve estimates of the Partnership as of December 31, 2013 contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are derived from reports that have been prepared, and audits that have been completed, by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., and such estimates fairly reflect, in all material respects, the oil and natural gas reserves attributable to such properties at the dates indicated therein and are in accordance, in all material respects, with Commission guidelines applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

(cc) Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation by or before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the MRD Entities or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the MRD Entities, threatened or contemplated that (i) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein or therein (including the Transactions) or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) Each of the MRD Entities has or will have good and marketable title to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real property and personal property that are material to the conduct of the respective businesses of the MRD Entities, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such liens, encumbrances and defects as (i) are described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (ii) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the MRD Entities and (iii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ee) On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, each of the MRD Entities will possess, such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory

 

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agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for such Governmental Licenses the failure of which to obtain, would not result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; the MRD Entities are and will be in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the Governmental Licenses are and will be valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge of the MRD Entities, none of the MRD Entities has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ff) To the Company’s knowledge, there are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities.

(gg) Each of the MRD Entities has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure so to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such tax, assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith and except for such taxes, assessments, fines or penalties the nonpayment of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the MRD Entities will be insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are reasonably adequate and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged, except for such policies of insurance the failure of which to obtain, would not result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; all policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the MRD Entities or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors will be in full force and effect, except when the failure of such policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the MRD Entities will be in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects.

 

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(ii) On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, no MRD Entity will be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distribution with respect to its equity interests or from repaying any loans or advances to any other MRD Entity, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or arising under the Credit Agreement.

(jj) Each of the MRD Entities (i) are, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) where such non-compliance, violation, liability, or other obligation would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against any of the MRD Entities under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the MRD Entities are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) none of the MRD Entities anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws other than those incurred in the ordinary course of business.

(kk) The MRD Entities own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) that, to their knowledge after due inquiry, are necessary for the operations of the MRD Properties as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to own, possess, license or have other rights in such Intellectual Property would not result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ll) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any MRD Entity, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of any MRD Entity, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and is not so described.

(mm) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the MRD Entities are in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published governmental interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); (ii) no “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043(c) ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) for which any MRD Entities would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply; (iii) no MRD Entity has incurred, nor does any such entity reasonably expect to incur, liability under (a) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (b) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published governmental interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) with respect to any “pension plan”; (iv) each “pension plan” for which any MRD Entity would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is the subject of a favorable determination or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the MRD Entities, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification; and (v) no MRD Entity has incurred any material unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for payment of premiums in the ordinary course of business) for which any MRD Entity could be liable.

(nn) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the MRD Properties have not sustained any loss or interference from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, investigation, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially interfere with or delay the consummation of the Transactions. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case excluding any amendments or supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) or (ii) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by any MRD Entities, in each case other than as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(oo) The Contribution Agreement will be legally sufficient to transfer or convey to the MRD Entities all of the MRD Properties and all other properties that are, individually or in the aggregate, required to enable the MRD Entities to conduct their operations in all material respects as contemplated by the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. Upon execution and delivery of the Contribution Agreement, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the MRD Entities will succeed in all material respects to the business, assets, properties, liabilities and operations reflected by the pro forma financial statements of the Company.

(pp) The information in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Business—Regulation of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry,” “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Matters,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Restructuring Transactions” and “Material Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” in each case to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, summaries of provisions of any instruments or agreements, summaries of legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects. There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, that is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus). The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the franchises, contracts and other documents described and, if applicable, filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such franchises, contracts and documents in all material respects.

(qq) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) promulgated thereunder.

(rr) None of the MRD Entities is now, and immediately following the sale of the Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder and application of the net proceeds from such sale as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” will be an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

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(ss) The MRD Entities (considered as one entity) maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the MRD Entities are aware of any material weaknesses in their internal control over financial reporting.

(tt) The Company has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (to the extent required by and as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); and (i) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, including their respective principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, and (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(uu) None of the MRD Entities has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(vv) No MRD Entity nor, to the knowledge of any of the MRD Entities, any director, officer, agent or employee of any MRD Entity, has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the MRD Entities and, to the knowledge of any of the MRD Entities, their controlled affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

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(ww) The operations of each of the MRD Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the MRD Entities with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of any of the MRD Entities, threatened.

(xx) No MRD Entity nor, to the knowledge of any of the MRD Entities, any director, officer, agent or employee of any MRD Entity, is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the MRD Entities will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(yy) All statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(zz) None of the MRD Entities has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date or any settlement date and completion of the distribution of the Securities, will distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with this Agreement, any other materials, if any, permitted by the Act, including Rule 134, and in connection with the Directed Share Program described herein, the enrollment materials prepared by Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

(aaa) The Securities have been approved to be listed on the NASDAQ subject only to official notice of issuance.

(bbb) To the knowledge of the MRD Entities, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the Company’s officers or directors or the Company’s 5% or greater security holders, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(ccc) After giving effect to the Transactions, Classic Holdings, WildHorse and MRD Operating are the only significant subsidiaries of the Company as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

(ii) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

(a) The Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior to the delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date will have, good and valid title to the Securities, free and clear of all Liens, and has limited liability company power and authority to sell and deliver the Securities in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and, upon payment for the Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, delivery of the Securities, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Securities in the name of Cede or such other nominee by the Company and DTC indicating by book entry on its records that such Securities have been credited to securities accounts maintained by the Underwriters at DTC and payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement, the Underwriter will acquire a security entitlement within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) with respect to such Securities and, under the UCC, an action based on an adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC to such Securities may not be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement. For purposes of this representation, the Selling Stockholder may assume that when such payment, delivery, registration and crediting occur, (A) the Securities will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company’s stock registry in accordance with the Bylaws and applicable law, (B) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, (C) neither of DTC or the Underwriters have “notice of an adverse claim” (as defined in Section 8-105 of the UCC) to the Securities, and (D) appropriate book entries to the accounts of the Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC).

(b) The Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(c) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein, except (i) as may be required under states securities “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) such as will have been obtained on or prior to the Closing Date or any settlement date and (iii) for such consents, approvals,

 

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authorizations or orders as would not adversely affect the Underwriters and as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Selling Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder or materially impair the validity or enforceability hereof.

(d) Neither the sale of the Securities being sold by the Selling Stockholder nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated by the Selling Stockholder or the fulfillment of the terms hereof by the Selling Stockholder will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under (i) any law, (ii) the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Selling Stockholder or (iii) the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or bound, or any judgment, order or decree applicable to the Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Selling Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder or materially impair the validity or enforceability hereof.

(e) The sale of Securities by the Selling Stockholder pursuant hereto is not prompted by any information concerning the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is not set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f) In respect of any statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto used by the Company or any Underwriter, as the case may be, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Selling Stockholder specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof, the Selling Stockholder hereby makes the same representations and warranties (subject to the same provisos) to each Underwriter as the Company makes to such Underwriter under paragraphs (i)(b), (i)(c) and (i)(h) of this Section.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Selling Stockholder, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. Purchase and Sale. (a)

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $17.93125 per share, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

 

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(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Selling Stockholder agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $17.93125 per share, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Selling Stockholder hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 6,420,000 Option Securities at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholder setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The maximum number of Option Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder is 6,420,000. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on June 18, 2014, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company and the Selling Stockholder by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to accounts specified by the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Selling Stockholder will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at

 

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388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Selling Stockholder by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the accounts specified by the Selling Stockholder. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Selling Stockholder will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

The Selling Stockholder will pay all applicable state transfer taxes, if any, involved in the transfer to the several Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them from the Selling Stockholder and the respective Underwriters will pay any additional stock transfer taxes involved in further transfers.

4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Agreements.

(i) The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for

 

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sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement 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 or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement 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 at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free

 

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Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

(f) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as reasonably required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(g) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, provided, however, that (i) the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan, dividend reinvestment plan or other stock plan or arrangement of the Company described in the Prospectus or any amendment to or replacement of such plan and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time, (ii) the Company may file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 and (iii) the Company may offer, issue and sell shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Common Stock in connection with any acquisition or strategic investment (including any joint venture or partnership) as long as (x) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable does not exceed 10% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and (y) each recipient of any such Common Stock issued or issuable agrees to the restrictions on the resale of securities that are consistent with the lock-up letters described in Section 6(l) hereof for the remainder of the 180-day restricted period. The Company will provide the Representatives and any co-managers and each individual subject to the restricted period pursuant to the lock-up letters described in Section 6(l) hereof with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the restricted period.

