As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Equitrans Midstream Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Pennsylvania (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | | 83-0516635 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
2200 Energy Drive
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
(724) 271-7600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
(724) 271-7600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Stephen M. Moore
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
2200 Energy Drive
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
(724) 271-7600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
2200 Energy Drive
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
(724) 271-7600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Ryan J. Maierson
Nick S. Dhesi
Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 546-5400
Nick S. Dhesi
Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 546-5400
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
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, 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 on 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, 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 Exchange Act.
| 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 comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of securities to be registered | | | | Amount to be registered | | | | Proposed maximum offering price per share | | | | Proposed maximum aggregate offering price | | | | Amount of registration fee | | ||||||||||||
Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares, no par value | | | | | | 30,018,446 | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | |
Underlying Common Stock, no par value | | | | | | 30,018,446(1)(2) | | | | | | $ | 9.12(3) | | | | | | $ | 273,768,227.52(3) | | | | | | $ | 35,535.12(3)(4) | | |
(1)
Represents the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion in full of the 30,018,446 shares of preferred stock.
(2)
An unspecified number of additional shares of common stock is being registered as may be issued from time to time upon conversion of the shares of preferred stock into common stock pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments with respect to the preferred stock.
(3)
The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price were estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, based on the average of the high and low prices for our common stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange on July 6, 2020, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(4)
Pursuant to Rule 457(i), a single registration fee is payable with respect to the preferred stock and the underlying shares of common stock.
PROSPECTUS
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Equitrans Midstream Corporation
30,018,446 Shares of Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares Offered by the Selling Shareholders
30,018,446 Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Conversion of the Preferred Stock Offered by the Selling Shareholders
30,018,446 Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Conversion of the Preferred Stock Offered by the Selling Shareholders
The selling shareholders to be identified in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell (i) up to 30,018,446 shares in the aggregate of our Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred Stock) and/or (ii) up to 30,018,446 shares in the aggregate of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the selling shareholders’ Series A Preferred Stock into common stock and any additional shares of common stock that we may issue from time to time upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock into common stock pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock (the underlying common stock, and, together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the offered securities), in each case from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.
Each time the selling shareholders offer and sell securities, if necessary, such selling shareholders will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering, the selling shareholders and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
The selling shareholders may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. In addition, the selling shareholders, together or separately, may offer and sell the offered securities from time to time. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the offered securities by the selling shareholders, but we have agreed to pay certain registration expenses. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and, if necessary, the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN ANY APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ETRN.” On July 9, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $9.51 per share. Our Series A Preferred Stock is not listed on any securities exchange.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is July 13, 2020.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, the selling shareholders to be named in a supplement to this prospectus may, from time to time, sell offered securities in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that any such selling shareholder offers and sells securities, if necessary, the selling shareholders will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
Neither we, nor the selling shareholders, have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the selling shareholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The selling shareholders will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Equitrans Midstream Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable class or series of securities.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our website address is http://www.equitransmidstream.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. The documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 3, 2020, February 27, 2020 (Film No.: 20658796), February 28, 2020, March 6, 2020, March 13, 2020, March 30, 2020, April 1, 2020, April 29, 2020, May 21, 2020, June 15, 2020, June 17, 2020 and June 18, 2020, (in each case, other than documents or information that is furnished and deemed not to have been filed as indicated therein).
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All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), prior to the termination of this offering but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
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You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Equitrans Midstream Corporation
2200 Energy Drive
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (724) 271-7600
2200 Energy Drive
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (724) 271-7600
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference therein. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before buying any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and all other information, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, that are included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you decide to purchase any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
About Equitrans Midstream Corporation
The Company is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the trading symbol “ETRN.” The Company is one of the largest natural gas gatherers in the United States and holds a significant transmission footprint in the Appalachian Basin. The Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on November 12, 2018 and a Statement with Respect to Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock (the Statement with Respect to Shares) with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on June 17, 2020.
Additional Information
The Company’s principal executive office and phone number are: 2200 Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317, and (724) 271-7600.
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RISK FACTORS
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of offered securities by the selling shareholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our capital stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Company Articles), and the Statement with Respect to Shares, which have been publicly filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
General
Under the Company Articles, the Company is authorized to issue 1,250,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value.
As of July 9, 2020, there were approximately 433,270,904 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and 30,018,446 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.
