Document:

EX-4.1

 Exhibit 4.1 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT 
 dated
as of August 1, 2018 
 between 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY, 

as the Company, 
 and

 CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, 

as Rights Agent 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

							
	 	 	 	  	Page	 
	 SECTION 1.
	 	Certain Definitions	  	 	1	 
			
	 SECTION 2.
	 	Appointment of Rights Agent	  	 	10	 
			
	 SECTION 3.
	 	Issue of Rights Certificates	  	 	10	 
			
	 SECTION 4.
	 	Form of Rights Certificate	  	 	12	 
			
	 SECTION 5.
	 	Countersignature and Registration	  	 	14	 
			
	 SECTION 6.
	 	Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates	  	 	14	 
			
	 SECTION 7.
	 	Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights	  	 	15	 
			
	 SECTION 8.
	 	Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates	  	 	18	 
			
	 SECTION 9.
	 	Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock	  	 	18	 
			
	 SECTION 10.
	 	Preferred Stock Record Date	  	 	20	 
			
	 SECTION 11.
	 	Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights	  	 	20	 
			
	 SECTION 12.
	 	Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares	  	 	27	 
			
	 SECTION 13.
	 	Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power	  	 	27	 
			
	 SECTION 14.
	 	Fractional Rights; Fractional Shares; Waiver	  	 	31	 
			
	 SECTION 15.
	 	Rights of Action	  	 	32	 
			
	 SECTION 16.
	 	Agreement of Rights Holders	  	 	32	 
			
	 SECTION 17.
	 	Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder	  	 	33	 
			
	 SECTION 18.
	 	Duties of Rights Agent	  	 	34	 
			
	 SECTION 19.
	 	Concerning the Rights Agent	  	 	36	 
			
	 SECTION 20.
	 	Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent	  	 	38	 
			
	 SECTION 21.
	 	Change of Rights Agent	  	 	38	 
			
	 SECTION 22.
	 	Issuance of New Rights Certificates	  	 	39	 
			
	 SECTION 23.
	 	Redemption	  	 	39	 
			
	 SECTION 24.
	 	Exchange	  	 	40	 
			
	 SECTION 25.
	 	Process to Seek Exemption	  	 	42	 
			
	 SECTION 26.
	 	Notice of Certain Events	  	 	43	 
			
	 SECTION 27.
	 	Notices	  	 	44	 
			
	 SECTION 28.
	 	Supplements and Amendments	  	 	45	 
			
	 SECTION 29.
	 	Successors	  	 	46	 
			
	 SECTION 30.
	 	Determinations and Actions by the Board	  	 	46	 
			
	 SECTION 31.
	 	Benefits of this Agreement	  	 	46	 

  
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	 SECTION 32.
	 	Tax Compliance and Withholding	  	 	46	 
			
	 SECTION 33.
	 	Severability	  	 	47	 
			
	 SECTION 34.
	 	Governing Law	  	 	47	 
			
	 SECTION 35.
	 	Counterparts	  	 	47	 
			
	 SECTION 36.
	 	Interpretation	  	 	48	 
			
	 SECTION 37.
	 	Force Majeure	  	 	48	 
			
	 Exhibit A
	 	Certificate of Designations	  			
			
	 Exhibit B
	 	Summary of Rights	  			
			
	 Exhibit C
	 	Form of Rights Certificate	  			

  

  
 - ii - 

 RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 1, 2018, (this “Agreement”), by and between Contango Oil & Gas
Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”). 

WHEREAS, (a) the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries (as defined below) have certain net operating losses and certain other tax
attributes (collectively, “NOLs”) for United States federal income tax purposes, (b) the Company desires to avoid an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby preserve the Company’s ability to utilize such NOLs, and (c) in furtherance of such objective, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement; 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of Common Stock of the Company outstanding at the Close of Business on the Record Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of one share of Preferred Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to
adjustment) with respect to each share of Common Stock of the Company that will become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date; provided, however, that Rights may be issued
with respect to shares of Common Stock that will become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22 hereof. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: 

SECTION 1. Certain Definitions. 
 For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: 
 (a) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any
Person which, together with all of its Related Persons, is the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, but shall exclude (i) the Excluded Persons, (ii) any Exempt Persons and
(iii) any Grandfathered Persons. 
 Notwithstanding anything in Agreement to the contrary, no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person”: 