 

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(h) If Citigroup Global Markets Inc., in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(l) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(i) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(j) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with the FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters (not to exceed $10,000 relating to such filings); (viii) all expenses incident to the “road show” for the offering of the Securities, provided that the Underwriters agree to pay one-half of the cost of any chartered airplane or other transportation in connection therewith; (ix) the cost of any chartered airplane or other transportation in connection with Testing-the-Water Communications, (x) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the

 

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Company and the Selling Stockholder; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their obligations hereunder.

(k) The Company agrees to pay (1) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program, (2) all costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of copies of the Directed Share Program material and (3) all stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

(l) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule III hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(m) The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 5(g) hereof.

(n) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any event occurs as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would include any untrue statement 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 at such time not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

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Furthermore, the Company covenants with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. that the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

The Selling Stockholder agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(o) The Selling Stockholder will execute and deliver to the Underwriters a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement.

(p) The Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(q) The Selling Stockholder will advise you promptly, and if requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, so long as delivery of a prospectus relating to the Securities by an underwriter or dealer may be required under the Act, of any material change in information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto relating to the Selling Stockholder.

(r) The Selling Stockholder represents that it has not prepared or had prepared on its behalf or used or referred to, and agrees that it will not prepare or have prepared on its behalf or use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and has not distributed and will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholder contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and the Selling Stockholder made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

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(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholder, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit C.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) The Representatives shall have received from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

(f) The Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Selling Stockholder, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure

 

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Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement and that the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date to the same effect as if made on the Closing Date.

(g) The Company shall have requested and caused KPMG LLP and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. to have furnished to the Representatives at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, customary comfort letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing (i) in the case of the letter of KPMG LLP, statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) in the case of the letter of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., statements and information of the type ordinarily included in reserve engineers’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the reserve reports described in Section 1(dd) hereof and related reserve information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto and (iii) with regards to such letters dated the Closing Date or any settlement date, to the effect that such firm reaffirms the statements made in the letters furnished on the date of this Agreement, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date or such settlement date. References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (g) include any supplement thereto at the date of the respective letter.

(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (g) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the MRD Entities taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(i) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Representatives such further customary information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(k) The Securities shall have been approved for listing and admitted and authorized for trading on NASDAQ, and reasonably satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.

(l) At the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each of the parties listed on Schedule V hereto and addressed to the Representatives.

(m) The MRD Entities shall have furnished to the Representatives evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives that each of the Transactions shall have occurred, will occur as of the Closing Date or will occur after the Closing Date, as applicable, including the concurrent closing of the new credit facility pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in each case as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus without material modification, change or waiver, except for such material modifications, changes or waivers as have been specifically identified to the Representatives and the effect of which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is so material and adverse as to not make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering and delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(n) The Representatives shall have received from the MRD Entities such additional documents and certificates as the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters may reasonably request.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company and the Selling Stockholder in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

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The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, at 1001 Fannin St., Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002, on the Closing Date.

7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10(i) hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on demand for all expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities. If the Company is required to make any payments to the Underwriters under this Section 7 because of any Selling Stockholder’s refusal, inability or failure to satisfy any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6, the Selling Stockholder pro rata in proportion to the percentage of Securities to be sold by it shall reimburse the Company on demand for all amounts so paid.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

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(b) The Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.

(c) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and the Selling Stockholder, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledge that the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting” or “Plan of Distribution”, (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (iii) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iv) the paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be

 

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reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ one separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

(e) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company, the Selling Stockholder and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, by the Selling Stockholder and by the Underwriters from the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, of the Selling Stockholder and of the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company and by the Selling Stockholder shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by each of them, and benefits received by the

 

33


Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company, the Selling Stockholder on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (e).

(f) The liability of the Selling Stockholder under its representations and warranties contained in Section 1 hereof and under the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 shall be limited to an amount equal to the initial public offering price of the Securities sold by the Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters. The Company and the Selling Stockholder may agree, as among themselves and without limiting the rights of the Underwriters under this Agreement, as to the respective amounts of such liability for which they each shall be responsible.

9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without

 

34


liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter, the Selling Stockholder or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company, the Selling Stockholder and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company and the Selling Stockholder prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or NASDAQ, (ii) trading in securities generally on NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States has occurred or, (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers, of the Selling Stockholder and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Selling Stockholder or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel and Barclays Capital Inc. at 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration (facsimile: 646-834-8133); or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to 1301 McKinney St, Suite 2100, Houston, Texas 77010, attn: Kyle Roane (fax no.: (713) 588-8301), with a copy to 5221 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1100, Irving, Texas 75039, attn: Christopher Ray (fax no.: (972) 432-1441) or if sent to the Selling Stockholder, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to it at the address set forth in Schedule II hereto.

 

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13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

14. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company or the Selling Stockholder and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company and the Selling Stockholder agree that they are solely responsible for making their own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Selling Stockholder on related or other matters). The Company and the Selling Stockholder agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or any of the Selling Stockholder, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

15. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

19. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

20. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

36


“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City or Houston, Texas.

“Bylaws” shall mean the Company’s amended and restated bylaws.

“Charter” shall mean the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Securities, the price to the public, the number of Underwritten Securities and Option Securities to be included on the cover page of the Prospectus, (ii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, and (iii) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(i)(a) above and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information.

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time.

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

 

37


“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430A” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.

“Rule 430A Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.”

 

38


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
Memorial Resource Development Corp.
By:  

/s/ John A. Weinzierl

  Name:   John A. Weinzierl
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
MRD Holdco LLC
By:  

/s/ John A. Weinzierl

  Name:   John A. Weinzierl
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

39


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:  

/s/ James Jackson

  Name:   James Jackson
Barclays Capital Inc.
By:   Barclays Capital Inc.
By:  

/s/ William Byers

  Name:   William Byers
For themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement.

 

40


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Number of Underwritten Securities to
be Purchased
 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     9,844,000   

Barclays Capital Inc.

     7,276,000   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                 Incorporated

     3,424,000   

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     3,424,000   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     3,424,000   

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     3,424,000   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     3,424,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     3,424,000   

Simmons & Company International

     856,000   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     530,720   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     530,720   

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     530,720   

Stephens Inc.

     530,720   

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

     530,720   

UBS Securities LLC

     530,720   

Wunderlich Securities, Inc.

     530,720   

Comerica Securities, Inc.

     282,480   

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

     282,480   
  

 

 

 

Total

     42,800,000   


SCHEDULE II

 

Selling Stockholder

   Number of
Underwritten
Securities to be Sold
     Maximum Number of
Option Securities
to be Sold
 

MRD Holdco LLC

1301 McKinney, Suite 2100

Houston, Texas 77010

(713) 588-8300

     21,300,000         6,420,000   


SCHEDULE III

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus dated June 12, 2014, filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act.


SCHEDULE IV

Schedule of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication

Memorial Resource Development Corp. Introductory Meeting presentation materials, May 2014.


SCHEDULE V

Parties to Lock-Up Agreements

Tony R. Weber

John A. Weinzierl

William J. Scarff

Kyle N. Roane

Dennis G. Venghaus

Andrew J. Cozby

Larry R. Forney

Gregory M. Robbins

Scott A. Gieselman

Kenneth A. Hersh

Anthony Bahr

Jay Graham

Carol L. O’Neill

Robert A. Innamorati

Pat Wood, III

Terence Lynch

Paul Eschete

Joseph Wyszynski

Gary Smith

Steve Habachy

Steven Eckerman

Heath Sumrow

William Hebert


Luis Mier

Marcus Spillson

Michael Munsey

John Nabors

Tyler Fenley

Herbert Cole

MRD Holdco LLC

WHR Incentive LLC

 

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SCHEDULE VI

List of Subsidiaries of Memorial Resource Development Corp.

 

Name of Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of Organization

MRD Operating LLC    Delaware
WildHorse Resources, LLC    Delaware
Memorial Production Partners GP LLC    Delaware
Memorial Resource Finance Corp.    Delaware
Beta Operating Company, LLC    Delaware
Classic Hydrocarbons Holdings, L.P.    Texas
Classic Hydrocarbons GP Co., L.L.C.    Texas
Classic Operating Co. LLC    Delaware
Classic Hydrocarbons, Inc.    Delaware
Classic Hydrocarbons Operating, LLC    Delaware
Craton Energy GP III, LLC    Texas
Craton Energy Holdings III, LP    Texas
Memorial Production Partners LP    Delaware
Memorial Production Operating LLC    Delaware
Memorial Production Finance Corporation    Delaware
Memorial Midstream LLC    Texas
Memorial Energy Services LLC    Delaware
Columbus Energy, LLC    Delaware
Prospect Energy, LLC    Colorado
WHT Energy Partners LLC    Delaware
WHT Carthage LLC    Delaware
Rise Energy Operating, LLC    Delaware
Rise Energy Minerals, LLC    Delaware
Rise Energy Beta, LLC    Delaware
San Pedro Bay Pipeline Company    California

 

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[Form of Lock-Up Agreement]

   EXHIBIT A

[MRDC Letterhead]

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

Public Offering of Common Stock

June 12, 2014

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between Memorial Resource Development Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Memorial Resource Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and each of you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an underwritten public offering of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Offering”).