The Company’s Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of the Company’s common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters requiring a vote of shareholders. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in elections of directors. A director nominee will be elected to the Company’s board of directors (the Company Board) at a meeting of shareholders if the votes cast “for” such nominee exceed the votes cast “against” such nominee (excluding abstentions), unless the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, in which case the nominees receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of directors to be elected will be elected.
Dividend Rights
Subject to the rights and preferences of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, each share of the Company’s common stock is entitled to receive any dividends, in cash, securities or property, as the Company Board may declare. Pennsylvania law prohibits the payment of dividends and the repurchase of capital stock if the Company is insolvent or if the Company would become insolvent after the dividend or repurchase (unless, in the case of a repurchase, the purchase price is deferred such that the Company will not become insolvent when it is paid).
Liquidation and Other Rights
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up, either voluntarily or involuntarily, of the Company, subject to the rights and preferences of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of common stock will been titled to share pro rata in all of the Company’s remaining assets available for distribution.
Miscellaneous
The holders of the Company’s common stock do not have preemptive rights or conversion rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock. Holders of fully paid shares of the Company’s common stock are not subject to any liability for further calls or assessments.
Description of Preferred Stock
General
Under Pennsylvania law and the Company Articles, the Company Board is authorized to issue additional shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series without shareholder approval.
Subject to limitations prescribed by Pennsylvania law, the Company Articles, the Statement with Respect to Shares and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Company Bylaws), the
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Company Board is able to determine the number of shares constituting each series of preferred stock and the designation, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and special or relative rights or privileges of that series.
As of the date hereof, the Company Board has authorized and issued one series of preferred stock, consisting of 30,018,446 shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
Description of Series A Preferred Stock
The Series A Preferred Stock ranks pari passu with any other outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company and senior to the Company’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation. The Series A Preferred Stock vote on an as-converted basis with the Company’s common stock and have certain other class voting rights with respect to any amendment to the Certificate of Designations relating to the Series A Preferred Stock attached to the Statement with Respect to Shares (the Certificate of Designations) or the Company Articles that would be adverse (other than in a de minimis manner) to any of the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock.
Dividends
The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock receive cumulative quarterly dividends at a rate per annum of 9.75% for each quarter ending on or before March 31, 2024, and thereafter quarterly dividends at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) three-month LIBOR as of the LIBOR Determination Date (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) in respect of the applicable quarter and (b) 8.15%; provided that such rate per annum in respect of periods after March 31, 2024 will not be less than 10.50%. The Company is not entitled to pay any dividends on any junior securities, including on the Company’s common stock, prior to paying the quarterly dividends payable to the Series A Preferred Stock, including any previously accrued and unpaid dividends.
Conversion
Each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock may elect to convert all or any portion of the Series A Preferred Stock owned by it into the Company’s common stock initially on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments and an adjustment for any dividends that have accrued but not been paid when due and partial period dividends (referred to as the conversion rate), at any time (but not more often than once per fiscal quarter) after April 10, 2021 (or immediately prior to a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company), provided that any conversion involves an aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of at least $20.0 million (calculated based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day preceding notice of the conversion) or such lesser amount if such conversion relates to all of a holder’s remaining shares of Series A Preferred Stock or if such conversion is approved by the Company Board.
So long as the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have not elected to convert all of their Series A Preferred Stock into the Company’s common stock, the Company may elect to convert all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s common stock, at the then-applicable conversion rate, at any time after April 10, 2021 if (a) the shares of the Company’s common stock are listed for, or admitted to, trading on a national securities exchange, (b) the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the national securities exchange on which the shares of the Company’s common stock are listed for, or admitted to, trading exceeds $27.99 for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding notice of the conversion, (c) the average daily trading volume of the shares of the Company’s common stock on the national securities exchange on which the shares of the Company’s common stock are listed for, or admitted to, trading exceeds 1,000,000 shares (subject to certain adjustments) of the Company’s common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding notice of the conversion, (d) the Company has an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering resales of the shares of the Company’s common stock to be received by such holders upon any such conversion and (e) the Company has paid all prior accumulated and unpaid dividends in cash in full to the holders.
