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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2022

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1220   81-0706839

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

16243 Highway 216

Brookwood, AL 35444

(205) 554-6150

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Dale W. Boyles

Chief Financial Officer

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.

16243 Highway 216

Brookwood, AL 35444

(205) 554-6150

(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Rosa Testani

Daniel Fisher

Shar Ahmed

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

Bank of America Tower

New York, New York 10036

(212) 872-8115

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
   Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Rights

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

 

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated, common stock, preferred stock, rights, depositary shares, warrants and purchase contracts. In addition, selling stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell our common stock held by such selling stockholders. We or the selling stockholders, as applicable, may offer and sell these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of the applicable offering.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. We will provide the specific terms of any securities to be offered in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.

Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HCC.”

We or the selling stockholders, as applicable, may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of the agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 and the risk factors contained in any applicable prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is September 30, 2022.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     1  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     3  

OUR COMPANY

     4  

RISK FACTORS

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     5  

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     5  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     22  

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

     29  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     30  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     31  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     33  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     34  

LEGAL MATTERS

     37  

EXPERTS

     37  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     37  

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the selling stockholders have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of the prospectus, or that the information incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of any security.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include statements of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies, including any potential changes to our production and sales volumes as a result of our negotiations with the United Mine Workers of America. We have used the words “anticipate,” “approximately,” “assume,” “believe,” “could,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “target,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should” and similar terms and phrases, including in references to assumptions, in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

   

the impact of global pandemics, such as the novel coronavirus pandemic, including its impact on our business, employees, suppliers and customers, the metallurgical (“met”) coal and steel industries, and global economic markets;

 

   

our relationships with, and other conditions affecting, our customers;

 

   

successful implementation of our business strategies;

 

   

unavailability of, or price increases in, the transportation of our met coal;

 

   

significant cost increases and fluctuations, and delay in the delivery of raw materials, mining equipment and purchased components;

 

   

work stoppages, negotiation of labor contracts, employee relations and workforce availability;

 

   

competition and foreign currency fluctuations;

 

   

litigation, including claims not yet asserted;

 

   

terrorist attacks or security threats, including cybersecurity threats;

 

   

global steel demand and the downstream impact on met coal prices;

 

   

impact of weather and natural disasters on demand and production;

 

   

a substantial or extended decline in pricing or demand for met coal;

 

   

inherent difficulties and challenges in the coal mining industry that are beyond our control;

 

   

our ability to develop or acquire met coal reserves in an economically feasible manner;

 

   

geologic, equipment, permitting, site access, operational risks and new technologies related to mining;

 

   

inaccuracies in our estimates of our met coal reserves;

 

   

costs associated with our workers’ compensation benefits;

 

   

challenges to our licenses, permits and other authorizations;

 

   

challenges associated with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations;

 

   

regulatory requirements associated with federal, state and local regulatory agencies, and such agencies’ authority to order temporary or permanent closure of our mines;

 

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climate change concerns and our operations’ impact on the environment;

 

   

failure to obtain or renew surety bonds on acceptable terms, which could affect our ability to secure reclamation and coal lease obligations;

 

   

our obligations surrounding reclamation and mine closure;

 

   

our substantial indebtedness and debt service requirements;

 

   

our ability to comply with covenants in our asset-based revolving credit agreement and the indenture dated as of December 6, 2022, as amended or supplemented, governing our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028, as well as debt that could be incurred in the future;

 

   

adequate liquidity and the cost, availability and access to capital and financial markets;

 

   

our expectations regarding our future cash tax rate as well as our ability to effectively utilize our net operating loss carry forwards (“NOLs”);

 

   

our ability to continue paying our quarterly dividend or pay any special dividend;

 

   

the timing and amount of any stock repurchases we make under our stock repurchase program or otherwise; and

 

   

any consequences related to our transfer restrictions under our certificate of incorporation and our Rights Agreement (as defined below).

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various factors, including the other factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein and under “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 incorporated by reference herein, and those set forth from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These documents are available through our website or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval system at http://www.sec.gov. In light of such risks and uncertainties, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

When considering forward-looking statements made by us in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, such statements speak only as of the date on which we make them. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements herein after the date of this prospectus, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus might not occur.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In addition, the selling stockholders identified in a prospectus supplement may, from time to time, sell our common stock held by them in one or more offerings. Each time we or selling stockholders, as applicable, offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by us or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor any selling stockholders have authorized any other person to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor any selling stockholders are making offers to sell or solicitations to buy the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that (i) the information appearing in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as well as the information contained in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein, is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates that are specified in such documents and (ii) any information in the documents that are incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects may have changed since those dates.

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Please read “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

In this prospectus, the “Company,” “Warrior,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Warrior Met Coal, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

 

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OUR COMPANY

We are a U.S.-based environmentally and socially minded supplier to the global steel industry. We are dedicated entirely to mining non-thermal met coal used as a critical component of steel production by metal manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia. We are a large-scale, low-cost producer and exporter of premium met coal, also known as hard-coking coal (“HCC”), operating highly efficient longwall operations in its underground mines based in Alabama. The HCC that we produce from the Blue Creek coal seam contains very low sulfur, has strong coking properties and is of a similar quality to coal referred to as premium HCC produced in Australia. We also generate ancillary revenues from the sale of natural gas extracted as a byproduct from the underground coal mines and royalty revenues from leased properties.

Our principal executive offices are located at 16243 Highway 216, Brookwood, Alabama 35444, and our telephone number at that address is (205) 554-6150. Our website address is www.warriormetcoal.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and does not constitute part of this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, including those included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any subsequently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision regarding our securities. Any of the risk factors described therein could significantly and adversely affect our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not believed by us to be material may also negatively impact us.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment or refinancing of borrowings, working capital, capital expenditures, investments and acquisitions. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Until we use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for these purposes, we may place the net proceeds in temporary investments. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale of such shares of common stock.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

Information about selling stockholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

We may issue debt securities in one or more series. When used in this Description of Debt Securities section, unless we state otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise, references to “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Warrior Met Coal, Inc., excluding its subsidiaries.

We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets. Thus, by owning a debt security, you will be one of our unsecured creditors.

The senior debt securities will constitute part of our senior debt, will be issued under our senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

The subordinated debt securities will constitute part of our subordinated debt, will be issued under our subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “senior debt,” as defined in the indenture with respect to such subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement for any series of subordinated debt securities or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will indicate the approximate amount of senior debt outstanding as of the end of the then most recent fiscal quarter. Neither indenture limits our ability to incur additional senior debt or other indebtedness.