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period from the date hereof until 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period).

 

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The foregoing paragraph shall not apply to (a) bona fide gifts, sales or other dispositions of shares of any class of the Company’s capital stock, in each case that are made exclusively between and among the undersigned or members of the undersigned’s family, or affiliates of the undersigned, including its partners (if a partnership) or members (if a limited liability company); provided that it shall be a condition to any transfer pursuant to this clause (a) that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto for the remaining Lock-Up Period; and (ii) each party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer or disposition prior to the expiration of the 180-day period referred to above, (b) the exercise of warrants or the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option/incentive plans or otherwise outstanding on the date hereof; provided, that the restrictions shall apply to shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise or conversion and (c) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 (a “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock, shall be made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as the same may be extended pursuant to the provisions hereof); provided further, that the Company is not required to report the establishment of such Rule 10b5-1 Plan in any public report or filing with the Commission under the Exchange Act during the lock-up period and does not otherwise voluntarily effect any such public filing or report regarding such Rule 10b5-1 Plan.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

It is understood that, if either the Company or the Underwriters notifies the other that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, if the Underwriting

 

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Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Stock, the undersigned will be released from its obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

 

Yours very truly,
[]

 

6


[Form of Press Release]      EXHIBIT B   

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

[Date]

Memorial Resource Development Corp. (the “Company”) announced today that Citigroup Global Markets Inc., the lead book-running manager in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to                  shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on             ,      20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


[Letterhead of CGMI]

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

Public Offering of Common Stock

            , 20    

[Name and Address of

Officer or Director

Requesting Waiver]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Memorial Resource Development Corp. (the “Company”) of                  shares of common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated             , 20     (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated             , 20    , with respect to                  shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. hereby agrees to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective             , 20    ; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Yours very truly,
[Signature of CGMI Representative]
[Name and title of CGMI Representative]

cc: Company


Exhibit C

 

1.   (a)   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

  (b) Each Subsidiary is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware or, in the case of Classic Hydrocarbons GP, Classic Hydrocarbons Holdings, Classic Pipeline, Craton GP and Craton Holdings, has the right to transact business in the State of Texas under the laws of the State of Texas.

 

  (c) The Selling Stockholder has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

2.   (a)   The Company is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each foreign qualification jurisdiction so identified on Exhibit F hereto.

 

  (b) Each Subsidiary (other than Classic Hydrocarbons GP, Classic Hydrocarbons Holdings, Classic Pipeline, Craton GP and Craton Holdings) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, in, and is in good standing under the laws of or (as to the State of Texas) has the right to transact business in, each foreign qualification jurisdiction so identified on Exhibit F attached hereto.

 

  (c) The Selling Stockholder is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in, and is in good standing under the laws of or (as to the State of Texas) has the right to transact business in, each jurisdiction (other than the State of Delaware) so identified on Exhibit F hereto.

 

3.   (a)   The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business, in each case in all material respects, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority necessary to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Company Shares in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its respective obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company.

 

  (b) Each Subsidiary has all requisite entity power and authority to own its respective properties and conduct its business, in each case in all material respects, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

2


  (c) The Selling Stockholder has all requisite entity power and authority necessary to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement. The Selling Stockholder has all requisite entity power and authority to sell and deliver the Selling Stockholder Shares in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Selling Stockholder and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its respective obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of the Selling Stockholder.

 

4.   (a)   The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

  (b) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder.

 

5. Each MRD Entity that is party to a Transaction Document has the entity power and authority necessary to execute and deliver each Transaction Document to which it is a party and perform its obligations under such Transaction Document. Each Transaction Document has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each MRD Entity party thereto. Each Transaction Document (other than any Delaware Transaction Document) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each MRD Entity party thereto, enforceable against such MRD Entity in accordance with its terms.

 

6.   (a)   The Company Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will not have been issued in violation of any preemptive rights under the Company Constitutive Documents, the DGCL or any Material Agreement.

 

  (b) The Selling Stockholder Shares to be sold to the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

7. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 192,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

8. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership and owns of record an approximate [0.1]% general partner interest in the Partnership, free and clear of all Liens (i) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the General Partner as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (ii) otherwise known to us, in the case of (i) or (ii), other than those Liens that are (A) created under the Delaware LLC Act, (B) created in connection with the Partnership’s credit agreement, (C) created by the Constitutive Documents of the Partnership, or (D) disclosed in the Pre-Pricing Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.

 

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9. The General Partner owns of record 50% of the Incentive Distribution Rights in the Partnership (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), and the limited partner interests represented thereby, in the Partnership, free and clear of all Liens (i) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the General Partner as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (ii) otherwise known to us, in the case of (i) or (ii), other than those Liens that are (A) created under the Delaware LLC Act, (B) created in connection with the Partnership’s credit agreement, (C) created by the Constitutive Documents of the Partnership, or (D) disclosed in the Pre-Pricing Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus. Such Incentive Distribution Rights, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303(a), 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

 

10. With respect to each of the Subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit H attached hereto, each of the Owning Entities specified on Exhibit H with respect to such Subsidiary owns of record the respective equity interests of such Subsidiary as set forth as owned by such Owning Entity on Exhibit H attached hereto, free and clear of all Liens (i) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware (in the case of each Owning Entity other than Classic GP and Craton GP) or the State of Texas (in the case of an Owning Entity that is Classic GP or Craton GP) naming such Owning Entity as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (in the case of each Owning Entity other than Classic GP and Craton GP) or the State of Texas (in the case of an Owning Entity that is Classic GP or Craton GP) naming such Owning Entity or (ii) otherwise known to us, in the case of (i) or (ii), other than those Liens that are (A) created under the DGCL, Delaware LLC Act, Delaware LP Act or Texas Business Organizations Code, as applicable, (B) created in connection with the Company Credit Agreement, (C) created by the Constitutive Documents of such Subsidiary, or (D) disclosed in the Pre-Pricing Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus. Such equity interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the applicable Subsidiary Constitutive Documents and are fully paid (to the extent required under such applicable Subsidiary Constitutive Documents) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, Sections 17-303(a), 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act, or Sections 101.206 and 101.613 of the Texas Business Organizations Code, as applicable).

 

11.

Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to

 

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  purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity interests in the Company pursuant to the Company Constitutive Documents, any other Material Agreement or any law, rule or regulation of any Included Law, other than those restrictions upon the transfer of equity interests created in connection with the Company Credit Agreement. None of the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement gives rise under the Company Constitutive Documents or any Material Agreement to any rights for inclusion in the Registration Statement of any Shares or other securities of the Company, other than those that have been waived or are described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

12. The Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act on June [    ], 2014. To our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission. The filings of the Pre-Pricing Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) (without reference to Rule 424(b)(8)) under the Securities Act were made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule.

 

13. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification (“Consent”) of or with any court or governmental agency or body under the Included Laws is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Company of the Company Shares or the execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company, (ii) the offering or sale by the Selling Stockholder of the Selling Stockholder Shares or the execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the Selling Stockholder or (iii) execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the MRD Entities party thereto, other than, in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii), (a) such Consents required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, (b) such Consents that have been obtained or made and (c) Consents with respect to the Commission required in the performance by the Company or the Selling Stockholders of its respective obligations under Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

14.

None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale of the Company Shares by the Company, (ii) the offering or sale of the Selling Stockholder Shares by the Selling Stockholder, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company or the Selling Stockholder or (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the MRD Entities party thereto or the consummation of the Transactions by the MRD Entities, conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under, or results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the MRD Entities (other than those Liens created in connection with the Company Credit Agreement) pursuant to, (a) any Constitutive Document, (b) any Material Agreement, (c) any law, rule or regulation of the Included Laws or (d) any order,

 

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  judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body known to us directed to any of the MRD Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party; provided, however, that no opinion is expressed pursuant to this paragraph 14 with respect to federal securities laws and other anti-fraud laws.