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Change of Control
Upon certain events involving a Change of Control (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) in which more than 90% of the consideration payable to the Company, or to the holders of the Company’s common stock is payable in cash, the Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into the Company’s common stock at a conversion ratio equal to the greater of (i) the quotient of (a) the sum of (x) the Issue Price (as defined the Certificate of Designations) plus (y) any accrued and unpaid dividends as of such date, including any partial period dividends, with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, divided by (b) the Issue Price and (ii) the quotient of (a) the sum of (x) (1) the Issue Price multiplied by (2) 110% plus (y) any accrued and unpaid dividends on such date, including any partial period dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, divided by (b) the volume weighted average price of the shares of the Company’s common stock for the 30-day period ending immediately prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the Change of Control.
In connection with other Change of Control events that do not satisfy the 90% cash consideration threshold described above, in addition to certain other conditions, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock may elect to (a) convert all, but not less than all, of its Series A Preferred Stock into the Company’s common stock at the then-applicable conversion rate, (b) if the Company is not the surviving entity (or if the Company is the surviving entity, but the Company’s common stock will cease to be listed), require the Company to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the surviving entity in any such transaction to deliver, in exchange for such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock, a substantially equivalent security that has rights, preferences and privileges substantially equivalent to the Series A Preferred Stock (or if the Company is unable to cause such substantially equivalent securities to be issued, to exercise the option described in clause (a) or (d) hereof or elect to convert such Series A Preferred Stock at a conversion ratio reflecting a multiple of invested capital), (c) if the Company is the surviving entity, continue to hold the Series A Preferred Stock or (d) require the Company to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to 101% of the Issue Price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, including any partial period dividends, on the applicable Series A Preferred Stock as of such date, which redemption price may be payable in cash, the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof at the election of the Company (and, if payable in the Company’s common stock, such shares of the Company’s common stock will be issued at 95% of the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock for the 20-day period ending on the fifth trading day immediately preceding the consummation of the Change of Control). Any holder of Series A Preferred Stock that requires the Company to redeem its Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (d) above will have the right to withdraw such election with respect to all, but not less than all, of its Series A Preferred Stock at any time prior to the fifth trading day immediately preceding the consummation of the Change of Control and instead elect to be treated in accordance with any of clauses (a), (b) or (c) above.
Optional Redemption
At any time on or after January 1, 2024, the Company will have the right, subject to applicable law, to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, by paying cash for each Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the sum of (i)(1) the Issue Price multiplied by (2) 110%, plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid dividends, including partial period dividends, with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock as of such date and (b) the amount the holder of such Series A Preferred Stock would receive if such holder had converted such Series A Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s common stock at the then-applicable conversion ratio and the Company liquidated immediately thereafter.
Registration Rights Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2020, by and among the Company and the selling shareholders (the Registration Rights Agreement), the Company gave the selling shareholders certain rights to require the Company to file and maintain one or more registration statements with respect to the resale of the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of common stock that are issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, and certain of the selling shareholders have the right to require the Company to initiate underwritten offerings for the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of the Company’s common stock that are issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.
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Anti-Takeover Effect of the Company’s Governing Documents and Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law
The Company Articles and the Company Bylaws contain a number of provisions relating to corporate governance and to the rights of the Company shareholders. Certain of these provisions may have a potential “anti-takeover” effect by delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company. In addition, certain provisions of Pennsylvania law may have a similar effect.
Required Vote for Amendment of the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws
Subject to the voting rights given to any particular series of preferred stock by the Company Board, if any, pursuant to the Company Articles, and except as may be specifically provided to the contrary in any other provision in the Company Articles with respect to amendment or repeal of such provision, the Company Articles cannot be amended and no provision may be repealed by the Company shareholders without the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously approved by two-thirds of the Company’s whole board of directors, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Company Articles) the Company Articles may be amended and any provision repealed by such shareholder approval as may be specified by law.
The Company Board may make, amend and repeal the Company Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the Company shareholders, subject to the power of the Company shareholders to change such action. No bylaw may be made, amended or repealed by the Company shareholders unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously approved by two-thirds of the Company’s whole board of directors, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws) the Company Bylaws may be amended and any provision may be repealed by such shareholder approval as may be specified by law.
Preferred Stock
The purpose of authorizing the Company Board to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a shareholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting stock. The existence of the authorized but undesignated preferred stock may have a depressive effect on the market price of the Company’s common stock.