(i) as the result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding, increases the percentage of the shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such Person, together with all of its Related Persons, to 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided,
however, that if a Person, together with all of its Related Persons, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by reason of share acquisitions by the Company and, after such share
acquisitions by the Company, becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock of the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made 

  
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by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person”
unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock, such Person, together with all of its Related Persons, does not Beneficially Own 4.95% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding; 

(ii) if (A) the Board determines that such Person has become an “Acquiring Person” inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (1) such Person was unaware that it Beneficially Owned a percentage of the then outstanding Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an “Acquiring Person”; or (2) such Person was aware of the extent of
its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement); and (B) such Person divests as promptly as practicable (as determined by the Board) a sufficient number
of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an “Acquiring Person”; 
 (iii) solely as a result of any
unilateral grant of any security by the Company, or through the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests (including restricted stock) granted by the Company to its directors, officers and employees; provided, however,
that if a Person, together with all of its Related Persons, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by reason of a unilateral grant of a security by the Company, or through the
exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests (including restricted stock) granted by the Company to its directors, officers and employees, then such Person shall nevertheless be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” if,
subject to Section 1(a)(ii), such Person, together with all of its Related Persons, thereafter becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common
Stock, such Person, together with all of its Related Persons, does not Beneficially Own 4.95% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding), except as a result of (A) a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding
Common Stock or a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock; or (B) the unilateral grant of a security by the Company, or through the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interest (including restricted stock) granted
by the Company to its directors, officers and employees; 
 (iv) by means of share purchases or issuances (including debt to equity
exchanges), directly from the Company or indirectly through an underwritten offering of the Company, in a transaction approved by the Board; provided however, that a Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” if such
Person (A) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding following such transaction and (B) subsequently becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock without the
prior written consent of the Company and then Beneficially Owns 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; or 
 (v) if
such Person is a bona fide swaps dealer who has become an “Acquiring Person” as a result of its actions in the ordinary course of its business that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, were taken without the intent or effect of
evading or assisting any other Person to evade the purposes and intent of this Agreement, or otherwise seeking to control or influence the management or policies of the Company. 

  
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 (b) “Adjustment Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. 
 (c) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act Regulations, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and, to the extent not included within the foregoing, shall also include with respect
to any Person, any other Person whose shares of Common Stock would be deemed to be constructively owned by such first Person, owned by a “single entity” with respect to such first Person as defined in
Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations, or otherwise aggregated with shares owned by such first Person, pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations
promulgated thereunder. 
 (d) “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof. 

(e) A Person is the “Beneficial Owner” of (and “Beneficially Owns” and has
“Beneficial Ownership” of) any securities (that are as such “Beneficially Owned”): 
 (i)
that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act Regulations as in effect on the date
of this Agreement, including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or not in writing), but only if the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; 
 (ii) that such Person or any of such
Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or satisfaction of other conditions) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights (other than the Rights), rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of (1) securities (including rights, options or warrants) that are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock until such time as such securities are converted or exchanged into or
exercised for Common Stock except to the extent the acquisition or transfer of such rights, options or warrants would be treated as exercised on the date of its acquisition or transfer under
Section 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations; or (2) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made in accordance with the Exchange Act Regulations by or on behalf of such Person
or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote or dispose of, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or not in
writing), but only if the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; 

(iii) that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person) with which such
Person (or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any such securities, but only if the effect of
such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; or 

  
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 (iv) which are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by a Counterparty (or any of such
Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any Derivatives Contract (without regard to any short or similar position under the same or any other Derivatives Contract) to which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or
Associates is a Receiving Party; provided, however, that the number of shares of Common Stock that a Person is deemed to Beneficially Own pursuant to this clause (iv) in connection with a particular Derivatives Contract shall not
exceed the number of Notional Common Shares with respect to such Derivatives Contract; provided, further, that the number of securities Beneficially Owned by each Counterparty (including its Affiliates and Associates) under a
Derivatives Contract shall for purposes of this clause (iv) include all securities that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Counterparty (or any of such other Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any
Derivatives Contract to which such first Counterparty (or any of such first Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) is a Receiving Party, with this proviso being applied to successive Counterparties as appropriate. 