 

15. The Company is not, and after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

16. The statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Matters,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Restructuring Transactions” and “Material Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to summarize any agreement, statute or regulation, are accurate summaries in all material respects; and the Shares conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Pre-Pricing Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

17. Each Delaware Transaction Document constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each MRD Entity party thereto, enforceable against such MRD Entity in accordance with the Included Laws of the State of Delaware.

 

18. Upon (i) delivery to and receipt by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) of the Selling Stockholder Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters under the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) payment by the Underwriters of the purchase price for such Selling Stockholder Firm Shares specified in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and (iii) indication by DTC in its records by book entry that such Selling Stockholder Firm Shares have been credited solely to a securities account of the Underwriters at DTC, (x) DTC will acquire all rights the Selling Stockholder had or had power to transfer in such Selling Stockholder Shares and will be a protected purchaser thereof to the extent DTC’s rights are governed by Article 8 of the UCC (as defined below), and (y) the Underwriters will have acquired a valid security entitlement thereto and, to the extent governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, an action based on an adverse claim thereto may not be asserted against the Underwriters, assuming that DTC has no notice of an adverse claim to such Selling Stockholder Shares and the Underwriters have no notice of an adverse claim to such security entitlement.

 

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EX-3.1 3 d742119dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Memorial Resource Development Corp. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Original Certificate of Incorporation”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 31, 2014.

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and amends the Original Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by the officers of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL. References to “this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation” herein refer to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

3. The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1.1 Name. The name of the Corporation is Memorial Resource Development Corp.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED AGENT

Section 2.1 Registered Agent. The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 615 South DuPont Highway in the City of Dover, County of Kent, postal code 19901, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is National Corporate Research, Ltd.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

Section 3.1 Purpose. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.


ARTICLE IV

CAPITALIZATION

Section 4.1 Number of Shares. The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 650,000,000 shares of stock, classified as (i) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), and (ii) 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”).

Section 4.2 Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock.

(a) The Board is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed and filed pursuant to applicable law (a “Preferred Stock Designation”).

(b) Subject to any limitations prescribed by law, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, and with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state the designation and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) whether or not the series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

(ii) the number of shares to constitute the series and the designations thereof;

(iii) the preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any series;

(iv) whether or not the shares of any series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

(v) whether or not the shares of a series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

(vi) the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

 

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(vii) the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

(viii) whether or not the shares of any series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

(ix) such other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any series as may to the Board seem advisable.

(c) The shares of each series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects.

Section 4.3 Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

(a) Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any series thereof. Except as may otherwise be required by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all questions presented to the stockholders and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) 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 as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation).

(c) Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

(d) The number of authorized shares of 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 outstanding shares of 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 either Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

 

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ARTICLE V

DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 Term and Classes.

(a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

(b) Until the first date on which MRD Holdco LLC, Natural Gas Partners VIII, L.P., Natural Gas Partners IX, L.P., NGP IX Offshore Holdings, L.P. and any other fund, now or in the future, under common control with, or managed by the same management company (or its successor) as, any of the foregoing (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) and their respective Affiliates (as such term is defined in Section 10.2) no longer collectively beneficially own (or otherwise have the right to vote or direct the vote of) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Trigger Date”), the directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, shall consist of a single class, with the initial term of office to expire at the 2015 annual meeting, and each director shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

(c) On and after the Trigger Date, the directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, serving staggered three-year terms, with the initial term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Trigger Date, the initial term of office of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Trigger Date and the initial term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Trigger Date, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal, and the Board shall be authorized to assign members of the Board, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, to such classes at the time such classification becomes effective. At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Trigger Date, directors elected to succeed those directors

 

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whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Section 5.2 Vacancies. Subject to applicable law and the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the then-applicable terms of the Voting Agreement to be entered into among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders on or about June 18, 2014 (the “Voting Agreement”), any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 5.3 Removal.

(a) Until the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation thereunder) and the then-applicable terms of the Voting Agreement, any director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class and acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted) in accordance with the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation.

(b) On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation thereunder) and the then-applicable terms of the Voting Agreement, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class and acting at a meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation.

Section 5.4 Number. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified 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 Whole Board. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. For purposes of this Amended

 

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and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

Section 6.1 Written Consents.

(a) Prior to the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

(b) On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS

Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board; provided, however, that prior to the Trigger Date, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The authorized person(s) calling a special meeting may fix the time and place, if any, of such special meeting. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call or request a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII

BYLAWS

Section 8.1 Bylaws. In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. A Stockholder shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation (i) prior to the Trigger Date, except by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 50% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, or (ii) on and after the Trigger Date, except by the

 

6


affirmative vote of holders of not less than 66 23% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

Section 9.1 Limitation of Director Liability. No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it now exists. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the DGCL hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article IX shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

Section 10.1 Corporate Opportunities. Members of the NGP Group (defined below) own and will own substantial equity interests in other entities (existing and future) that participate in the energy industry (“NGP Portfolio Companies”) and may enter into advisory service agreements and other agreements from time to time with those NGP Portfolio Companies. Certain members of the Board may also serve as employees, partners, officers or directors of members of the NGP Group and, at any given time, members of the NGP Group may be in direct or indirect competition with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. The Corporation waives, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the application of the doctrine of corporate opportunity (or any analogous doctrine) with respect to the Corporation, to the NGP Group or any directors or officers of the Corporation who are also employees, partners, members, managers, officers or directors of any of the NGP Group. As a result of such waiver, no member of the NGP Group, nor any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the NGP Group, shall have any obligation to refrain from: (i) engaging in or managing the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or developing or marketing any products or services that compete (directly or indirectly) with those of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) investing in or owning any (public or private) interest in any Person engaged in the same or similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (including any member of the NGP Group, a “Competing Person”); (iii) developing a business relationship with any Competing Person; or (iv) entering into any agreement to provide any service(s) to any Competing Person or acting as an officer, director, member, manager or advisor to, or other principal of, any Competing Person, regardless (in the case of each of (i) – (iv)) whether such activities are in direct or indirect competition with the business or activities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (the activities described in (i) – (iv) are referred to herein as “Specified Activities”). To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces (for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries) any interest or

 

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expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Specified Activity that may be presented to or become known to any member of the NGP Group or any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the NGP Group.

Section 10.2 Definitions. For purposes of this Article X, the following terms have the following definitions:

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, and with respect to any NGP Group member, an “Affiliate” shall include (i) any Person who is the direct or indirect ultimate holder of Equity Securities (as such term is described in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of such NGP Group member, and (ii) any investment fund, alternative investment vehicle, special purpose vehicle or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed, advised or controlled by such NGP Group member.

NGP Group” means the Funds, MRD Holdco LLC, Affiliates of any of the Funds, Memorial Resource Development LLC and/or MRD Holdco LLC other than the Corporation; and all NGP Portfolio Companies.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, firm, association, or other entity.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring 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 X.

ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Section 11.1 Amendments.

(a) The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, from time to time, to amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), on and after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 23% in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, that the amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 4.1 shall only require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE XII

FORUM SELECTION

Section 12.1 Exclusive 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 applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding 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, its directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporation’s bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine except as to each of (i) through (iv) above, 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 within ten days following such determination), 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. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

If any provision or provisions of this Article XII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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Section 12.2 Stockholder Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 10th day of June, 2014.

 

MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
By:  

/s/ John A. Weinzierl

Name:   John A. Weinzierl
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

EX-3.2 4 d742119dex32.htm EX-3.2 EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

Date of Adoption: June 10, 2014

 

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES AND RECORDS

SECTION 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of Memorial Resource Development Corp. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) in the manner provided by applicable law.

SECTION 1.2. Other Offices. The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

SECTION 1.3. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 2.1. Annual Meeting. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, either within or outside of the State of Delaware, and time as may be fixed by resolution of the Board. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

SECTION 2.2. Special Meeting. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board; providedhowever, that prior to the first date on which MRD Holdco LLC, Natural Gas Partners VIII L.P., Natural Gas Partners IX, L.P. and NGP IX Offshore Holdings, L.P. (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) and their respective affiliates (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) no longer collectively beneficially own (or otherwise have the right to vote or direct the vote of) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) (the “Trigger Date”), special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. For purposes of these Bylaws, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The authorized person(s) calling a special meeting may fix the time and place, if any, of such meeting. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call or request a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.


SECTION 2.3. Record Date.

(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 date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, not be more than 60 nor less than ten 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 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 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.

SECTION 2.4. Stockholder List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected 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 required by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.5. Place of Meeting. The Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, as the case may be, may designate the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders. If no designation is so made, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

 

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SECTION 2.6. Notice of Meeting. Written notice, stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, shall be given not less than ten days nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), (ii) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (iii) 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, and (iv) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called. If the stockholder list referred to in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice in accordance with the DGCL. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by applicable law. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting.