When we refer to “debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities.

The debt indentures and their associated documents, including your debt security, contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section and your prospectus supplement. We have filed forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus for information on how to obtain copies of them.

This section and your prospectus supplement summarize material terms of the indentures and your debt security. They do not, however, describe every aspect of the indentures and your debt security. For example, in this section and your prospectus supplement, we use terms that have been given special meaning in the indentures, but we describe the meaning for only the more important of those terms. Your prospectus supplement will have a more detailed description of the specific terms of your debt security.

Indentures

The senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities are each governed by a document called an indenture. Each indenture is a contract between us and the trustee. See “—Our Relationship with the Trustee.” The indentures are substantially identical, except for certain provisions including those relating to subordination, which are included only in the indenture related to subordinated debt securities.

The trustee under each indenture has two main roles:

 

   

First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe later under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default.”

 

   

Second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you interest payments and notices.

When we refer to “the indenture” or “the trustee” with respect to any debt securities, we mean the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.

 

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Series of Debt Securities

We may issue as many distinct debt securities or series of debt securities under either indenture as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the securities that apply generally to all debt securities and series of debt securities. The provisions of each indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued under that indenture, but also to “reopen” a previously issued series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We will describe most of the financial and other specific terms of your series, whether it is a series of the senior debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, in the prospectus supplement for that series. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your debt security as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are any differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus with respect to your debt security, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your debt security.

When we refer to “debt securities” or a “series of debt securities,” we mean, respectively, debt securities or a series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture. When we refer to “your prospectus supplement,” we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the debt security you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.

Amounts of Issuances

Neither indenture limits the aggregate amount of debt securities that we may issue or the number of series or the aggregate amount of any particular series. We may issue debt securities and other securities at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

The indentures and the debt securities do not limit our ability to incur other indebtedness or to issue other securities. Also, unless otherwise specified below or in your prospectus supplement, we are not subject to financial or similar restrictions by the terms of the debt securities.

Principal Amount, Stated Maturity and Maturity

Unless otherwise stated, the principal amount of a debt security means the principal amount payable at its stated maturity, unless that amount is not determinable, in which case the principal amount of a debt security is its face amount.

The term “stated maturity” with respect to any debt security means the day on which the principal amount of your debt security is scheduled to become due. The principal may become due sooner, by reason of redemption, acceleration after a default or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the debt security. The day on which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or earlier, is called the “maturity” of the principal.

We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the days when other payments become due. For example, we may refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due as the “stated maturity” of that installment. When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of a debt security without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.

Specific Terms of Debt Securities

Your prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of your debt security, which will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title of the series of your debt security and whether it is a senior debt security or a subordinated debt security;

 

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any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities of the same series;

 

   

the stated maturity;

 

   

the currency or currencies for principal and interest, if not U.S. dollars;

 

   

the price at which we originally issue your debt security, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date;

 

   

whether your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, a floating rate debt security or an indexed debt security;

 

   

if your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, the yearly rate at which your debt security will bear interest, if any, and the interest payment dates;

 

   

if your debt security is a floating rate debt security, the interest rate basis; any applicable index currency or index maturity, spread or spread multiplier or initial base rate, maximum rate or minimum rate; the interest reset, determination, calculation and payment dates; the day count convention used to calculate interest payments for any period; the business day convention; and the calculation agent;

 

   

if your debt security is an indexed debt security, the principal amount, if any, we will pay you at maturity, interest payment dates, the amount of interest, if any, we will pay you on an interest payment date or the formula we will use to calculate these amounts, if any, and the terms on which your debt security will be exchangeable for or payable in cash, securities or other property;

 

   

if your debt security may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares of the Company or debt or equity securities of one or more third parties, the terms on which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, including whether conversion, exercise or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the period during which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange may be adjusted;

 

   

if your debt security is also an original issue discount debt security, the yield to maturity;

 

   

if applicable, the circumstances under which your debt security may be redeemed at our option or repaid at the holder’s option before the stated maturity, including any redemption commencement date, repayment date(s), redemption price(s) and redemption period(s);

 

   

the authorized denominations, if other than $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

 

   

the depositary for your debt security, if other than The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and any circumstances under which the holder may request securities in non-global form, if we choose not to issue your debt security in book-entry form only;

 

   

if applicable, the circumstances under which we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes and under which we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay additional amounts;

 

   

the names and duties of any co-trustees, depositaries, authenticating agents, paying agents, transfer agents or registrars for your debt security, as applicable; and

 

   

any other terms of your debt security, which could be different from those described in this prospectus.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities issued thereunder will be governed by New York law.

 

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Form of Debt Securities

We will issue each debt security only in registered form, without coupons, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we will issue each debt security in global—i.e., book-entry—form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the debt securities represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global debt security will do so through participants in the depositary’s securities clearance system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. References to “holders” in this section mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following is a summary of the depositary arrangements applicable to debt securities issued in global form and for which DTC acts as depositary.

Each global debt security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, as depositary, or its nominee, and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except under the limited circumstances described below, global debt securities are not exchangeable for definitive certificated debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security is limited to participants that have accounts with DTC or its nominee, or persons that may hold interests through those participants. In addition, ownership of beneficial interests by participants in a global debt security will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee for a global debt security. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security by persons that hold those interests through participants will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within that participant will be effected only through, records maintained by that participant. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the participants through which the beneficial owners entered the transaction. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities they purchase in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global debt security.

We will make payment of principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, debt securities represented by a global debt security registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global debt security representing those debt securities. DTC has advised us that upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or interest or premium on, a global debt security, DTC will credit accounts of participants on its book-entry registration and transfer system with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective interests in the principal amount of that global debt security, as shown in the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.

Neither we, any trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a permanent global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to such beneficial interests.

 

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A global debt security is exchangeable for certificated debt securities registered in the name of, and a transfer of a global debt security may be registered to, any person other than DTC or its nominee, only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security or has ceased to be a registered clearing agency and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; or

 

   

we notify the trustee that such global security shall be exchanged in whole for securities that are not global securities.

Any global debt security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence will be exchangeable in whole for certificated debt securities in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount as the global debt security, in denominations specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if other than $2,000 and multiples of $1,000. The certificated debt securities will be registered by the registrar in the name or names instructed by DTC. We expect that these instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt security.