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of “Beneficial Ownership” to the contrary, (x) no Person engaged in business as an
underwriter of securities shall be the “Beneficial Owner” of any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date of
such acquisition; and (y) no Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of any security as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security that would otherwise render such Person the Beneficial Owner of
such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D and arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant
to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act Regulations. 
 Notwithstanding anything in this definition of
“Beneficial Ownership” to the contrary, to the extent not within the foregoing provisions, a Person shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, and shall be deemed to beneficially own or have Beneficial Ownership of, securities which such
Person would be deemed to constructively own or which otherwise would be aggregated with shares owned by such Person pursuant to Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder. 
 (f) “Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement. 

(g) “Book Entry” shall mean an uncertificated book entry for the Common Stock. 

(h) “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking or trust institutions
in New York City, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. 
 (i) “Certificate of
Designations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(j) hereof. 
 (j) “Certificate of
Incorporation” shall mean the Amended Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, and as may be further amended from time to time, as filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and together
with the Certificate of Designations of the Preferred Stock of the Company adopted contemporaneously with the approval of this Agreement and attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate of Designations”), as the same
may hereafter be amended or restated. 

  
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 (k) “Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day. 

(l) “Closing Price” shall mean in respect of any security for any day shall mean the last sale price, regular way,
reported at or prior to 4:00 P.M. Eastern time or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the bid and asked prices, regular way, reported at or prior to 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on NASDAQ or the NYSE or, if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on NASDAQ or the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price reported at or prior to 4:00 P.M. Eastern time or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by any system then in use reported as of 4:00 P.M. Eastern time or, if not so quoted, the average of the closing bid and asked price
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the security selected by the Board. 
 (m) “Code” shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement. 
 (n) “Common Stock” shall mean (i) when used
with reference to the Company, the Common Stock, par value $0.04 per share, of the Company; and (ii) when used with reference to any Person other than the Company, the class or series of capital stock or equity interest with the greatest voting
power (in relation to any other classes or series of capital stock or equity interest) of such other Person or if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person who ultimately controls such first mentioned Person. 

(o) “Common Stock Equivalents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. 

(p) “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof. 

(q) “Counterparty” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(t) hereof. 

(r) “Current Market Price” of any security on any date shall mean the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to, but not including, such date; provided, however, that in the event that the “Current Market Price” of such security is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such security payable in shares of such security or securities convertible into such shares (other than the Rights); or (ii) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such security, and prior to the expiration of the requisite 30 Trading Day period after but not including the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution
or the record date for such subdivision, combination or 

  
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reclassification, then, in each such case, the “Current Market Price” shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such security or such security is not publicly held or not listed or traded, the “Current Market Price” shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board,
whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. 
 Except as provided in
this paragraph, the “Current Market Price” of the Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth above. If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded, the “Current Market Price” of the Preferred Stock
shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Market Price of the Common Stock of the Company as determined pursuant to the paragraph above (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, the “Current Market Price” of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined
in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement, the “Current
Market Price” of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the “Current Market Price” of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 1,000. 

(s) “Current Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. 

(t) “Derivatives Contract” shall mean a contract between two parties (the “Receiving
Party” and the “Counterparty”) that is designed to produce economic benefits and risks to the Receiving Party that correspond substantially to the ownership by the Receiving Party of a number of shares of Common
Stock specified or referenced in such contract (the number corresponding to such economic benefits and risks, the “Notional Common Shares”), regardless of whether obligations under such contract are required or permitted to
be settled through the delivery of cash, Common Stock or other property, without regard to any short position under the same or any other Derivatives Contract. For the avoidance of doubt, interests in broad-based index options, broad-based index
futures and broad-based publicly traded market baskets of stocks approved for trading by the appropriate federal governmental authority shall not be deemed “Derivatives Contracts.” 

(u) “Distribution Date” shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the
Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or, if such tenth Business
Day occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date), or such later date as may be determined by the Board prior to such time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, after the date of the commencement by any Person (other
than any Excluded Person) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than any Excluded Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in such Person becoming the Beneficial
Owner of 4.95% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. 
 (v) “Early Expiration Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. 