SECTION 2.7. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings.

(A) Except as otherwise required by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting (the “Voting Stock”), represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. The chairman of the meeting or the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

(B) 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; provided, however, that 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. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

SECTION 2.8. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner prescribed by the DGCL) by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 2.9. 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 at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws 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 these Bylaws as to such business or nomination; Section 2.9(A)(2) of these Bylaws shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

(2) For any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.9(A)(2) of these Bylaws, (a) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL and (c) the record stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation 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 (which anniversary, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the close of the Corporation’s initial public offering, shall be deemed to be May 1, 2015; providedhowever, that subject to the following sentence, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 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 any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section 2.9(A)(2) or Section 2.9(B)) to the Secretary of the Corporation must:

(a) set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such stockholder’s Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 2.9(C)(2)), if any, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (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, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”), directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person and 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, (C) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (for purposes of these Bylaws 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), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or

 

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Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person 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 such stockholder’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, if any, not later than ten days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date; provided, that if such date is after the date of the meeting, not later than the day prior to the meeting), (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, 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 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, (iv) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation 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 (v) a representation as to whether or not such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will (vi) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’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 Corporation’s outstanding stock reasonably believed by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees (such representation a “Solicitation Statement”). If requested by the Corporation, the information required under clauses (a)(i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence of this Section 2.9(A)(2)(a) shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any such Stockholder Associated Person not later than ten days after the record date for notice of the meeting to disclose such information as of such record date;

(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, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in such business and (ii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and any other person(s) or entity or entities (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 (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 proxy statement as a nominee 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 any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his 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 Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, 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

 

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(d) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement in a form provided by the Corporation. 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 an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 2.9(A)(2) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board 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 10 days before the last day a record stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the second sentence of Section 2.9(A)(2), a stockholder’s notice required by these Bylaws shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders.

Following the Trigger Date, only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board. 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 a notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof (or stockholders pursuant to Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.2 of these Bylaws prior to the Trigger Date) or (b) provided, that the Board (or stockholders pursuant to Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.2 of these Bylaws prior to the Trigger Date) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws. The proposal by stockholders of other business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only in accordance with Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation prior to the Trigger Date. In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder 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 delivers notice with the information required by Section 2.9(A)(2) of these Bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9(A)(2) of these Bylaws). Such notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 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 for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C) General.

(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty 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 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

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(2) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press, or any other national news service or 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 and “Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean for any stockholder (i) any person or entity controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, or (iii) any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with any person or entity referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii).

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; providedhowever, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 2.9(A) or Section 2.9(B) of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) if and to the extent provided for under applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

(4) The Corporation may require any proposed stockholder nominee for director to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 2.9 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.9, 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.

SECTION 2.10. Conduct of Business. 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 person presiding over 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 person presiding over any meeting of stockholders 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 presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding person 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 presiding person 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. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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SECTION 2.11. Required Vote. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, at any meeting at which directors are to be elected, so long as a quorum is present, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes validly cast in such election. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors and certain non-binding advisory votes described below, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders. In non-binding advisory matters with more than two possible vote choices, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the recommendation of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.12. Treasury Stock. The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock belonging to it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation, and such shares will not be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or such other corporation, to vote stock of the Corporation held in a fiduciary capacity.

SECTION 2.13. Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls. The Corporation may, and when required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders and the appointment of an inspector is required by applicable law, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law.

SECTION 2.14. Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Prior to the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 3.1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board elected in accordance with these Bylaws. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

SECTION 3.2. Number, Tenure and Qualifications. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. The election and term of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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SECTION 3.3. Regular Meetings. Subject to Section 3.5, regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 3.4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the Board then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix the place, if any, date and time of the meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.

SECTION 3.5. Notice. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail, courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission or orally by telephone. If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five days before such meeting. If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by facsimile or electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the time set for the meeting and shall be confirmed by facsimile or electronic transmission that is sent promptly thereafter. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Section 8.1.

SECTION 3.6. Action by Consent of Board. 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 committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, including by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 3.7. Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 3.8. Quorum. A whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice unless (i) the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 3.5 of these Bylaws shall be given to each director, or (ii) the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (i) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 3.9. Vacancies. Subject to applicable law and the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

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SECTION 3.10. Removal. Until the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder), any director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder), any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

SECTION 3.11. Records. The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registers and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.

SECTION 3.12. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.

SECTION 3.13. Regulations. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

SECTION 3.14. Board Observers. To the extent provided by the Voting Agreement to be entered into among the Corporation, MRD Holdco LLC and the other parties thereto on or about June 18, 2014 (the “Voting Agreement”), and to the fullest extent permitted by law, certain parties to such agreement shall have the right to designate an individual who may attend (in a non-voting observer capacity) each meeting of the Board. The Board and the Corporation shall comply with the Voting Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

SECTION 4.1. Designation; Powers. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the 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 which may require it.

SECTION 4.2. Procedure; Meetings; Quorum. Any committee designated pursuant to Section 4.1 shall choose its own chairman by a majority vote of the members then in attendance in the event the chairman has not been selected by the Board, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by the charter of such committee or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution. The Board shall adopt a charter for each committee for which a charter is required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, may adopt a charter for any other committee, and may adopt other rules and regulations for the governance of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws or any such charter, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of governance, to the extent not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any charter or other rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

 

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SECTION 4.3. Substitution of Members. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 5.1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article V. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board or by any committee thereof or, with respect to any Senior Vice President, Vice President, Treasurer or Secretary, by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President may appoint, such other officers (including a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee thereof or by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 5.2. Election and Term of Office. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or, except in the case of an officer elected by the Board, by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

SECTION 5.3. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board. He shall make reports to the Board, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chairman of the Board may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board.

SECTION 5.4. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation.

SECTION 5.5. President. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, have general management and control of the day-to-day business operations of the Corporation and shall consult with and report to the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall put into operation the business policies of the Corporation as determined by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board and as communicated to the President by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.

 

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SECTION 5.6. Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. Each Senior Vice President and Vice President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board or the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.

SECTION 5.7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed upon him from time to time by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

SECTION 5.8. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by applicable law; he shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

SECTION 5.9. Vacancies. A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board. Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

SECTION 5.10. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any officer authorized by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers that the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

SECTION 5.11. Delegation. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers and duties of any officer to any other officer or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

SECTION 6.1. Stock Certificates and Transfers. The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated shares. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third-party registrar or transfer agent, by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, at which time the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto (if the stock is then represented by certificates), cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

 

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Each certificated share of stock shall be signed, countersigned and registered in the manner required by law. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

SECTION 6.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.

SECTION 6.3. Ownership of Shares. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, 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, except as otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 6.4. Regulations Regarding Certificates. The Board shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation. The Corporation may enter into additional agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 7.1. 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 7.2. Dividends. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of stock, which dividends may be paid in either cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director 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, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

SECTION 7.3. Seal. If the Board determines that the Corporation shall have a corporate seal, the corporate seal shall have enscribed thereon the words “Corporate Seal,” the year of incorporation, and the words “Memorial Resource Development Corp. — Delaware.”

SECTION 7.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, including by electronic transmission, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting 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.

 

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SECTION 7.5. Resignations. Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice, including by electronic transmission, of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

SECTION 7.6. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

(A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or 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, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (a “Covered Person”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding.

(B) The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter, a “final adjudication”) that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.6 or otherwise.

(C) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

(D) If a claim for indemnification under this Section 7.6 (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 is not paid in full within thirty days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim, or a claim brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses prior to the terms of an undertaking, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law. In (i) any suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in 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 Covered Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its

 

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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 Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Covered Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Covered Person, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Covered Person 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 Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article 7.6 or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

(E) The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section 7.6 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(F) This Section 7.6 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

(G) Any Covered Person entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, in each case pursuant to this Section 7.6, may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and/or insurance provided by one or more persons with whom or which such Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Fund). The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6, (ii) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all such obligations and any indemnification afforded to a Covered Person in respect of a proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6, whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any persons with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Fund) to indemnify such Covered Person and/or advance expenses or liabilities to such Covered Person in respect of any proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (iv) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify each Covered Person and advance expenses to each Covered Person hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights such Covered Person may have against any other person with whom or which such Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Fund) or insurer of any such person, and (v) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other person with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Fund) from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Corporation hereunder.

SECTION 7.7. Facsimile and Electronic Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or President.