Except as provided above, owners of the beneficial interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the holders of debt securities for any purpose under the indentures. No global debt security shall be exchangeable except for another global debt security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global debt security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the global debt security or the indentures.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders, or an owner of a beneficial interest in a global debt security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the debt securities or the indentures, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action. Additionally, those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under, and a “banking organization” within the meaning of, the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions among its participants in securities through electronic, computerized book-entry transfers and pledges in accounts of the participants. By doing so, DTC eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Investors may hold interests in the debt securities outside the U.S. through the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking (“Clearstream”) if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Euroclear’s and Clearstream’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

 

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Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include any agents. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear, the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Clearstream advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including agents, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include any agents. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

We have provided the descriptions herein of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and are subject to change by them from time to time. We believe that the sources from which the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC, Euroclear, the Euroclear Operator, the Cooperative, Euroclear’s system, Clearstream and Clearstream’s system has been obtained are reliable, but neither we, any underwriters nor the trustee takes any responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

 

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Initial settlement for the securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Euroclear Participants and/or Clearstream Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, as applicable, and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Credits or any transactions in securities settled during this processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on that following business day. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Euroclear Participant or a Clearstream Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be discontinued at any time.

Redemption or Repayment

If there are any provisions regarding redemption or repayment applicable to your debt security, we will describe them in your prospectus supplement.

We or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

Mergers and Similar Transactions

We are generally permitted under the indenture for the relevant series to merge or consolidate with another corporation or other entity. We are also permitted under the indenture for the relevant series to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another corporation or other entity. With regard to any series of debt securities, however, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions, among other things, are met:

 

   

If the successor entity in the transaction is not the Company, the successor entity must be organized as a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust and must expressly assume our obligations under the debt securities of that series and the indenture with respect to that series. The successor entity may be organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

   

Immediately after the transaction, no default under the debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing. For this purpose, “default under the debt securities of that series” means an event of default

 

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with respect to that series or any event that would be an event of default with respect to that series if the requirements for giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default.”

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to the debt securities of any series, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control of the Company but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all our assets.

The successor entity will be substituted for the Company with respect to the debt securities of any series and under the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, the Company will be relieved from any further obligations and covenants under the indenture.

Subordination Provisions

Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on those securities. Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the subordinated debt indenture, to all of our senior debt, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture.

The subordinated debt indenture defines “senior debt” as:

 

   

our indebtedness under or in respect of our credit agreement, whether for principal, interest (including interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees, commissions, expenses, indemnities or other amounts; and

 

   

any other indebtedness permitted under the terms of that indenture, unless the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “senior debt” will not include: (i) equity interests; (ii) any liability for taxes; (iii) any indebtedness to any of our subsidiaries or affiliates; (iv) any trade payables; or (v) any indebtedness incurred in violation of the subordinated debt indenture.

We may modify the subordination provisions, including the definition of senior debt, with respect to one or more series of subordinated debt securities. Such modifications will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The subordinated debt indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on the senior debt has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated debt securities in the following circumstances:

 

   

in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets;

 

   

(a) in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any senior debt beyond any applicable grace period or (b) in the event that any event of default with respect to any senior debt has occurred and is continuing, permitting the holders of that senior debt (or a trustee) to accelerate the maturity of that senior debt, whether or not the

 

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maturity is in fact accelerated (unless, in the case of (a) or (b), the payment default or event of default has been cured or waived or ceased to exist and any related acceleration has been rescinded) or (c) in the event that any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to a payment default or event of default described in (a) or (b); or

 

   

in the event that any subordinated debt securities have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity.

If the trustee, on behalf of the holders of the subordinated debt securities, under the subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee (to the extent such amounts have not been distributed to the holders of the subordinated debt securities) or the holders will have to repay that money to the Company or the bankruptcy trustee, as applicable.

Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture and the holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of senior debt have been fully satisfied.

The subordinated debt indenture allows the holders of senior debt to obtain a court order requiring us and any holder of subordinated debt securities to comply with the subordination provisions.

Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge

When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. If we deposit with the trustee funds or government securities, or if so provided in your prospectus supplement, obligations other than government securities, sufficient to make payments on any series of debt securities on the dates those payments are due and payable and other specified conditions are satisfied, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

 

   

we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series (“legal defeasance”); or

 

   

we will be discharged from any covenants we make in the applicable indenture for the benefit of such series and the related events of default will no longer apply to us (“covenant defeasance”).

If we defease any series of debt securities, the holders of such securities will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated securities or maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. In case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal of and any premium and interest on the applicable series of debt securities will also survive.

We will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the applicable series of debt securities to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

In addition, we may satisfy and discharge all our obligations under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, other than our obligation to register the transfer of and exchange debt securities of that series, provided that either:

 

   

we deliver all outstanding debt securities of that series to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

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all such debt securities not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point, we have deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such debt securities, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date, and any other amounts due and owing under the indenture.

No Personal Liability

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner (whether general or limited), unitholder or stockholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of us under the debt securities or the indentures or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities by accepting a debt security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default

You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to your series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, as described in this subsection.

Events of Default

Unless your prospectus supplement says otherwise, when we refer to an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities, we mean any of the following:

 

   

we do not pay the principal of and any premium on any debt security of that series on the due date;

 

   

we do not pay interest on any debt security of that series within 30 days after the due date;

 

   

we do not deposit a sinking fund payment with regard to any debt security of that series within 60 days after the due date, but only if the payment is required under provisions described in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

   

we remain in breach of our covenants regarding mergers or sales of substantially all of our assets or any other covenant we make in the indenture for the benefit of the relevant series, for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating that we are in breach and requiring us to remedy the breach, which notice must be sent by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the relevant series of debt securities;

 

   

we file for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company occur; or

 

   

if the applicable prospectus supplement states that any additional event of default applies to the series, that event of default occurs.

We may change, eliminate, or add to the events of default with respect to any particular series or any particular debt security or debt securities within a series, as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If you are the holder of a subordinated debt security, all the remedies available upon the occurrence of an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture will be subject to the restrictions on the subordinated debt securities described above under “—Subordination Provisions.”

 

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Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default has occurred with respect to any series of debt securities and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due immediately. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the event of default occurs because of events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company, the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series will be automatically accelerated, without any action by the trustee or any holder.

Each of the situations described above is called an acceleration of the stated maturity of the affected series of debt securities. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the stated maturity of any series is accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may cancel the acceleration for the entire series.

If an event of default occurs, the trustee will be obligated to exercise those of its rights and powers under the relevant indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs.