  
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 (w) “Equivalent Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof. 
 (x) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

(y) “Exchange Act Regulations” shall mean the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. 

(z) “Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. 

(aa) “Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof. 

(bb) “Excess Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. 

(cc) “Exempt Person” shall mean any Person determined by the Board to be an “Exempt Person” in
accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 25 hereof for so long as such Person complies with any limitations or conditions required by the Board in making such determination. 

(dd) “Excluded Person” shall mean (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any officers, directors
and employees or any of its Subsidiaries solely in respect of such Person’s status or authority as such (including, without limitation, any fiduciary capacity); or (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) shares of capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or for the purpose of funding other employee benefits for employees of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. 
 (ee) “Exemption Request” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 25(a) hereof. 
 (ff) “Exercise Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a), 11(a)(ii)
and 13(a) hereof. 
 (gg) “Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. 

(hh) “Final Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. 

(ii) “Flip-In Event” shall mean any event described in Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof. 
 (jj) “Flip-In Trigger Date” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. 
 (kk) “Flip-Over Event” shall mean any event described in clause (x), (y) or
(z) of Section 13(a) hereof. 
 (ll) “Grandfathered Person” shall mean any Person which, together with all
of its Related Persons, is, as of the date of this Agreement, the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding. A Person ceases to be a “Grandfathered Person” if and when (i) such
Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of less than 

  
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4.95% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; or (ii) such Person increases its Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock of the Company to an amount equal to or
greater than the greater of (A) 4.95% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding and (B) the sum of (1) the lowest Beneficial Ownership of such Person as a percentage of the shares of Common Stock of the Company
outstanding as of any time from and after the public announcement of this Agreement (other than as a result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company) plus (2) one share of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.

 (mm) “Independent Directors” shall mean those members of the Board who meet the
criteria for independent directors of the NYSE American corporate governance rules and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations regarding independence in effect from time to time. 

(nn) “NASDAQ” shall mean The NASDAQ Stock Market. 

(oo) “NOLs” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement. 

(pp) “Notional Common Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(t) hereof. 

(qq) “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange. 

(rr) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership (general or limited), limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, association, unincorporated organization, trust or other legal entity, or group of persons making a “coordinated acquisition” of Common Stock or otherwise treated as an “entity” within the
meaning of Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations or otherwise, including (i) any syndicate or group deemed to be a Person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-5(b) thereunder; and (ii) any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such firm, corporation, partnership (general or limited), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association,
unincorporated organization, trust, or other group or entity. 
 (ss) “Preferred Stock” shall mean the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.04 per share, of the Company, having the voting rights, powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and
restrictions set forth in the Certificate of Designations, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment. 
 (tt) “Principal
Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof. 
 (uu) “Receiving
Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(t) hereof. 
 (vv) “Record
Date” shall mean the Close of Business on August 13, 2018. 
 (ww) “Redemption Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. 
 (xx) “Redemption Period” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof. 

  
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 (yy) “Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof. 
 (zz) “Related Person” shall mean, as to any Person, any Affiliates or Associates of
such Person. 
 (aaa) “Requesting Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 25(a) hereof. 

(bbb) “Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement. 

(ccc) “Rights Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof. 

(ddd) “Rights Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) hereof. 

(eee) “Schedule 13D” shall mean a statement on Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule
13d-1(a), 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act as in effect at the time of the public announcement of the declaration of the Rights dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Person filing such statement. 

(fff) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

(ggg) “Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. 

(hhh) “Stock Acquisition Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement (including, without limitation, the
filing of any report pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that a Person has become an Acquiring Person, or such other date, as determined by the Board, on which a Person has become an Acquiring
Person. 
 (iii) “Stockholder Approval” shall mean the approval or ratification by the stockholders of the
Company of this Agreement (or such Agreement as then in effect or as contemplated to be in effect following such Stockholder Approval) as demonstrated by the votes cast in favor of any such approval or ratification proposal submitted to a
stockholder vote by the Company exceeding the votes cast against such proposal at a duly held meeting of stockholders of the Company. 