SECTION 7.8. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws that require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

SECTION 7.9. Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the 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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SECTION 7.10. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes.

(A) Exclusive 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 applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding 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, its directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine except as to each of (i) through (iv) above, 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 within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

(B) To the fullest extent permitted by law, if any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 7.10(A) above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 7.10(A) above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 8.1. Amendments. In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. Stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation (i) prior to the Trigger Date, except by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 50% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, or (ii) on and after the Trigger Date, except by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. No Bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken. So long as the Voting Agreement remains in effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 3.14 of these Bylaws, or the adoption of any new Bylaw, that would be contrary to or inconsistent with Article 4 of the Voting Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no amendment to the Voting Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision to the Voting Agreement to which these Bylaws are subject) shall be deemed an amendment of these Bylaws for purposes of this Section 8.1, and (ii) no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these Bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director, officer or employee thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

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EX-10.1 5 d742119dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.

2014 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                Page  

1.

  Purpose      1   

2.

  Definitions      1   

3.

  Administration      5   
  (a)      Authority of the Committee      5   
  (b)      Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority      6   
  (c)      Limitation of Liability      7   

4.

  Stock Subject to Plan      7   
  (a)      Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery      7   
  (b)      Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards      7   
  (c)      Availability of Shares Not Issued under Awards      7   
  (d)      Stock Offered      7   

5.

  Eligibility; Per Person Award Limitations      8   

6.

  Specific Terms of Awards      8   
  (a)      General      8   
  (b)      Options      8   
  (c)      Stock Appreciation Rights      9   
  (d)      Restricted Stock      10   
  (e)      Restricted Stock Units      11   
  (f)      Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations      12   
  (g)      Dividend Equivalents      12   
  (h)      Other Awards      12   

7.

  Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards      12   
  (a)      Termination of Employment      12   
  (b)      Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards      12   
  (c)      Term of Awards      13   
  (d)      Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals      13   
  (e)      Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability      13   
  (f)      Non-Competition Agreement      14   

8.

  Performance and Annual Incentive Awards      14   
  (a)      Performance Conditions      14   
  (b)      Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees      14   
  (c)      Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees      16   
  (d)      Written Determinations      17   
  (e)      Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code      17   

9.

  Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization      18   
  (a)      Existence of Plans and Awards      18   
  (b)      Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares      18   

 

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  (c)      Corporate Recapitalization      19   
  (d)      Additional Issuances      19   
  (e)      Change in Control      19   
  (f)      Change in Control Price      20   
  (g)      Impact of Corporate Events on Awards Generally      20   

10.

  General Provisions      21   
  (a)      Transferability      21   
  (b)      Taxes      22   
  (c)      Changes to this Plan and Awards      22   
  (d)      Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan      23   
  (e)      Unfunded Status of Awards      23   
  (f)      Nonexclusivity of this Plan      23   
  (g)      Fractional Shares      23   
  (h)      Severability      23   
  (i)      Governing Law      24   
  (j)      Conditions to Delivery of Stock      24   
  (k)      Section 409A of the Code      24   
  (l)      Plan Effective Date and Term      24   

 

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MEMORIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.

2014 Long Term Incentive Plan

1. Purpose. The purpose of the Memorial Resource Development Corp. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide a means through which Memorial Resource Development Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries may attract and retain able persons as employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to provide a means whereby those persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Subsidiaries rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the welfare of the Company and its Subsidiaries are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership, or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their desire to remain employed. A further purpose of this Plan is to provide such employees, directors and consultants with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable growth of the Company. Accordingly, this Plan primarily provides for the granting of Incentive Stock Options, options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Dividend Equivalents, Bonus Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards, Annual Incentive Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as is best suited to the circumstances of the particular individual as provided herein.

2. Definitions. For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof:

(a) “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, after the end of a specified year.

(b) “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Bonus Stock, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under this Plan.

(c) “Beneficiary” means one or more persons, trusts or other entities which have been designated by a Participant, in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee, to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(a) hereof. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the persons, trusts or other entities entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

(d) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(e) “Bonus Stock” means Stock granted as a bonus pursuant to Section 6(f).


(f) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the state of Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(g) “Change in Control” means, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) The consummation of an agreement to acquire or a tender offer for beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act by any Person, of 50% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of Stock (the “Outstanding Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company, (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below or (E) any transfer of voting power relating to the Outstanding Company Voting Securities to any entity or entities controlled by or under common control with NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C;

(ii) Individuals who constitute the Incumbent Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;

(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another entity (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) the Outstanding Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities which represent or are convertible into more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any entity controlled by or under common control with NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C.) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body of such entity to the extent that such ownership results solely from ownership of the Company that existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or similar governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Award that provides for a deferral of compensation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and with respect to which a Change in Control would accelerate vesting, “Change in Control” shall mean an event that qualifies both as a “Change in Control” as defined in this Section 2(g) as well as a “change of control event” as defined in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

(i) “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer this Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more directors, each of whom shall be a Qualified Member (except to the extent administration of this Plan by “outside directors” is not then required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under section 162(m) of the Code).

(j) “Control” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and the policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

(k) “Covered Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 8(e) of this Plan.

(l) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g), to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

(m) “Effective Date” means June 11, 2014.

(n) “Eligible Person” means all officers and employees of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and all directors of the Company. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility for participation in this Plan.

(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(p) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any specified date, (i) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date (or if no sales occur on that date, on the last preceding date on which such sales of the Stock are so reported); (ii) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter at the time a determination of its fair market value is required to be made under the Plan, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded; (iii) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to

 

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be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate including, without limitation, the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules; or (iv) on the date of a Qualifying Public Offering of Stock, the offering price under such Qualifying Public Offering.

(q) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(r) “Incumbent Board” means the portion of the Board constituted of the individuals who are members of the Board as of the Effective Date and any other individual who becomes a director of the Company after the Effective Date and whose election or appointment by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board.

(s) “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules” means the limitations or requirements of section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(t) “Option” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.

(u) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(h) hereof.

(v) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under this Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

(w) “Performance Award” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

(x) “Person” means any person or entity of any nature whatsoever, specifically including an individual, a firm, a company, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust or other entity; a Person, together with that Person’s Affiliates and Associates (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, provided that “registrant” as used in Rule 12b-2 shall mean the Company), and any Persons acting as a partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate or other group (whether or not formally organized), or otherwise acting jointly or in concert or in a coordinated or consciously parallel manner (whether or not pursuant to any express agreement), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities of the Company with such Person, shall be deemed a single “Person.”

 

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(y) “Qualifying Public Offering” means a firm commitment underwritten public offering of Stock for cash where the shares of Stock registered under the Securities Act are listed on a national securities exchange.

(z) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an “outside director” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.162-27 under section 162(m) of the Code.

(aa) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

(bb) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period.

(cc) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 16 of the Exchange Act, as from time to time in effect and applicable to this Plan and Participants.

(dd) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor law, as it may be amended from time to time.

(ee) “Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 9.

(ff) “Stock Appreciation Rights” or “SAR” means a right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c) hereof.

(gg) “Subsidiary” means with respect to the Company, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (including without limitation any limited partnership the general partner of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company).

3. Administration.

(a) Authority of the Committee. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer this Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.” Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and Rule 16b-3, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to (i) adopt, amend, and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (ii) determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; (iii) determine the amount of cash and/or the number of shares of Stock, as applicable Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Dividend Equivalents, Bonus Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards, Annual Incentive Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination thereof, that shall be the subject of each Award; (iv) determine the terms and provisions of each Award agreement (which need not be identical), including provisions defining or otherwise relating to (A) the term and the period or

 

5


periods and extent of exercisability of the Options, (B) the extent to which the transferability of shares of Stock issued or transferred pursuant to any Award is restricted, (C) except as otherwise provided herein, the effect of termination of employment, or the service relationship with the Company, of a Participant on the Award, and (D) the effect of approved leaves of absence (consistent with any applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service); (v) accelerate the time of vesting or exercisability of any Award that has been granted; (vi) construe the respective Award agreements and the Plan; (vii) make determinations of the Fair Market Value of the Stock pursuant to the Plan; (viii) delegate its duties under the Plan (including, but not limited to, the authority to grant Awards) to such agents as it may appoint from time to time, provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state corporate law, or with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or who are Covered Employees receiving Awards that are intended to constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code; (ix) subject to Section 10(c), terminate, modify or amend the Plan; and (x) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering the Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate. Subject to Rule 16b-3 and section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to carry the Plan into effect, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 3(a) shall be final and conclusive.