Anti-Takeover Law Provisions under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law
The Company is subject to certain provisions of Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law (the PBCL), which may have the effect of discouraging or rendering more difficult a hostile takeover attempt against the Company, including Section 2524, Section 2538, Subchapter 25E and Subchapter 25F of the PBCL.
Under Section 2524 of the PBCL, shareholders of the Company cannot act by partial written consent except if permitted under the Company Articles. The Company Articles do not permit shareholder action by partial written consent except with respect to amending the number of votes required to elect a nominee for director to the Company Board.
Section 2538 of the PBCL requires enhanced shareholder approval for certain transactions between the Company and an “interested shareholder” (defined as a shareholder who is a party to the transaction or is treated differently from other shareholders). Section 2538 applies if an interested shareholder (together with his, her or its affiliates) is to (i) be a party to a merger or consolidation, a share exchange or certain sales of assets involving the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries; (ii) receive a disproportionate amount of any securities of any corporation which survives or results from a division; (iii) be treated differently
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from others holding shares of the same class in a voluntary dissolution of such corporation; or (iv) have his or her percentage of voting or economic share interest in such corporation materially increased relative to substantially all other shareholders in a reclassification. Under these circumstances, the proposed transaction must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing at least a majority of the votes that all disinterested shareholders are entitled to cast with respect to such transaction. However, this special voting requirement will not apply where the proposed transaction has been approved in a prescribed manner by the members of the Company Board independent from the interested shareholder or if certain other conditions, including the amount of consideration to be paid to certain shareholders, are satisfied or the interested shareholder owns 80% or more of the Company. This voting requirement is in addition to any other voting requirement under the PBCL, the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws.
Under Subchapter 25E of the PBCL, if any person or group acting in concert acquires voting power over shares representing 20% or more of the votes which all of the Company’s shareholders would be entitled to cast in an election of directors, any other shareholder may demand that such person or group purchase such shareholder’s shares at a price determined in an appraisal proceeding.
Under Subchapter 25F of the PBCL, the Company may not engage in a merger, consolidation, share exchange, division, asset sale, disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) or a variety of other business combination transactions with a person who becomes the beneficial owner of shares representing 20% or more of the voting power in an election of the Company’s directors unless: (1) the business combination or the acquisition of the 20% interest is approved by the Company Board prior to the date the 20% interest is acquired; (2) the person beneficially owns at least 80% of the Company’s outstanding shares and the business combination (a) is approved by a majority vote of the disinterested shareholders and (b) satisfies certain minimum price and other conditions prescribed in Subchapter 25F; (3) the business combination is approved by a majority vote of the disinterested shareholders at a meeting called no earlier than five years after the date the 20% interest is acquired; or (4) the business combination (a) is approved by shareholder vote at a meeting called no earlier than five years after the date the 20% interest is acquired and (b) satisfies certain minimum price and other conditions prescribed in Subchapter 25F.
The Company has opted out of Subchapter 25G of the PBCL (which would have required a shareholder vote to accord voting rights to control shares acquired by a 20% shareholder in a control-share acquisition) and Subchapter 25H of the PBCL (which would have required a person or group to disgorge to the Company any profits received from a sale of the Company’s equity securities under certain circumstances).
Advance Notice Requirements
The Company Bylaws require the Company shareholders to provide advance notice if they wish to submit a proposal or nominate candidates for director at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. These procedures provide that notice of shareholder proposals and shareholder nominations for the election of directors at the Company’s annual meeting must be in writing and received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary at its principal executive offices at least 90, but not more than 120, days prior to the anniversary of the date of the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. In the case of a shareholder nomination, the notice submitted to the Company’s Corporate Secretary must set forth information about the nominee and any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is made and be accompanied by an executed written representation and agreement that includes an original irrevocable conditional resignation in the event that such nominee, in an uncontested election, receives more votes “against” than “for” election.