(jjj) “Subsidiary” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any other Person of which (i) a majority of the
voting power of the voting securities or equity interests is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such first-mentioned Person or otherwise controlled by such first-mentioned Person; or (ii) an amount of voting securities or equity
interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or equivalent governing body of such other Person is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such first-mentioned Person, or otherwise controlled by such first-mentioned
Person. 
 (kkk) “Substitution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. 

(lll) “Summary of Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof. 

  
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 (mmm) “Tax Benefits” shall mean the net operating loss carryovers,
capital loss carryovers, general business credit carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers and foreign tax credit carryovers, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized
built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. 

(nnn) “Trading Day” shall mean, in respect to any security, (i) if such security is listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business; and (ii) if such security is not so listed or
admitted, a Business Day. 
 (ooo) “Treasury Regulations” shall mean the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated under
the Code, as may be amended from time to time. 
 (ppp) “Triggering Event” shall mean any Flip-In Event or any Flip-Over Event. 
 (qqq) “Trust” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 24(d) hereof. 
 (rrr) “Trust Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(d)
hereof. 
 SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. 

The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with
Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date be the holders of Common Stock) and in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable; provided that the Company shall notify the Rights Agent in writing two Business Days prior to such appointment. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agents under the provisions of this Agreement shall be as the Company reasonably determines, and
the Company shall notify, in writing, the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agents of such duties. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of
any such co-Rights Agents. 
 SECTION 3. Issue of Rights Certificates. 

(a) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send (directly or, at the expense of the Company, through the
Rights Agent or its transfer agent if the Rights Agent or transfer agent is directed by the Company and provided with all necessary information and documents) a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B and which may be appended to certificates that represent shares of Common Stock (the “Summary of Rights”), to each record holder of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record
Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company or transfer agent or register for Common Stock. With respect to certificates representing
shares of Common Stock (or Book Entry shares of Common Stock) outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced by such shares of Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof together with
the 

  
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Summary of Rights, and not by separate Rights Certificates. With respect to Book Entry shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be
evidenced by the balances indicated in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock together with the Summary of Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the transfer of any shares of
Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date (whether represented by certificates or evidenced by the balances indicated in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, and, in either case, regardless of whether a copy of
the Summary of Rights is submitted with the surrender or request for transfer), shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. 

(b) Rights shall be issued, without any further action, in respect of all shares of Common Stock that become outstanding (whether originally
issued or delivered from the Company’s treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date; provided, however, that Rights also shall be issued to the extent provided in
Section 21 hereof. Confirmation and account statements sent to holders of Common Stock for Book Entry form or, in the case of certificated shares, certificates, representing such shares of Common Stock, issued after the Record Date shall bear a
legend substantially in the following form: 
 “[This certificate] [These shares] also evidence[s] and entitle[s] the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or any successor Rights Agent (the
“Rights Agent”) dated as of August 1, 2018, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of
which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights shall be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by [this certificate]
[these shares]. The Company will mail to the holder of [this certificate] [these shares] a copy of the Rights Agreement as in effect on the date of mailing without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. 

Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights that are Beneficially Owned by any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person or any Related Person thereof (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), or specified transferees of such Acquiring Person (or Related Person thereof) may become null and void and will no longer be
transferable.” 
 With respect to all certificates representing shares of Common Stock containing the foregoing legend, until the
earliest of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered
holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates. 

  
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 With respect to Common Stock in Book Entry form for which there has been sent a confirmation
or account statement containing the foregoing legend, until the earliest of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock shall be evidenced by such Common Stock alone and registered holders of Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any such Common Stock shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. 

Notwithstanding this paragraph (b), the omission of the legend or the failure to send, deliver or provide the registered owner of shares of
Common Stock a copy of the Summary of Rights shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights. 

In the event that the Company purchases or otherwise acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be cancelled and retired so that the Company is not entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock that are no longer outstanding. 

(c) Until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock
(including a transfer to the Company). 
 (d) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, and
the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if so requested and provided with all necessary information and documents, at the expense of the Company, send) by first-class, insured,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Related Person of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Rights Certificate”), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as
provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and
appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution
Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates, and the Rights Certificates and the Rights shall be transferable separately from the transfer of Common Stock. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon
the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm the same in writing on or prior to the Business Day next following. Until such written notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights
Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred. 
 SECTION 4. Form of Rights Certificate. 