(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, or relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder, may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (ii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that, upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of this Plan. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, stockholders, Participants, Beneficiaries, and transferees under Section 10(a) hereof or other Persons claiming rights from or through a Participant. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

 

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(c) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of this Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

4. Stock Subject to Plan.

(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 9, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance in connection with Awards under this Plan shall not exceed 19,250,000 shares, and such total will be available for the issuance of Incentive Stock Options. The total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance in connection with Incentive Stock Options issued under this Plan shall not exceed 5,263 shares to any one Participant in any calendar year.

(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. Subject to Section 4(c), no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock to be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under this Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

(c) Availability of Shares Not Issued under Awards. Shares of Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated, including (i) shares forfeited with respect to Restricted Stock, (ii) the number of shares withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to Awards, and (iii) the number of shares surrendered in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to any Award, will again be available for Awards under this Plan, except that if any such shares could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation.

(d) Stock Offered. The shares to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.

 

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5. Eligibility; Per Person Award Limitations. Awards may be granted under this Plan only to Persons who are Eligible Persons at the time of grant thereof. In each calendar year, during any part of which this Plan is in effect, a Covered Employee may not be granted (a) Awards (other than Awards designated to be paid only in cash or the settlement of which is not based on a number of shares of Stock) relating to more than 2,500,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 9 and (b) Awards designated to be paid only in cash, or the settlement of which is not based on a number of shares of Stock, having a value determined on the date of grant in excess of $50,000,000.

6. Specific Terms of Awards.

(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(c)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant, or termination of the Participant’s service relationship with the Company, and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under this Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate, waive or modify any term or condition of an Award that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code if such discretion would cause the Award to not so qualify or to accelerate the terms of payment of any Award that provides for a deferral of compensation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules if such acceleration would subject a Participant to additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Exercise Price. Each Option agreement shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “Exercise Price”); provided, however, that the Exercise Price per share of Stock subject to an ISO shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any subsidiary, 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant).

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including without limitation cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including,

 

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but not limited to, the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d). In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued as of the date of exercise.

(iii) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under this Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of section 422 of the Code. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either this Plan or any ISO under section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of this Plan or the approval of this Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other ISO (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code)) of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that first becomes purchasable by a Participant in any calendar year may not (with respect to that Participant) exceed $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under section 422 of the Code or applicable regulations or rulings from time to time. As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the ISOs are granted. Failure to comply with this provision shall not impair the enforceability or exercisability of any Option, but shall cause the excess amount of shares to be reclassified in accordance with the Code.

(c) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Right to Payment. A SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

(ii) Rights Related to Options. A SAR granted pursuant to an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount computed pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii)(B). Such Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered. SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms of the Award agreement governing the Option, which shall comply with the following provisions in addition to those applicable to Options:

(A) A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferable.

(B) Upon the exercise of a SAR related to an Option, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company of an amount determined by multiplying:

(1) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by

(2) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised.

 

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(iii) Right Without Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award agreement governing the SAR, which Award agreement shall comply with the following provisions:

(A) Each Award agreement shall state the total number of shares of Stock to which the SAR relates.

(B) Each Award agreement shall state the time or periods in which the right to exercise the SAR or a portion thereof shall vest and the number of shares of Stock for which the right to exercise the SAR shall vest at each such time or period.

(C) Each Award agreement shall state the date at which the SARs shall expire if not previously exercised.

(D) Each SAR shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise thereof, to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:

(1) the difference obtained by subtracting the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the SAR from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of that SAR, by

(2) the number of shares as to which the SAR has been exercised.

(iv) Terms. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. SARs may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.

(d) Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of

 

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grant or thereafter. During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

(ii) Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under this Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

(iii) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards under this Plan or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock; provided, that, to the extent applicable, any such election shall comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

(e) Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units, which are rights to receive Stock or cash (or a combination thereof) at the end of a specified deferral period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award), to Eligible Persons, subject to the following terms and conditions:

(i) Award and Restrictions. Settlement of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Unit by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). In addition, Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be satisfied by the delivery of cash or Stock in the amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

(ii) Dividend Equivalents. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at date of grant, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of shares of Stock covered by an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Restricted Stock Units on the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Restricted Stock Units and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units.

 

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(f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee. In the case of any grant of Stock to an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in lieu of salary or other cash compensation, the number of shares granted in place of such compensation shall be reasonable, as determined by the Committee.

(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant, entitling the Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and be subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.

(h) Other Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including without limitation convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries of the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h).

7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

(a) Termination of Employment. Except as provided herein, the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or any other service relationship by and between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary shall be specified in the agreement controlling such Award.

(b) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under this Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, or of any business entity to be acquired

 

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by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. Awards under this Plan may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation, or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered. Awards granted pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be designed, awarded and settled in a manner that does not result in additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

(c) Term of Awards. Except as specified herein, the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under section 422 of the Code).

(d) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis; provided, however, that any such deferred payment will be set forth in the agreement evidencing such Award and/or otherwise made in a manner that will not result in additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Except as otherwise provided herein, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control). Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 10(c) of this Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee and in compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock. Any deferral shall only be allowed as is provided in a separate deferred compensation plan adopted by the Company and shall be made pursuant to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. This Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

(e) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from such section pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the

 

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requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

(f) Non-Competition Agreement. Each Participant to whom an Award is granted under this Plan may be required to agree in writing as a condition to the granting of such Award not to engage in conduct in competition with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for a period after the termination of such Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries as determined by the Committee (a “Non-Competition Agreement”); provided, however, to the extent a legally binding right to an Award within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules is created with respect to a Participant, the Non-Competition Agreement must be entered into by such Participant within 30 days following the creation of such legally binding right.

8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards.

(a) Performance Conditions. The right of an Eligible Person to receive a grant, and the right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award may be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(b).

(i) Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8(b). Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain” at the time the Committee actually establishes the performance goal or goals. The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised, and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

 

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(ii) Business and Individual Performance Criteria

(A) Business Criteria. One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Subsidiaries or business or geographical units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) increase in revenues; (3) increase in cash flow; (4) increase in cash flow from operations; (5) increase in cash flow return; (6) return on net assets; (7) return on assets; (8) return on investment; (9) return on capital; (10) return on equity; (11) economic value added; (12) operating margin; (13) contribution margin; (14) net income; (15) net income per share; (16) pretax earnings; (17) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; (18) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (19) total stockholder return; (20) debt reduction; (21) market share; (22) change in the Fair Market Value of the Stock; (23) operating income; (24) lease operating expenses; and (25) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies. The Committee may exclude the impact of any of the following events or occurrences which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax law or other such laws or regulations affecting reported results; (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items as described in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (f) any change in accounting principles as defined in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 250, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (g) any loss from a discontinued operation as described in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 360, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (h) goodwill impairment charges; (i) operating results for any business acquired during the calendar year; (j) third party expenses associated with any acquisition by us or any subsidiary; and (k) to the extent set forth with reasonable particularity in connection with the establishment of performance goals, any other extraordinary events or occurrences identified by the Committee. One or more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 8(c) hereof that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code.

(B) Individual Performance Criteria. The grant, exercise and/or settlement of Performance Awards may also be contingent upon individual performance goals established by the Committee. If required for compliance with section 162(m) of the Code, such criteria shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company.

(iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals. Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(iv) Performance Award Pool. The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such criteria.

(v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. After the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Performance Award pool, and the maximum amount of the potential Performance Award payable to each Participant in the Performance Award pool, or (B) the amount of the potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8(b). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee determines that an Annual Incentive Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(c).

(i) Potential Annual Incentive Awards. Not later than the end of the 90th day of each applicable year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 8(c)(ii) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. The amount potentially payable, with respect to Annual Incentive Awards, shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee.

(ii) Annual Incentive Award Pool. The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii)

 

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hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.

(iii) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards. After the end of each applicable year, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of the potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (B) the amount of the potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount in the case of an Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of the applicable year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.

(d) Written Determinations. All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards, the achievement of performance goals relating to and final settlement of Performance Awards under Section 8(b), the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards, the achievement of performance goals relating to and final settlement of Annual Incentive Awards under Section 8(c) shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.

(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code. It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof granted to Persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto) shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Eligible Person will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a Person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of a Performance Award or an Annual Incentive Award, who is likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of this Plan as in effect on the date of adoption of any agreements relating to Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply with section 162(m) of the Code does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

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9. Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization.