The trustee is not required to take any action under the relevant indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee protection from costs, expenses and liability. This is called an indemnity. If the trustee is provided with an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee with respect to that series. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the relevant indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to any debt security, all of the following must occur:

 

   

the holder of your debt security must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred with respect to the debt securities of your series, and the event of default must not have been cured or waived;

 

   

the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities of your series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they or other holders must offer to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the cost, expense and other liabilities of taking that action;

 

   

the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have been taken; and

 

   

during those 60 days, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of your series must not have given the trustee directions that are inconsistent with the written request of the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of your series.

You are entitled at any time, however, to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its stated maturity (or, if your debt security is redeemable, on or after its redemption date).

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the maturity.

Waiver of Default

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may waive a default for all debt securities of that series. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it has not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on any debt security, however, without the approval of the particular holder of that debt security.

 

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Annual Information about Defaults to the Trustee

We will furnish each trustee every year a written statement of two of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default under the applicable indenture.

Modifications and Waivers

There are four types of changes we can make to either indenture and the debt securities or series of debt securities thereof issued under that indenture.

Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval

First, there are changes that cannot be made without the approval of each holder of a debt security affected by the change under the applicable debt indenture, including, among others:

 

   

changing the stated maturity for any principal or interest payment on a debt security;

 

   

reducing the principal amount, the amount payable on acceleration of the maturity after a default, the interest rate or the redemption price for a debt security;

 

   

permitting redemption of a debt security if not previously permitted;

 

   

impairing any right a holder may have to require purchase of its debt security;

 

   

impairing any right that a holder of a convertible debt security may have to convert the debt security;

 

   

changing the currency of any payment on a debt security;

 

   

changing the place of payment on a debt security;

 

   

impairing a holder’s right to sue for payment of any amount due on its debt security;

 

   

reducing the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, and whether comprising the same or different series or less than all of the debt securities of a series, the approval of whose holders is needed to change the indenture or those debt securities or waive our compliance with the applicable indenture or to waive defaults; and

 

   

changing the provisions of the applicable indenture dealing with modification and waiver in any other respect, except to increase any required percentage referred to above or to add to the provisions that cannot be changed or waived without approval of the holder of each affected debt security.

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any approval by holders of the debt securities affected. These changes are limited to clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect any debt securities of any series in any material respect. Nor do we need any approval to make changes that affect only debt securities to be issued under the applicable indenture after the changes take effect. We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect a particular debt security, even if they affect other debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected debt securities. We may also make changes to conform the text of the applicable indenture or any debt securities to any provision of the “Description of Debt Securities” in this prospectus or the comparable section in your prospectus supplement, to the extent such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of such indenture or debt securities.

 

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Modification of Subordination Provisions

We may not amend the indenture related to subordinated debt securities to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the written consent of each holder of senior debt then outstanding who would be adversely affected (or the group or representative thereof authorized or required to consent thereto pursuant to the instrument creating or evidencing, or pursuant to which there is outstanding, such senior debt). In addition, we may not modify the subordination provisions of the indenture related to subordinated debt securities in a manner that would adversely affect the subordinated debt securities of any one or more series then outstanding in any material respect, without the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series then outstanding, voting together as one class (and also of any affected series that by its terms is entitled to vote separately as a series, as described below).

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to a particular indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture would require the following approval:

 

   

if the change affects only particular debt securities within a series issued under the applicable indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of such particular debt securities; or

 

   

if the change affects debt securities of more than one series issued under the applicable indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of all such series affected by the change, with all such affected debt securities voting together as one class for this purpose and such affected debt securities of any series potentially comprising fewer than all debt securities of such series,

in each case, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to such indenture for all or any particular debt securities of any series. This means that modification of terms with respect to certain securities of a series could be effectuated without obtaining the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of other securities of such series that are not affected by such modification.

The same majority approval would be required for us to obtain a waiver of any of our covenants in either indenture. Our covenants include the promises we make about merging or selling substantially all of our assets, which we describe above under “—Mergers and Similar Transactions.” If the holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will not have to comply with it. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in a particular debt security, or in the applicable indenture as it affects that debt security, that we cannot change without the approval of the holder of that debt security as described above in “—Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval,” unless that holder approves the waiver.

We may issue particular debt securities or a particular series of debt securities, as applicable, that are entitled, by their terms, to separately approve matters (for example, modification or waiver of provisions in the applicable indenture) that would also, or otherwise, require approval of holders of a majority in principal amount of all affected debt securities of all affected series issued under such indenture voting together as a single class. Any such affected debt securities or series of debt securities would be entitled to approve such matters (a) pursuant to such special rights by consent of holders of a majority in principal amount of such affected debt securities or series of debt securities voting separately as a class and (b) in addition, as described above, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to the applicable indenture for such debt securities or series of debt securities, by consent of holders of a majority in principal amount of such affected debt securities or series of debt securities and all other affected debt securities of all series issued under such indenture voting together as one class for this purpose. We may issue series or debt securities of a series having these or other special voting rights without obtaining the consent of or giving notice to holders of outstanding debt securities or series.

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change an indenture or any debt securities or request a waiver.

 

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Special Rules for Action by Holders

Only holders of outstanding debt securities of the applicable series will be eligible to take any action under the applicable indenture, such as giving a notice of default, declaring an acceleration, approving any change or waiver or giving the trustee an instruction with respect to debt securities of that series. Also, we will count only outstanding debt securities in determining whether the various percentage requirements for taking action have been met. Any debt securities owned by us or any of our affiliates or surrendered for cancellation or for payment or redemption, for which money has been set aside in trust, are not deemed to be outstanding. Any required approval or waiver must be given by written consent.

In some situations, we may follow special rules in calculating the principal amount of debt securities that are to be treated as outstanding for the purposes described above. This may happen, for example, if the principal amount is payable in a non-U.S. dollar currency, increases over time or is not to be fixed until maturity.

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders that are entitled to take action under either indenture. In certain limited circumstances, only the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee sets a record date for an approval or other action to be taken by holders, that vote or action may be taken only by persons or entities who are holders on the record date and must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. In addition, record dates for any global debt security may be set in accordance with procedures established by the depositary from time to time. Accordingly, record dates for global debt securities may differ from those for other debt securities.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

If any debt securities cease to be issued in registered global form, they will be issued:

 

   

only in fully registered form;

 

   

without interest coupons; and

 

   

unless we indicate otherwise in your prospectus supplement, in denominations of a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

Holders may exchange their debt securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. You may not exchange your debt securities for securities of a different series or having different terms, unless your prospectus supplement with respect to your debt securities describes the terms of such exchange.

Holders may exchange or transfer their non-global, registered debt securities at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated non-global, registered debt securities at that office. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring and replacing such debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their debt securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may require an indemnity before replacing any debt securities.

