Form: 10-K

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

June 22, 2020

Documents

Exhibit 4.4

DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following description of our capital stock, amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, and investor rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and investor rights agreement, which have been publicly filed with the SEC. For purposes of these descriptions, references to “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to ProPetro Holding Corp. and not to its subsidiaries.
Our authorized capital stock consists of:
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200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value; and
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30,000,000 shares of preferred stock; $0.001 par value.
We list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “PUMP.”
Common Stock
Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholder, have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and do not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Subject to prior rights and preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares or series of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the shares of common stock held by them such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, preemption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets in proportion to the shares of common stock held by them that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations and after distribution in full of preferential amounts to be distributed to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.
Investor Rights Agreement
On December 31, 2018, we entered into the investor rights agreement with Pioneer Pumping Services, LLC (“Pioneer”), an affiliate of Pioneer Natural Resources Company. Pursuant to the investor rights agreement, Pioneer has the right to designate a non‑independent director to the board of directors for so long as Pioneer owns 5% or more of our outstanding common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law
Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation, including those whose securities are listed for trading on the NYSE, from engaging in any business combination (as defined in Section 203) with any interested stockholder (as defined in Section 203) for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
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the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested shareholder attained that status;
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upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or
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on or after such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of shareholders by at least two thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder.
A corporation may elect not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. We have elected to not be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Our Amended and Restated Bylaws
Some provisions of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisitions of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise or removal of our directors. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.
Among other things, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws:
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establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. Our amended and restated bylaws specify the requirements as to form and content of all stockholders’ notices. These requirements may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting;
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provide our board of directors the ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock. This ability makes it possible for the Company’s board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management;
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provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;
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provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law or, if applicable, the rights of holders of a series of preferred stock, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
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provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to such series;
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provide that special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the board of directors;
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provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors shall be required to remove any or all of the directors from office; and
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provide that our amended and restated bylaws can be amended by the board of directors.
In addition, our board of directors adopted a short-term stockholder rights plan that would likely discourage a hostile attempt to acquire control of us.
These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection and our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
The Rights Agreement and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
On April 10, 2020, the board of directors of the Company declared a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The dividend was paid to the common stock stockholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2020 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Company’s Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), at a price of $16.00, subject to certain adjustments (as adjusted from time to time, the “Exercise Price”). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Rights Agent”).
Subject to certain exceptions, the Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day after a public announcement or filing that a person has, or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert have, become an “Acquiring Person,” which is defined as a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert who, at any time after the date of the Rights Agreement, have acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day after the commencement by any person of, or the first public announcement of the intention of any person to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”). Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions, whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying common stock or are reportable for purposes of Regulation 13D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of common stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of the common stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts or their affiliates or associates or persons acting in concert.
“Acquiring Person” shall not include any person that, together with all affiliates and associates of such person, is the beneficial owner of common stock representing less than 20% of the common stock then outstanding, and is entitled to file, and files, a statement on Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, with respect to the common stock beneficially owned by such person, subject to certain limitations as provided in the Rights Agreement.
With respect to book entry shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by the balances indicated in the book entry account system of the transfer agent for the common stock. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as defined below), the transfer of any shares of common stock outstanding on the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of common stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the common stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights, which are not exercisable until the Distribution Date, will expire prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on March 31, 2021; (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Agreement; (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to the Rights Agreement and (iv) the time at which the Rights are terminated upon the occurrence of certain transactions (the earliest of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) is referred to as the “Expiration Date”).
Each share of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a preferential per share quarterly dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 per share or (ii) 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, in each case, paid to holders of common stock during such period. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock will entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of common stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per one share of common stock.
The Exercise Price payable, and the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Series B Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the then-current market price of the Series B Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Series B Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths of a Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividends and other similar transactions.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than the Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, affiliates and associates of, and persons acting in concert with, the Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof (which will thereupon become null and void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock having a market value of two times the Exercise Price.
In the event that, after a person or a group of persons has become an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, or 50% or more of the Company’s assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then-current Exercise Price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a market value at the time of that transaction equal to two times the then-current Exercise Price.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Exercise Price will be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Exercise Price. No fractional shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Series B Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Series B Preferred Stock on the trading day immediately prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person or group of persons becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition of beneficial ownership by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock, the board of directors, at its option, may exchange each Right (other than Rights owned by such person or group of persons which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per outstanding Right (subject to adjustment).
At any time before the Distribution Date, the board of directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (subject to certain adjustments) (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the board of directors in its sole discretion may establish.
In the event the Company receives a Qualifying Offer (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and the Company does not redeem the outstanding Rights, the Company may exempt such Qualifying Offer from the Rights Agreement, or call a special meeting of stockholders to vote on whether or not to exempt such Qualifying Offer from the Rights Agreement, in each case within 90 days of the commencement of the Qualifying Offer (the “Board Evaluation Period”); otherwise, the holders of record of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock may submit a written demand directing the board of directors to propose a resolution exempting the Qualifying Offer from the Rights Agreement to be voted upon at a special meeting to be convened within 90 days following the last day of the Board Evaluation Period (the “Special Meeting Period”). If such written demand is submitted to the Company, the board of directors must take the necessary actions to cause such resolution to be submitted to a vote of stockholders at a special meeting within the Special Meeting Period; however, the board of directors may recommend in favor of or against or take no position with respect to the adoption of the resolution, as it determines to be appropriate in the exercise of the board of directors’ fiduciary duties.
Immediately upon the action of the board of directors electing to redeem or exchange the Rights, the Company shall make announcement thereof, and upon such election, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
The board of directors may amend or supplement the Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights, including, without limitation, in order to (a) cure any ambiguity, (b) correct inconsistent provisions, (c) alter time period provisions or (d) make additional changes to the Rights Agreement that the board of directors deems necessary or desirable. However, from and after the time when any person or group of persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights Agreement may not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights.
Forum Selection
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:
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any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;
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any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders;
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any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws; or
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any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine,
in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to, this forum selection provision. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us, our directors, officers, employees and agents. The enforceability of similar exclusive forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could rule that this provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is inapplicable or unenforceable.
The choice of forum provisions summarized above are not intended to, and would not, apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act or other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Stockholders may be subject to increased costs to bring these claims, and the choice of forum provisions could have the effect of discouraging claims or limiting investors’ ability to bring claims in a judicial forum that they find favorable.