DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. However, at the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms of the securities being offered, including the specific types, amounts, prices and detailed terms of any of these securities.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our common stock and preferred stock will apply generally to any future common stock or preferred stock that we may offer, but is not complete. We will describe the particular terms of any class or series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. For more information regarding the common stock and preferred stock that may be offered by this prospectus, please refer to our restated certificate of incorporation and our restated by-laws, as amended, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The summary below and that contained in any prospectus supplement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws, as amended. The terms of these securities also may be affected by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL.
Description of Common Stock
Our authorized common stock consists of 260 million shares of common stock, $0.10 par value. As of March 31, 2022, there were 125,939,275 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. In addition, approximately 2 million shares of unissued common stock have been reserved for stock options and awards under our incentive compensation plans as of March 31, 2022. The shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FMC.” EQ Shareowner Services is the transfer agent and registrar of the shares of common stock.
The common stock is not redeemable, does not have any conversion rights and is not subject to call. Holders of shares of common stock have no preemptive rights to maintain their percentage of ownership in future offerings or sales of our stock. Holders of shares of common stock have one vote per share in all elections of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as and when declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for distribution. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of common stock will be entitled to participate equally and ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held, in our net assets available for distribution to holders of common stock. The shares of common stock offered hereby, upon issuance against full payment of the purchase price therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Certain Certificate of Incorporation Provisions
General
We have adopted a number of provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation that might discourage certain types of transactions that involve an actual or threatened change in control of FMC Corporation. The provisions may make it more difficult and time-consuming to change majority control of our Board of Directors and thus reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited offer, particularly an offer that does not contemplate the acquisition of all of our outstanding shares.
These provisions are intended to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of FMC Corporation to initiate such an acquisition through arm’s-length negotiations with our management and Board of Directors. Additionally, such provisions provide management with the time and information necessary to evaluate a takeover proposal and to study alternative proposals. Nonetheless, the provisions could have the effect of discouraging a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of FMC Corporation, even though such an attempt might be beneficial to us and our stockholders.
Business Combination
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that significant asset sales, dispositions of stock, liquidations, mergers and certain other business combinations involving us and persons beneficially owning 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock must be approved by the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock. The restated certificate of incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% or more of the outstanding voting stock to amend, alter or repeal, or to adopt any provisions inconsistent with, such provisions.
Stockholders’ Meetings
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. This limitation prevents a stockholder or group of stockholders from forcing us to conduct a stockholders’ meeting at any time not sanctioned by the Board of Directors, regardless of the number of shares of common stock held by such stockholder or group of stockholders.
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