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

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If the debt securities of any series are redeemable and we redeem less than all those debt securities, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any debt security selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.

If a debt security is issued as a global debt security, only DTC or other depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because such depositary will be the sole holder of the debt security.

The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of debt securities for other debt securities of the same series and kind. If a debt security is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not yet issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of conversion, exercise or exchange will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments

We will pay interest, principal and other amounts payable with respect to the debt securities of any series to the holders of record of those debt securities as of the record dates and otherwise in the manner specified below or in the prospectus supplement for that series.

We will make payments on a global debt security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will pay directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global debt security. An indirect owner’s right to receive those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

We will make payments on a debt security in non-global, registered form as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all other payments by check at the paying agent described below, against surrender of the debt security. All payments by check will be made in next-day funds—i.e., funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed.

Alternatively, if a non-global debt security has a face amount of at least $1,000,000 and the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in the United States, on the due date. To request wire payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person or entity who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. In the case of any other payment, payment will be made only after the debt security is surrendered to the paying agent. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to the trustee or any paying agent, or if then held by us, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt security of any series that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to a holder will be repaid to us or (if then held by us) shall be discharged from such trust. After that two-year period, the holder may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.

 

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Paying Agents

We may appoint one or more financial institutions to act as our paying agents, at whose designated offices debt securities in non-global entry form may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We call each of those offices a paying agent. We may add, replace or terminate paying agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We will specify in the prospectus supplement for your debt security the initial location of each paying agent for that debt security. We must notify the trustee of changes in the paying agents.

Notices

Notices to be given to holders of a global debt security will be given only to the depositary, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Notices to be given to holders of debt securities not in global form will be sent by mail to the respective addresses of the holders as they appear in the trustee’s records, and will be deemed given when mailed. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder.

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive notices.

Our Relationship with the Trustee

Wilmington Trust, National Association will initially serve as the trustee for our senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities. Consequently, if an actual or potential event of default occurs with respect to any of these securities, the trustee may be considered to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In that case, the trustee may be required to resign under one or more of the indentures, and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee. For this purpose, a “potential” event of default means an event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or for the default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

The prospectus supplement for your debt security will describe any material relationships we may have with the trustee with respect to that debt security.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our common stock, Rights Agreement, Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below), preferred stock, certificate of incorporation and bylaws are summaries thereof and are qualified by reference to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and to the Rights Agreement, copies of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 140,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 53,875,409 shares were issued and 51,653,568 shares were outstanding as of September 28, 2022, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are outstanding. 140,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HCC.”

Common Stock

Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Shares of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of our board of directors are able to elect all the directors to be elected at that time, and, in such event, the holders of the remaining shares are unable to elect any directors to be elected at that time. Other than as discussed below under “—Rights Agreement,” our certificate of incorporation does not provide stockholders any preemptive rights to acquire or subscribe for any stock, obligation, warrant or other securities of ours. Holders of shares of our common stock have no redemption or conversion rights nor are they entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund provisions.

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of shares of our common stock will be entitled to receive, pro rata, all the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to our stockholders after payment of our debts and after there shall have been paid to or set aside for the holders of our capital stock ranking senior to common stock in respect of rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled.

Holders of record of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of any assets legally available for such dividends, subject to both the rights of all outstanding shares of capital stock ranking senior to the common stock in respect of dividends and to any dividend restrictions contained in debt agreements. All outstanding shares of our common stock and any shares sold pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable.

Rights Agreement

The Rights. On February 14, 2020, the Company entered into a net operating loss carryforwards rights plan with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent, which was amended on March 4, 2022 (as so amended, the “Rights Agreement”). In connection therewith, the Company issued a right with respect to each share of common stock outstanding on February 28, 2020 (the “Record Date”). The rights initially trade with, and are inseparable from, the common stock. New rights will accompany any new shares of common stock issued after the Record Date until the earlier of the Distribution Date (as defined below), the redemption date or the expiration date of the rights, as described below. Prior to exercise, a right does not give its holder any dividend, voting or liquidation rights.

Exercise Price. Each right will allow its registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, for $56.00, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances (the “Purchase Price”), once the rights become exercisable.

 

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Exercisability. The rights will not be exercisable until the earlier to occur of:

 

   

10 business days following public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or such earlier date that a majority of our board of directors becomes aware of the existence of such Acquiring Person, or

 

   

10 business days (or a later date determined by our board of directors before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender or exchange offer which, if completed, would result in that person or group becoming an Acquiring Person.

The date when the rights become exercisable is referred to as the “Distribution Date.” Until the Distribution Date, the rights are evidenced, with respect to any common stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such common stock certificates, and with respect to any shares of common stock held in uncertificated form as of the Record Date, by the book entries in the book-entry system for the common stock, in each case together with a copy of a Summary of Rights that the Company sent to all holders of record of common stock as of the Record Date. Until the Distribution Date, new common stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of share of common stock will contain a legend regarding the rights (which certificates will evidence the associated rights) and the Company will deliver a notice regarding the rights upon the transfer or new issuance of shares of common stock held in book-entry form (which book-entries will evidence the associated rights). Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, termination or expiration of the rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for common stock or book-entry shares, with or without such legend, notice or Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the associated rights. After the Distribution Date, the rights will separate from the common stock and be evidenced solely by right certificates that the Company will mail to all eligible holders of common stock. Any rights held by an Acquiring Person or an associate or affiliate thereof and certain transferees thereof will be null and void and may not be exercised.

Acquiring Person. “Acquiring Person” means any person or group that acquires 4.99% or more of the outstanding common stock or any existing stockholder who currently owns 5.00% or more of the common stock that acquires any additional shares of common stock without the approval of our board of directors. The Rights Agreement also gives discretion to our board of directors to determine that someone is an Acquiring Person even if they do not own 4.99% or more of the outstanding common stock but do own 4.99% or more in value of the Company’s outstanding stock, as determined pursuant to Section 382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, our board of directors has established procedures to consider requests to exempt certain acquisitions of the Company’s securities from the Rights Agreement if the board of directors determines that doing so would not limit or impair the availability of the NOLs or is otherwise in the best interests of the Company.

Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person. If a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, all holders of rights except the Acquiring Person or an associate or affiliate thereof and certain transferees thereof may, upon exercise of a right, purchase for the Purchase Price shares of common stock with a market value of two times the Purchase Price, based on the market price of the common stock prior to such acquisition. If the Company does not have a sufficient number of shares of common stock available, the Company may under certain circumstances substitute shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other securities or property for the common stock into which the rights would have otherwise been exercisable.