(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment and the certificate to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto and may have such changes or marks of identification or designation and 

  
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such legends, summaries, or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities, protections or responsibilities of the
Rights Agent), and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any rule or regulation thereunder or with any applicable rule or regulation of any stock exchange upon which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or to conform to customary usage. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Distribution Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein
(such price, the “Exercise Price”), but the amount and type of securities, cash, or other assets that may be acquired upon the exercise of each Right and the Exercise Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided
herein. 
 (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant hereto that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any
Related Person of an Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Related Person) that becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring Person; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Related Person) that becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming an Acquiring Person and that receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from
the Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person) or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person) has any continuing written or oral
plan, agreement, arrangement, or understanding regarding the transferred Rights, shares of Common Stock, or the Company; or (B) a transfer that the Board has determined in good faith to be part of a plan, agreement, arrangement, or
understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof (and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other
Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence), shall contain upon the direction of the Board a legend substantially in the following form: 

“The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were Beneficially Owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or a
Related Person of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2018 by and between Contango Oil & Gas Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Rights
Agreement”)). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.” 

The Company shall give written notice to the Rights Agent promptly after it becomes aware of the existence and identity of any Acquiring
Person or any Related Person thereof. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively without independent verification thereof for all purposes that no Person has become an Acquiring Person or a Related
Person of an Acquiring Person. The Company shall instruct the Rights Agent in writing of the Rights which should be so legended. 

  
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 SECTION 5. Countersignature and Registration. 

(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Treasurer, any
Vice-President, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Company, shall have affixed thereto the Company’s corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof), and shall be attested by the Company’s Secretary or one of its Assistant
Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or by facsimile or other customary shall mean of electronic transmission (e.g., “pdf”). Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile
signatures of the individuals who were at the time of execution the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersigning of such
Rights Certificates by the Rights Agent or did not hold such offices at the date of such Rights Certificates. No Rights Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or shall be valid for any purpose unless there appears on such
Rights Certificate a countersignature duly executed by the Rights Agent by manual or facsimile or other customary shall mean of electronic transmission (e.g., “pdf”) of an authorized officer, and such countersignature upon any Rights
Certificate shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Rights Certificate has been duly countersigned as required hereunder. 

(b) Following the Distribution Date, and receipt by the Rights Agent of written notice to that effect and all other relevant and necessary
information referred to in Section 3(d) hereof, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purpose, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show
the name and address of each holder of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each Rights Certificate and the date of each Rights Certificate. 

SECTION 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof, that have been redeemed pursuant to
Section 23 hereof, or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender, together with any required form
of assignment duly executed and properly completed, the Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. The Rights Certificates are transferable only on the books
and records of the Rights Agent. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder has properly completed and
executed the certificate set forth in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and has provided such 

  
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additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate or Related Person thereof as the Company or the
Rights Agent requests, whereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment by the holder of the Rights of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. If and
to the extent the Company does require payment of any such taxes or governmental charges, the Company shall give the Rights Agent prompt written notice thereof and the Rights Agent shall not deliver any Rights Certificate unless and until it is
satisfied that all such payments have been made, and the Rights Agent shall forward any such sum collected by it to the Company or to such Persons as the Company specifies by written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take
any action with respect to a Rights holder under any Section of this Agreement which requires the payment by such Rights holder of applicable taxes and/or governmental charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or governmental
charges have been paid. 
 (b) If a Rights Certificate is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, upon written request by the registered holder
of the Rights represented thereby and upon payment to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incident thereto, there shall be issued, in exchange for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Rights Certificate, or in substitution
for the lost, stolen or destroyed Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of the prior Rights Certificate, of like tenor and representing the equivalent number of Rights, but, in the case of loss, theft, or
destruction, only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Rights Agent of such loss, theft or destruction of such Rights Certificate and such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial
Owner) or Related Persons thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent requests, and, if requested by the Company or the Rights Agent, indemnity also satisfactory to it. 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may amend this Agreement to provide for uncertificated Rights
in addition to or in lieu of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates, to the extent permitted by applicable law. 
 SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights;
Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights. 
 (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, in the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Sections 9(c), 11(a)(iii) and 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, together with payment of the Exercise Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which
the Rights are exercised prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on August 1, 2021 or such later date as may be established by the Board prior to the expiration of the Rights as long as the extension is submitted to the
stockholders of the Company for ratification at the next annual meeting of stockholders succeeding such extension  

