Exhibit 4.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

WIDEOPENWEST, INC.,

 

a Delaware corporation

 

WideOpenWest Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.             The name of the Corporation is WideOpenWest, Inc. The date of filing of the Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was June 22, 2012. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name WideOpenWest Kite, Inc. The Corporation was renamed to WideOpenWest, Inc. on March 15, 2017.

 

2.             The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A, which restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the existing Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended, has been duly adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors and the stockholders in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with the adoption of the Corporation’s stockholders having been given by written consent in lieu of a meeting thereof in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Richard E. Fish, Jr., its Chief Financial Officer, this 24th day of May, 2017.

 

	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard E. Fish, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   E. Fish, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Financial Officer
    


 











EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

WIDEOPENWEST, INC.

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

The name of this corporation is WideOpenWest, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

The registered office of this Corporation in the State of Delaware is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The purpose of this Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”).

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

Section 1               Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 800,000,000 shares, consisting of:

 

(a)           100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); and

 

(b)           700,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the rights, preferences and limitations set forth below.

 

Section 2               Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is authorized, to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time for the issuance, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of all or any of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (full, limited or no voting powers), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, or such series, including, without limitation, that any such series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices, (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of capital stock, (iii) entitled to such rights upon

 

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the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of capital stock, or of any other series of the same class of capital stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions, which resolution or resolutions shall be set forth on a certificate of designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), no vote of the holders of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the designation or issuance of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class. Subject to Section 1 of this ARTICLE FOUR, the Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the certificate of designations in respect of any series of Preferred Stock, in case the number of shares of such series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

Section 3               Common Stock.

 

(a)           Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock, and each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separate or together as a class with the holders of one or more such other series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

(b)           Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive equally, on a per share basis, such dividends and other distributions in cash, securities or other property of the Corporation as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

 

(c)           Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision

 

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for payment of the Corporation’s debts and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the remaining net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed among holders of shares of Common Stock equally on a per share basis. A merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or entity, or a sale, lease, exchange, conveyance or other disposition of all or any part of the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 3(c).

 

(d)           Conversion Rights. The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

(e)           Preemptive Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 4               Split of Common Stock. Upon this Certificate of Incorporation becoming effective in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Effective Time”) each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, if any, shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be reclassified as and converted into 66,498.762 shares of Common Stock and any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented one share of Common Stock shall, from and after the Effective Time, represent 66,498.762 shares of Common Stock.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

Section 1               Board of Directors, Number. Unless otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2               Classification of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as is practicable, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering. At each annual meeting after the first annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, each director elected to the class of directors expiring at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death,

 

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resignation, removal or retirement. If the number of directors divided into classes as set forth herein is hereafter changed, any newly created directorship(s) or decrease in the number of directors shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as practicable. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) shall so provide. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to their respective classes.

 

Section 3               Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or any other cause shall be filled exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or retirement.

 

Section 4               Removal of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, (i) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), any director may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class and (ii) after the Trigger Date, any director may be removed from office at any time but only with cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 5               Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE SIX, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately or together by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be governed by the rights of such Preferred Stock as set forth in the certificate of designations or certificates of designations governing such series.

 

Section 6               No Cumulative Voting. Except as may otherwise be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing the issue of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and then only with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, cumulative voting in the election of directors is specifically denied.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Section 1               Limitation of Liability.

 

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(a)           To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended hereafter to permit the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

(b)           Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring at or prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Section 1               No Action by Written Consent. From and after the first date (the “Trigger Date”) on which investment funds affiliated with Avista Capital Partners and Crestview Partners and their respective successors and Affiliates (collectively, the “Sponsors”), together cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term “control,” as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. “Person” means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. For the purpose of this Certificate of Incorporation, “beneficial ownership” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Section 2               Annual Meetings of Stockholders. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders at any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 3               Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation shall be called exclusively (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies or (ii) prior to

 

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the Trigger Date, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and shall not be called by stockholders. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Section 1               Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right at any time from time to time to alter, amend, repeal or change any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and to adopt any other provision authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed herein and by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage or vote may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, ARTICLE EIGHT, this ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE TEN, ARTICLE ELEVEN and ARTICLE TWELVE may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or of the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 2               Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws without any action on the part of the stockholders. Any adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, provided a quorum is otherwise present. Any Bylaws adopted or amended by the Board of Directors, and any powers conferred thereby, may be amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders. In addition to any other vote otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, from and after the Trigger Date, with respect to the adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Section 1               Scope. The provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. “Exempted Persons” means the Sponsors and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 2               Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

Section 3               Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially or legally able or contractually permitted to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 4               Amendment of this Article. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no amendment or repeal of this ARTICLE ELEVEN in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of ARTICLE ELEVEN shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. This ARTICLE ELEVEN shall not limit or eliminate any protections or defenses otherwise available to, or any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement between the Corporation and such officer or director, or any applicable law.

 

Section 5               Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing, holding or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Unless this Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock) shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

If any provision (or any part thereof) of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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