Exempt Persons. Our board of directors recognizes that there may be instances when an acquisition of shares of the common stock that would cause a stockholder to become an Acquiring Person may not jeopardize or endanger, in any material respect, the availability of the NOLs to the Company. Accordingly, the Rights Agreement grants discretion to our board of directors to designate a person as an “Exempt Person.” Our board of directors can revoke an “Exempt Person” designation if it subsequently makes a contrary determination regarding whether a person jeopardizes or endangers in any material respect the availability of the NOLs to the Company.

 

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Expiration. The rights will expire on the earliest of (i) the close of business on April 19, 2026, (ii) the time at which the rights are redeemed as provided in the Rights Agreement, (iii) the time at which the rights are exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement, (iv) the time at which our board of directors determines that the NOLs are fully utilized or no longer available under Section 382 of the Code, (v) the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Code if our board of directors determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of NOLs, or (vi) the closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to an agreement of the type described in the Rights Agreement.

Redemption. Our board of directors may redeem the rights for $0.01 per right at any time before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person. If our board of directors redeems any rights, it must redeem all of the rights. Once the rights are redeemed, the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price of $0.01 per right. The redemption price will be adjusted if the Company has a stock split or issues stock dividends of its common stock.

Exchange. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, in lieu of the consequences described above in “Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person,” our board of directors may extinguish the rights by exchanging one share of common stock or an equivalent security for each right, other than rights held by the Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate thereof and certain transferees thereof, which will have become null and void.

Anti-Dilution Provisions. The Purchase Price of the Series A Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issuable and the number of outstanding rights are subject to adjustment to prevent dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including among others, a stock dividend, a stock split, or a reclassification of the Series A Preferred Stock or common stock. With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price.

Amendments. The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by our board of directors without the consent of the holders of the rights except that after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, our board of directors may not amend the agreement in a way that adversely affects holders of the rights.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Rights Agreement. In general terms, the Rights Agreement works by imposing a significant penalty upon the Acquiring Person. The Rights Agreement also gives discretion to our board of directors to determine that someone is an Acquiring Person even if they do not own 4.99% or more of the outstanding common stock but do own 4.99% or more in value of the Company’s outstanding stock, as determined pursuant to Section 382 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Stockholders who currently own 5.00% or more of the common stock will not trigger the rights unless they acquire additional shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Rights Agreement. In addition, our board of directors has established procedures to consider requests to exempt certain acquisitions of the Company’s securities from the Rights Agreement if our board of directors determines that doing so would not limit or impair the availability of the NOLs or is otherwise in the best interests of the Company.

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, our board of directors approved a Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock designating 140,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of our authorized preferred stock. Each one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, if issued:

 

   

will not be redeemable.

 

   

will entitle the holder to quarterly dividend payments equal to the dividend paid on one share of common stock.

 

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will entitle the holder upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company to receive the greater of (a) $0.01 per one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) and (b) an amount equal to the payment made on one share of common stock.

 

   

will have the same voting power as one share of common stock.

 

   

if shares of common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation, or a similar transaction, will entitle the holder to a payment equal to the payment made on one share of common stock.

The value of one one-thousandth interest in a share of Series A Preferred Stock should approximate the value of one share of common stock.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock (inclusive of the Series A Preferred Stock) in one or more series and to determine:

 

   

the distinctive serial designation and number of shares of the series;

 

   

the voting powers and the right, if any, to elect a director or directors;

 

   

the terms of office of any directors the holders of preferred shares are entitled to elect;

 

   

the dividend rights, if any;

 

   

the terms of redemption, and the amount of and provisions regarding any sinking fund for the purchase or redemption thereof;

 

   

the liquidation preferences and the amounts payable on dissolution or liquidation;

 

   

the terms and conditions under which shares of the series may or shall be converted into any other series or class of stock or debt of the corporation; and

 

   

any other terms or provisions which our board of directors is legally authorized to fix or alter.

We will not need stockholder approval to issue or fix the terms of the preferred stock. The actual effect of the authorization of the preferred stock upon your rights as holders of common stock is unknown until our board of directors determines the specific rights of owners of any series of preferred stock. Depending upon the rights granted to any series of preferred stock, your voting power, liquidation preference or other rights could be adversely affected. Preferred stock may be issued in acquisitions or for other corporate purposes. Issuance in connection with a stockholder rights plan or other takeover defense could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, control of the Company.

140,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.”

Related Party Transactions and Corporate Opportunities

Subject to the limitations of applicable law, our certificate of incorporation, among other things:

 

   

permits us to enter into contracts and transactions in which one or more of our officers or directors may be a party to or may be financially or otherwise interested in so long as such contract or transaction is approved by our board of directors in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”);

 

   

permits any of our stockholders or non-employee directors and their affiliates to engage in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which we engage or propose to engage, compete with us and to make investments in any kind of property in which we may make investments and will not be deemed to have (i) acted in a manner inconsistent with his or her fiduciary or other duties to us regarding the opportunity, (ii) acted in bad faith or in a manner inconsistent with our best interests or (iii) be liable to us or our stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that they have engaged in such activities; and

 

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provides that if any of our stockholders, non-employee directors or their affiliates acquire knowledge of a potential business opportunity, transaction or other matter (other than one expressly offered to any non-employee director in writing solely in his or her capacity as our director ), such stockholder, non-employee director or affiliate will have no duty to communicate or offer that opportunity to us, and will be permitted to pursue or acquire such opportunity or offer that opportunity to another person and will not be deemed to have (i) acted in a manner inconsistent with his or her fiduciary or other duties to us regarding the opportunity, (ii) acted in bad faith or in a manner inconsistent with our best interests or (iii) be liable to us or our stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that they have pursued or acquired such opportunity or offered the opportunity to another person.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Undesignated preferred stock. The ability to authorize and issue undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to change control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in our best interest, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group.

Stockholder meetings. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our board, by a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors or at the request of holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock. Stockholders requesting a special meeting are required to provide a notice to us with the proposed date, time and place of the meeting (which may not be earlier than 60 days after the date the notice is delivered to us (or 90 days in the case of special meetings called to elect one or more directors)) and the purposes for which the special meeting is being called. The stockholders requesting the special meeting are also required to comply with the requirements that would be applicable if the stockholders were proposing to nominate a candidate for election as a director at an annual meeting or proposing a topic for consideration at an annual meeting.