The Company Bylaws provide that the Company shall include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of shareholders the name, together with the Required Information (as defined in the Company Bylaws), of any person properly nominated for election to the Company Board by a shareholder or group of shareholders that satisfy the requirements of the Company Bylaws, including qualifying as an Eligible Shareholder (as defined in the Company Bylaws) if such Eligible Shareholder, among other things, provides advance notice to the Company in which the Eligible Shareholder expressly elects to have its nominee included in the proxy materials. The notice must be delivered to the principal executive offices of the Company at least 120, but not more than 150, days prior to the anniversary of the date that the prior year’s proxy materials for the annual meeting of shareholders were mailed. As more fully described in the Company Bylaws, the number of shareholder nominees included in the Company’s proxy materials may be the greater of (i) two and (ii) the largest whole number that does not exceed 20% of the number of directors in office
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on the last day on which the advance notice may be delivered. Shareholders will not be Eligible Shareholders able to take advantage of this provision of the Company Bylaws until the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2022, which is three years after the date of the Company’s separation from its former parent company.
Special Meetings of Shareholders
The Company Bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the Company Board or chief executive officer. The Company shareholders do not have a right to call a special meeting under the Company Bylaws or under the PBCL.
Special Treatment for Specified Groups of Nonconsenting Shareholders
Additionally, the PBCL permits an amendment of a corporation’s articles of incorporation or other corporate action, if approved by shareholders generally, to provide mandatory special treatment for specified groups of nonconsenting shareholders of the same class by providing, for example, that shares of common stock held only by designated shareholders of record, and no other shares of common stock, shall be cashed out at a price determined by the corporation, subject to applicable dissenters’ rights.
Exercise of Director Powers Generally
Section 1715 of the PBCL also provides that the directors of a corporation are not required to regard the interests of the shareholders as being dominant or controlling in making decisions concerning takeovers or any other matters. The directors may consider, to the extent they deem appropriate, among other things, (1) the effects of any proposed action upon any or all groups affected by the action, including, among others, shareholders, employees, creditors, customers and suppliers, (2) the short-term and long-term interests of the corporation, (3) the resources, intent and conduct of any person or group seeking to acquire control of the corporation and (4) all other pertinent factors. The PBCL expressly provides that directors do not violate their fiduciary duties solely by relying on “poison pills” or the anti-takeover provisions of the PBCL. The Company does not currently have a “poison pill.”
Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors, and Insurance
The PBCL permits a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a representative of the corporation, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In an action by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification will not be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the applicable court otherwise determines.
Unless ordered by a court, the determination of whether indemnification is proper in a specific case will be determined (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action or proceeding; (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (3) by the shareholders.
To the extent that a representative of a business corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of a third-party action, derivative action, or corporate action, he or she must be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such individual in connection therewith.
Pennsylvania law permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance for a director or officer against any liability asserted against such individual, and incurred in his or her capacity as a director or
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officer or arising out of his or her position, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such individual against such liability under Pennsylvania law.
The Company Articles provide that a director shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Pennsylvania law, have no personal liability for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Chapter 17, Subchapter B of the PBCL (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance), and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness. The Company Bylaws provide for indemnification for current and former directors and officers serving at the request of the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Pennsylvania law. The Company Bylaws also permit the advancement of expenses and expressly authorize the Company to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance to protect itself and its directors and officers against certain liabilities. The Company Bylaws also provide for indemnification of employees and agents of the Company under certain circumstances.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Company’s directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its shareholders. However, these provisions do not limit or eliminate the Company’s rights, or those of any shareholder, to seek nonmonetary relief such as injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care. The provisions do not alter the liability of directors under the federal securities laws. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding against any of the Company directors or officers for which indemnification is sought.
Exclusive Forum
The Company Bylaws provide that, unless the Company otherwise determines, the state and federal courts sitting in the judicial district of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, is the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company shareholders, any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the PBCL or the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws or any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision set forth in the Company Bylaws does not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Subject to applicable law and stock exchange rules, the Company’s authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without your approval. The Company may use additional shares for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to fund acquisitions and as employee compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exchange Listing
The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ETRN. The Series A Preferred Stock is not listed on any securities exchange.
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Company’s common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Phone: 800-937-5449
E-mail: Info@astfinancial.com
Website: www.astfinancial.com
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Phone: 800-937-5449
E-mail: Info@astfinancial.com
Website: www.astfinancial.com
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GLOBAL SECURITIES
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
DTC has advised us that it is:
•
a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;
•
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 holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or 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 the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.
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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and unless if otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:
•
DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;
•
we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or
16
•
an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities,
we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
Euroclear and Clearstream
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.
Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.
Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, 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 interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
Other
The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not
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take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the selling shareholders nor any agent of ours or of the selling shareholders has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the selling shareholders nor any agent of ours or of the selling shareholders will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to the possible resale by certain of our shareholders, who we refer to in this prospectus as the “selling shareholders,” of (i) up to 30,018,446 shares in the aggregate of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) up to 30,018,446 shares in the aggregate of our common stock that are issuable upon conversion of our Series A Preferred Stock and any additional shares of common stock that we may issue from time to time upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock into common stock pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock. The selling shareholders originally acquired the Series A Preferred Stock, which may be converted into the shares of our common stock included in this prospectus, pursuant to that certain Preferred Restructuring Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020, by and among the Company, EQM Midstream Partners, LP (EQM), and the selling shareholders in an issuance exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act in connection with the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company with and into EQM on June 17, 2020. In connection with the issuance and pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we agreed to file this registration statement.
Information about the selling shareholders, where applicable, including their identities, the amount of shares of offered securities owned by each selling shareholder prior to the offering, the number of shares of offered securities to be offered by each selling shareholder and the amount of offered securities to be owned by each selling shareholder after completion of the offering, will be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or in a free writing prospectus we file with the SEC. The applicable prospectus supplement will also disclose whether any of the selling shareholders has held any position or office with, has been employed by or otherwise has had a material relationship with us during the three years prior to the date of the prospectus supplement.
The selling shareholders may not sell any shares of offered securities pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified such selling shareholders and the shares being offered for resale by such selling shareholders in a subsequent prospectus supplement. However, the selling shareholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of offered securities pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling shareholders may sell the offered securities from time to time:
•
through underwriters, brokers or dealers;
•
through agents;
•
directly to one or more purchasers; or
•
through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
The selling shareholders may sell the offered securities from time to time in one or more types of transactions (which may include block transactions) on the NYSE or other exchange, in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through put or call options transactions relating to the offered securities, through short sales of offered securities or a combination of such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers, which may act as principals or agents.
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, brokers, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement, to the extent required.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Pennsylvania law, including the validity of the common stock and Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby by the selling shareholders, will be passed upon for us by McGuireWoods LLP. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling shareholders or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Equitrans Midstream Corporation appearing in Equitrans Midstream Corporation’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the effectiveness of Equitrans Midstream Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 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 consolidated financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated by reference 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 SEC) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC — Series A appearing in Equitrans Midstream Corporation’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14.
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee | | | | $ | 35,535.12 | | |
| FINRA filing fee | | | | $ | 41,565.23 | | |
| The New York Stock Exchange supplemental listing fee | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Printing expenses | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Legal fees and expenses | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Accounting fees and expenses | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Miscellaneous | | | | $ | (1) | | |
| Total | | | | $ | (1) | | |
(1)
These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with each sale of securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Item 15.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under Sections 1741 and 1742 of the PBCL, a business corporation has the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or representative of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer or representative of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of a threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, such indemnification only covers expenses and excludes judgments and amounts paid in settlement with respect to such action or proceeding, and no indemnification can be made for expenses if such person has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless, and only to the extent that, a court determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses that the court deems proper.
In addition, PBCL Section 1744 provides that, unless ordered by a court, any indemnification referred to above shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination shall be made:
1.
by the Company Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action or proceeding;
2.
if such a quorum is not obtainable, or if obtainable and a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
3.
by the shareholders.
Notwithstanding the above, PBCL Section 1743 provides that to the extent that a director, officer or representative of a business corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action or
II-1
proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Further, PBCL Section 1745 provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer, director or representative of a business corporation in defending any such action or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer, director or representative to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Also, PBCL Section 1746 provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the foregoing provisions is not exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, and that indemnification may be granted under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or directors or otherwise for any action taken or any failure to take any action and may be made whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person under any other provision of law and whether or not the indemnified liability arises or arose from any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of the corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification may be made in any case where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.
Article IV of the Company Bylaws provides that our directors or officers shall be indemnified as of right to the fullest extent not prohibited by law in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (whether brought by or in the right of the corporation or otherwise) arising out of their service to us or to another corporation or other enterprise at our request; provided, however, that the Company shall not indemnify any director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such director or officer (other than a proceeding to enforce such person’s rights to indemnification under the provisions of Article IV) unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Company Board.