(a) Existence of Plans and Awards. The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding. In no event will any action taken by the Committee pursuant to this Section 9 result in the creation of deferred compensation within the meaning of section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares. The terms of an Award and the number of shares of Stock authorized pursuant to Section 4 for issuance under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock or in the event the Company distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, in each such case as appropriate, (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for the Plan or in connection with Awards as provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock for the Plan or available in connection with Awards as provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

(iii) Whenever the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each share of Stock subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 9(b), the Committee shall promptly prepare a notice setting

 

18


forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price and the number of shares of Stock, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments. The Committee shall promptly provide each affected Participant with such notice.

(iv) Adjustments under Sections 9(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made by the Committee, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the extent thereof shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.

(c) Corporate Recapitalization. If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “recapitalization”) without the occurrence of a Change in Control, the number and class of shares of Stock covered by an Option or a SAR theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option or SAR shall thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered by such Option or SAR and the share limitations provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the recapitalization.

(d) Additional Issuances. Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.

(e) Change in Control. Upon a Change in Control, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, shall affect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Options or SARs (collectively “Grants”) held by any individual holder: (i) accelerate the time at which Grants then outstanding may be exercised so that such Grants may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after such Change in Control) fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Grants and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate, (ii) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Grants held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Grants are then exercisable under the provisions of this Plan) as of a date, before or after such Change in Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Grants and pay to each holder an amount of cash (or other consideration including securities or other property) per share equal to the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Section 9(f) (the “Change in Control Price”) of the shares subject to such Grants over the Exercise Price(s) under such Grants for such shares (except that to the extent the Exercise Price under any such Grant is equal to or exceeds the Change in Control Price, in which case no amount shall be payable with respect to such Grant), or (iii) make such adjustments to

 

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Grants then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control; provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Grants then outstanding; provided, further, however, that the right to make such adjustments shall include, but not require or be limited to, the modification of Grants such that the holder of the Grant shall be entitled to purchase or receive (in lieu of the total number of shares of Stock as to which an Option or SAR is exercisable (the “Total Shares”) or other consideration that the holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive under the Grant (the “Total Consideration”)), the number of shares of stock, other securities, cash or property to which the Total Consideration would have been entitled to in connection with the Change in Control (A) (in the case of Options), at an aggregate exercise price equal to the exercise price that would have been payable if the Total Shares had been purchased upon the exercise of the Grant immediately before the consummation of the Change in Control and (B) in the case of SARs, if the SARs had been exercised immediately before the occurrence of the Change in Control.

(f) Change in Control Price. The “Change in Control Price” shall equal the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 9(f), the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Grants or to which such Grants track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Grants. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 9(f) or in Section 9(e) consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.

(g) Impact of Corporate Events on Awards Generally. In the event of a Change in Control or changes in the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Section 9, any outstanding Awards and any Award agreements evidencing such Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its discretion, which adjustment may, in the Committee’s discretion, be described in the Award agreement and may include, but not be limited to, adjustments as to the number and price of shares of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards, accelerated vesting (in full or in part) of such Awards, conversion of such Awards into awards denominated in the securities or other interests of any successor Person, or the cash settlement of such Awards in exchange for the cancellation thereof. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Stock, the aggregate number of shares of Stock available under this Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

 

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10. General Provisions.

(a) Transferability.

(i) Permitted Transferees. The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to transfer all or any portion of an Option or SAR, or authorize all or a portion of an Option or SAR to be granted to an Eligible Person to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant; provided that, in either case the transferee or transferees must be any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, in each case with respect to the Participant, an individual sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Company), a trust in which any of the foregoing individuals have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any of the foregoing individuals (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which any of the foregoing individuals (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests (collectively, “Permitted Transferees”); provided further that, (X) there may be no consideration for any such transfer and (Y) subsequent transfers of Options or SARs transferred as provided above shall be prohibited except subsequent transfers back to the original holder of the Option or SAR and transfers to other Permitted Transferees of the original holder. Agreements evidencing Options or SARs with respect to which such transferability is authorized at the time of grant must be approved by the Committee, and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 10(a)(i).

(ii) Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. An Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Restricted Stock Award or other Award may be transferred, to a Permitted Transferee, pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of written notice of such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

(iii) Other Transfers. Except as expressly permitted by Sections 10(a)(i) and 10(a)(ii), Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10, an Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(iv) Effect of Transfer. Following the transfer of any Award as contemplated by Sections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) and 10(a)(iii), (A) such Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term “Participant” shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant or other transferee, as applicable, to the extent appropriate to enable the Participant to exercise the transferred Award in accordance with the terms of this Plan and applicable law and (B) the provisions of the Award relating to exercisability shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant and, following the occurrence of any applicable events described therein the Awards shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant, as applicable, only to the extent and for the periods that would have been applicable in the absence of the transfer.

 

21


(v) Procedures and Restrictions. Any Participant desiring to transfer an Award as permitted under Sections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) or 10(a)(iii) shall make application therefor in the manner and time specified by the Committee and shall comply with such other requirements as the Committee may require to assure compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Committee shall not give permission for such a transfer if (A) it would give rise to short swing liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or (B) it may not be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.

(vi) Registration. To the extent the issuance to any Permitted Transferee of any shares of Stock issuable pursuant to Awards transferred as permitted in this Section 10(a) is not registered pursuant to the effective registration statement of the Company generally covering the shares to be issued pursuant to this Plan to initial holders of Awards, the Company shall not have any obligation to register the issuance of any such shares of Stock to any such transferee.

(b) Taxes. The Company and any of its Subsidiaries are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award under this Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.

(c) Changes to this Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under this Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to this Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to this Plan to stockholders for approval; provided, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in this Plan; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award. For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 9 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.

 

22


(d) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

(e) Unfunded Status of Awards. This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards.

(f) Nonexclusivity of this Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Subsidiary to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on this Plan or any Award made under this Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of any such action.

(g) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

(h) Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein. If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) or section 422 of the Code (with respect to Incentive Stock Options), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or section 422 of the Code. With respect to Incentive Stock Options, if this Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided, further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed an Option not subject to section 422 of the Code for all purposes of the Plan.

 

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(i) Governing Law. All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.

(j) Conditions to Delivery of Stock. Nothing herein or in any Award granted hereunder or any Award agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. At the time of any exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or at the time of any grant of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or other Award the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or settlement of any Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit or other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. No Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable and no settlement of any Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit shall occur with respect to a Participant unless and until the holder thereof shall have paid cash or property to, or performed services for, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that the Committee believes is equal to or greater in value than the par value of the Stock subject to such Award.

(k) Section 409A of the Code. In the event that any Award granted pursuant to this Plan provides for a deferral of compensation within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, it is the general intention, but not the obligation, of the Company to design such Award to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and such Award should be interpreted accordingly.

(l) Plan Effective Date and Term. This Plan was adopted by the Board on the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under this Plan on and after June 11, 2024.

 

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EX-99.1 6 d742119dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

News

For Immediate Release

  

Memorial Resource Development Corp. Prices Upsized

Initial Public Offering of Common Stock

HOUSTON, June 13, 2014 – Memorial Resource Development Corp. (NASDAQ: MRD) announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 42,800,000 shares of its common stock at $19.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading today on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol “MRD.” The Company is offering 21,500,000 shares of its common stock, and the selling stockholder named in the registration statement is offering 21,300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, the selling stockholder has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 6,420,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at the initial public offering price. The offering is expected to close on June 18, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of approximately $382.1 million from this offering to redeem its 10.00% / 10.75% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2018 in their entirety and to pay any applicable premium in connection with such redemption and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, and, together with borrowings under the Company’s new revolving credit facility, to pay a portion of the consideration for certain assets being contributed to the Company at the closing of the offering, to repay outstanding borrowings under its subsidiary’s existing credit agreements and to pay for fees and expenses associated with the Company’s new revolving credit facility. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholder.

Citigroup and Barclays are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. BofA Merrill Lynch, BMO Capital Markets, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Raymond James, RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as book-running managers for the offering. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a written prospectus. A copy of the prospectus for the offering may be obtained, when available, from:

 

Citigroup

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

(800) 831-9146

batprospectusdept@citi.com

  

Barclays

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

(888) 603-5847

barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com


About Memorial Resource Development Corp.

Memorial Resource Development Corp. is an independent natural gas and oil company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties primarily in North Louisiana and East Texas.

Important Information

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The registration statement may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov under the registrant’s name, “Memorial Resource Development Corp.” This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Memorial Resource Development Corp.’s control. All statements, other than historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although the Company believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements.

We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production, gathering and sale of oil and natural gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating natural gas and oil reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital and the timing of development expenditures.


Contact:

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

Hays Mabry – Manager, Investor Relations

(713) 588-8339

ir@memorialrd.com

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