382 Transfer Restrictions. Our certificate of incorporation contains transfer restrictions (the “382 Transfer Restrictions”), which require approval from our board of directors in order for a person to acquire 4.99% of our stock or for any existing 4.99% holder to increase their ownership percentage upon the Company’s conversion to a corporation. In particular, without the approval of our board of directors, no person or group of persons treated as a single entity under Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-3 is permitted to acquire, whether directly, indirectly or constructively, and whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any of our common stock or any other instrument treated as stock for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, to the extent that after giving effect to such purported acquisition (a) the purported acquirer, or any other person by reason of the purported acquirer’s acquisition, would become a Substantial Holder (as defined below), or (b) the percentage of ownership of our common stock by a person that, prior to giving effect to the purported acquisition, is already a Substantial Holder would be increased. A “Substantial Holder” is a person that owns (as determined for purposes of Section 382 of the Code) at least 4.99% of the total value of our common stock, including any instrument treated

 

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as stock for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. See “Item 1, Part 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Ownership of our Common Stock—Our common stock is subject to the 382 Transfer Restrictions under our certificate of incorporation and the Rights Agreement which are intended to prevent a Section 382 “ownership change,” which if not complied with, could result in the forfeiture of such stock and related dividends or substantial dilution of the stock ownership, respectively. Accordingly, this may impact the market price of our common stock and discourage third parties from seeking strategic transactions with us that could be beneficial to our stockholders” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 incorporated by reference herein.

Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder nominations or 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 date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the annual meeting for the preceding year. Our bylaws will specify the requirements as to form and content of all stockholders’ notices. These requirements may make it more difficult for stockholders to bring matters before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting.

The provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Rights Agreement could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. 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 transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Amendments to Our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation may be amended as allowed by the DGCL. Our bylaws contain provisions allowing our board of directors to amend and repeal the bylaws. The holders of our common stock may also amend the bylaws upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents an interested stockholder, which is defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a Delaware corporation, from engaging in a business combination (as defined therein) for three years following the date that such person became an interested stockholder unless various conditions are satisfied. We have elected to opt out of the provisions of DGCL Section 203. Accordingly, we are not subject to the anti-takeover effects of DGCL Section 203.

Exclusive Forum

Our certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and other employees for breach of a fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in specified courts in the State of Delaware. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers and other employees.

 

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Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for the following liabilities that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL:

 

   

for any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment or repeal of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment or repeal.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law; provided that we shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors. Our bylaws also explicitly authorize us to purchase insurance to protect any of our officers, directors, employees or agents or any person who is or was serving at our request as an officer, director, employee or agent of another enterprise for any expense, liability or loss, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification.

We entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. The agreements provide that we will indemnify and hold harmless each indemnitee for certain expenses to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by law, including the DGCL, in effect on the date of the agreement or as it may be amended to provide more advantageous rights to the indemnitee. If such indemnification is unavailable as a result of a court decision and if we and the indemnitee are jointly liable in the proceeding, we will contribute funds to the indemnitee for his or her expenses in proportion to relative benefit and fault of us and the indemnitee in the transaction giving rise to the proceeding. The indemnification agreements also provide that (i) we will indemnify the indemnitee for monetary damages for actions taken as our director or officer or for serving at our request as a director or officer or another position at another corporation or enterprise, as the case may be; and (ii) we must advance payment of certain expenses to the indemnitee, including fees of counsel, subject to receipt of an undertaking from the indemnitee to return such advance if it is it is ultimately determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.

We believe that the limitation of liability provision included in our certificate of incorporation and the indemnification agreements will facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as our directors and officers.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. The transfer agent for any series of preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement for that series.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and debt securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the rights in such offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The following summary of certain provisions of the rights does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable rights agreement.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of rights offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement for the terms of and information relating to such rights, including, where applicable:

 

   

the title of the rights and the aggregate number outstanding;

 

   

the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

   

the number of rights issued or to be issued to each stockholder;

 

   

the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of rights to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the number of shares and series of preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of rights to purchase preferred stock and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the designation and number of depositary shares purchasable upon the exercise of rights to purchase depositary shares and the price at which such number of depositary shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of rights to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the extent to which the rights are transferable;

 

   

the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire;

 

   

the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

 

   

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights; and

 

   

any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures, conditions and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights.

On February 14, 2020, we adopted the Rights Agreement, which was amended on March 4, 2022. For further information about the rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, see “Description of Capital Stock” above.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock rather than full shares of preferred stock. In that event, depositary receipts will be issued to evidence depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares.

The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company, as depositary, that we will select as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of depositary shares, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, including dividend and liquidation rights and any right to convert the shares of preferred stock into common stock.

We will describe the terms of any depositary shares we offer and the related depositary agreement, as well as the terms of the shares of preferred stock represented thereby, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants that entitle the holder to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable warrant agreement.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:

 

   

the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the number of shares and series of preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the designation and number of depositary shares purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase depositary shares and the price at which such number of depositary shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

   

U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to such warrants;

 

   

the amount of warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

 

   

any other terms of such warrants.

Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with the applicable prospectus supplement.

Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of preferred stock, common stock or depositary shares at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised shall be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities, holders of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of such common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable

 

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upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the preferred stock, or common stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote or to exercise any rights of holders of depositary receipts in respect of the depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a specified number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities offered hereby at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “purchase contracts.” The price per unit of the securities and the number of units of the securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts in a specified manner. The purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable for common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities of ours or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities.

An accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the purchase contracts and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements relating to the purchase contracts. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase units and the purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The securities being offered by this prospectus may be sold by us or a selling stockholder in and outside the United States (1) through underwriters or dealers; (2) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates and stockholders, through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise or in a rights offering; (3) through agents (acting as agent or principal); (4) through a combination of any of these methods; or (5) through any other method described in a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

   

the terms of the offering;

 

   

the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

   

the names and addresses of the selling stockholders, if any, the type and amount of our common stock that they own, and a description of any material relationships between the selling stockholders and us;

 

   

the purchase price of the securities;

 

   

the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

 

   

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

   

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

   

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any commissions paid to agents.

The securities may be sold in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

We or selling stockholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). We, the selling stockholder or one of our or their affiliates may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

If underwriters are used in a sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account for resale to the public. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or

 

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under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. The prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Representatives of the underwriters through whom the offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the offered securities so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the offered securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the representative of the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the offered securities originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Such stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the offered securities to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected on a national securities exchange and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom the securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.

If dealers are used in the sale of securities, we, a selling stockholder or an underwriter will sell the securities to them as principals. The dealers may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. If applicable, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

We or a selling stockholder may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. If required, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.