PBCL Section 1747 permits a business corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or representative of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer or representative of another corporation or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions described above.
Article IV of the Company Bylaws provides that we may purchase and maintain insurance to protect the Company and any director, officer, agent or employee against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in respect of the service of such person, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability by law or under the provisions of Article IV. Article IV is applicable to persons who have ceased to be directors, officers, agents, and employees and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of persons entitled to indemnity.
We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering our directors and officers with respect to liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, which they may incur in connection with their serving as such. Under this insurance, we may receive reimbursement for amounts as to which the directors and officers are indemnified by us under the bylaw indemnification provisions described above. Such insurance also provides certain additional coverage for the directors and officers against certain liabilities even though such liabilities may not be covered by the bylaw indemnification provisions described above.
As permitted by PBCL Section 1713, the Company Articles and Company Bylaws provide that no director shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such (except to the extent otherwise provided by law) for any action taken, or failure to take any action, unless the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Subchapter B — “Fiduciary Duty” of Chapter 17 of the PBCL (or any successor statute relating to directors’ standard of care and justifiable reliance) and such director’s breach of duty or failure to perform constituted self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness. The PBCL states that this exculpation from liability does not apply to the responsibility or liability of a
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director pursuant to any criminal statute or the liability of a director for the payment of taxes pursuant to federal, state or local law. It is uncertain whether this provision will control with respect to liabilities imposed upon directors by federal law, including federal securities laws. PBCL Section 1715(d) creates a presumption, subject to exceptions, that a director acted in the best interests of the corporation. PBCL Section 1712, in defining the standard of care a director owes to the corporation, provides that a director stands in a fiduciary relation to the corporation and must perform his duties as a director or as a member of any committee of the board of directors in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, skill and diligence, as a person of ordinary prudence would use under similar circumstances.
We also have indemnification agreements with all our executive officers and directors (collectively, “indemnitees”). These agreements provide that the indemnitees will be protected as promised in the Company Bylaws (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the Company Bylaws or any change in the composition of our board of directors or an acquisition transaction relating to us) and advanced expenses to the fullest extent of the law and as set forth in the indemnification agreements. These agreements also provide, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of the indemnitees under our director and officer insurance policies. The indemnification agreements, among other things and subject to certain limitations, indemnify and hold harmless the indemnitees against any and all reasonable expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, and any and all liability and loss, including judgments, fines, ERISA, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, incurred or paid by the indemnitees in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether or not by or in the right of the corporation or otherwise, in which the indemnitees are, were or at any time become parties, or are threatened to be made parties or are involved by reason of the fact that the indemnitees are or were our directors or officers or are or were serving at our request as directors, officers, employees, trustees or representatives of another corporation or enterprise.
Item 16.
Exhibits
*
To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.
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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 of 1933;
(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; and
(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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above 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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 a part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) 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
(B) 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 of 1933 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.
(6)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 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
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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 of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, 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, 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 of 1933 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 the Borough of Canonsburg, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2020.
| | | | Equitrans Midstream Corporation | | |||
| | | | By: | | | /s/ KIRK R. OLIVER | |
| | | | | | | Kirk R. Oliver | |
| | | | | | | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Thomas F. Karam, Kirk R. Oliver and Stephen M. Moore, and each of them, severally, as his or her true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE | | | TITLE | | | DATE | |
| /s/ THOMAS F. KARAM Thomas F. Karam | | | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ KIRK R. OLIVER Kirk R. Oliver | | | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ BRIAN P. PIETRANDREA Brian P. Pietrandrea | | | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ VICKY A. BAILEY Vicky A. Bailey | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ SARAH M. BARPOULIS Sarah M. Barpoulis | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ KENNETH M. BURKE Kenneth M. Burke | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| SIGNATURE | | | TITLE | | | DATE | |
| /s/ PATRICIA K. COLLAWN Patricia K. Collawn | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ MARGARET K. DORMAN Margaret K. Dorman | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ D. MARK LELAND D. Mark Leland | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ NORMAN J. SZYDLOWSKI Norman J. Szydlowski | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |
| /s/ ROBERT F. VAGT Robert F. Vagt | | | Director | | | July 13, 2020 | |