We or a selling stockholder may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. To the extent required, we will describe the terms of any such sales in the applicable prospectus supplement, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing stockholders on a pro rata basis that may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our stockholders, if all

 

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of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or we may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.

Remarketing Arrangements

Offered securities also may be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us or the selling stockholders. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us or the selling stockholders, as applicable, and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the securities remarketed.

Delayed Delivery Arrangements

If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we or the selling stockholders may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

General Information

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make. If required, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution.

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of our business for which they may receive compensation.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering of securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (the Company) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The information included or incorporated by reference herein relating to the estimates of the quantity and quality of our proven and probable coal reserves for Mine No. 4, Mine No. 7 and our Blue Creek mine is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is an extract from, the technical report summaries relating to such properties prepared in compliance with Item 601(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K by Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc., an independent engineering firm and has been included or incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of this firm as an expert in those matters.

The information incorporated by reference herein relating to the estimates of the quantity and quality of our proven and probable mineral reserves for our other mines was prepared by McGehee Engineering Corp., an independent engineering firm and has been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of this firm as an expert in those matters.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also filed a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. You can find our public filings with the SEC on the internet at a website maintained by the SEC located at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available on our internet website our annual, quarterly and current reports and amendments as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our internet address is www.warriormetcoal.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

We are “incorporating by reference” specified documents that we file with the SEC, which means (i) incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus; (ii) we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents; and (iii) information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus.

 

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We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (excluding any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Form 8-K or other information furnished with the SEC, which is not deemed filed under the Exchange Act), which we filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 22, 2022;

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on May  5, 2022 and August 3, 2022, respectively;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2022, April  5, 2022, April  26, 2022, and August 3, 2022;

 

   

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December  31, 2021 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2022;

 

   

the description of our Common Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2017, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

   

the description of our Rights Agreement and our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2020, including our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2022, which report sets forth an update to such description, and any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, we incorporate by reference in this prospectus any future filings made by the Company with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Form 8-K or other information furnished to the SEC, which is not deemed filed under the Exchange Act) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC and until all offerings under this registration statement are terminated.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.

16243 Highway 216

Brookwood, AL 35444

(205) 554-6150

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the fees and expenses in connection with a distribution of securities under this registration statement.

 

SEC registration fee

   $              

FINRA filing fee

     *

Accounting fees and expenses

     *

Legal fees and expenses

     *

Rating agency fees and expenses

     *

Printing and engraving expenses

     *

Trustee, transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

     *

Miscellaneous expenses

     *
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *

 

*

The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).

**

These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Limitation of Liability

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation, to limit or eliminate, subject to certain statutory limitations, the liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, except for liability:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases; and

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, Article IX of our certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our certificate of incorporation eliminates our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.

If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of

 

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directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.

Indemnification

Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation, under specified circumstances, to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties by reason of the fact that they were or are directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation, if such directors, officers, employees or agents acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors, officers, employees or agents are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former directors and officers, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes and penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.

The right to indemnification conferred by our certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses is not deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or

 

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adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our certificate of incorporation also permits us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our certificate of incorporation.

Our bylaws include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those set forth in our certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnitee to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

We entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our future directors and executive officers.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(A) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit

Number

   Description
  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  2.1#    Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of March  31, 2016, by and among Warrior Met Coal, LLC and the other purchasers party thereto, as buyers, and Walter Energy, Inc. and certain subsidiaries of Walter Energy, Inc., as sellers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-216499) filed with the Commission on March 7, 2017).
  2.2    Form of Certificate of Conversion of Warrior Met Coal, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  2.2 to the registrant’s Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-216499) filed with the Commission on April  3, 2017).
  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-217389) filed with the Commission on April 19, 2017).
  3.2    Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on March 20, 2020).
  3.3    Second Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on April 26, 2022).

 

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Exhibit

Number

   Description
  3.4    Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Warrior Met Coal, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 14, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on February 14, 2020).
  3.5    Bylaws of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-217389) filed with the Commission on April 19, 2017).
  3.6    Amendment to Bylaws of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on August 3, 2022).
  4.1    Specimen Certificate for shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-216499) filed with the Commission on April 3, 2017).
  4.2    Rights Agreement, dated as of February  14, 2020, between Warrior Met Coal, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (including the form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached thereto as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate attached thereto as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares attached thereto as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on February 14, 2020)).
  4.3    Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of March  4, 2022 between Warrior Met Coal, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on March 4, 2022).
  4.4    Form of Base Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities (including form of Senior Debt Security) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on October 30, 2019).
  4.5    Form of Base Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities (including form of Subordinated Debt Security) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 001-38061) filed with the Commission on October 30, 2019).
  4.6*    Form of Certificate of Designations.
  4.7*    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.
  4.8*    Form of Rights Agreement (including form of Rights Certificate).
  4.9*    Form of Deposit Agreement.
  4.10*    Form of Depositary Receipt Certificate.
  4.11*    Form of Warrant Agreement.
  4.12*    Form of Warrant Certificate.
  4.13*    Form of Purchase Contract Agreement.
  5.1**    Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1**    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2**    Consent of Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc.

 

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Exhibit

Number

   Description
23.3**    Consent of McGehee Engineering Corp.
23.4**    Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1**    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
25.1**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Base Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities.
107**    Fee Table.

 

*

To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

**

Filed herewith.

#

The schedules to this agreement have been omitted for this filing pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company will furnish copies of such schedules to the SEC upon request.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

 

  (a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1.     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)     To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii)     To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

2.     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3.     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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4.     That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser

(i)     Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii)     Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

5.     That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)     Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)     Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)     The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)     Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

  (b)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (c)

Insofar as indemnification by the registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,

 

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  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Brookwood, Alabama, on September 30, 2022.

 

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Walter J. Scheller, III

 

Walter J. Scheller, III

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Walter J. Scheller, III and Dale W. Boyles, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, from such person and in each person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to sign and file any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might or could do, if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on September 30, 2022.

 

Signature       Title

/s/ Walter J. Scheller, III

Walter J. Scheller, III

    Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

/s/ Dale W. Boyles

Dale W. Boyles

    Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Stephen D. Williams

Stephen D. Williams

    Director

/s/ Ana B. Amicarella

Ana B. Amicarella

    Director

/s/ J. Brett Harvey

J. Brett Harvey

    Director

/s/ Alan H. Schumacher

Alan H. Schumacher

    Director

/s/ Lisa M. Schnorr

Lisa M. Schnorr

    Director
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