  
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(the “Final Expiration Date”); (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof (the “Redemption Date”);
(iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof (the “Exchange Date”); (iv) the closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to an agreement of
the type described in Section 13(f) at which time the Rights are terminated; (v) the Close of Business on the first day after the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, if Stockholder Approval has not been obtained at
such meeting (the “Early Expiration Date”); (vi) the Close of Business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Code if the Board determines that this Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for
the preservation of Tax Benefits; and (vii) the Close of Business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits are available to be carried forward (the earliest of (i) – (vii) being
herein referred to as the “Expiration Date”). 
 (b) Each Right shall entitle the registered holder thereof to
purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. The Exercise Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise
of a Right shall be initially $33.72, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and payable in lawful money of the United States in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.

 (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable tax or governmental charge, then the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 18(j) hereof, promptly (i) (A) requisition from
any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock certificates representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or fractions of shares that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) as are to be purchased and the Company shall direct its transfer agent to comply with all such requests; or (B) if the Company has elected to deposit the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary agent), and the Company shall direct the depositary to comply with all such requests; (ii) if necessary to comply with this Agreement, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional
shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof; (iii) after receipt of such certificates or such depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder; and (iv) if necessary to comply with this Agreement, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. In the event
that the Company is obligated to issue Common Stock or other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other assets pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company shall make all arrangements necessary so that such Common Stock, other
securities, cash and/or other assets are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement, and until so received, the Rights Agent shall have no duties or obligations with respect to such
securities, cash and/or other assets. The payment of the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified or bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company.

  
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 (d) In the event a registered holder of any Rights Certificate exercises less than all the
Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, such holder, registered in such name or names as designated by such holder,
subject to the provisions of Sections 6 and 14 hereof. 
 (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the
first occurrence of a Flip-In Event, any Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or a Related Person of an Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Related Person) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Related Person) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and who receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person)
or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or any such Related Person) has any continuing written or oral plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights, shares of Common Stock or the Company; or (B) a
transfer that the Board has determined in good faith to be part of a plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further action,
and any holder of such Rights thereafter shall have no rights or preferences whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates or otherwise (including, without limitation, rights and
preferences pursuant to Sections 7, 11, 13, 23 and 24 hereof). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof, but neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent have any liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as a result of the Company’s failure to make any determination with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Related Persons or transferees hereunder. 

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Rights Certificate to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise as set forth in this Section 7 by such registered holder unless such registered holder has (i) properly completed
and duly executed the certificate following the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate or Related Persons thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent reasonably requests. 

(g) Except for those provisions herein that expressly survive the termination of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate upon the
earlier of the Expiration Date and such time as all outstanding Rights have been exercised, redeemed or exchanged hereunder. 

  
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 SECTION 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. 

All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the
Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any Rights Certificates acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise
thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy or cause to be destroyed such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. 
 SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. 

(a) The Company shall cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), a number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, shares of Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. Upon the
occurrence of any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other equity securities of the Company) issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the number then reserved,
the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number of shares so reserved. 
 (b) As long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise. 

(c) If the Company is required to file a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event on which the
consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with this Agreement, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, such registration statement;
(ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing; and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (and to include a prospectus at all times complying with the requirements
of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for the securities covered by such registration statement, and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company shall also take such action as
may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the 

  
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Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, with written notice thereof to the Rights Agent, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause
(i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect, in each case with simultaneous written notice to the Rights Agent. In
addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared
effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be
permitted under applicable law, or an effective registration statement is required and shall not have been declared effective or has been suspended. 

(d) The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that each one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities that may be delivered upon exercise of Rights) shall be, at the time of delivery of the certificates or depositary receipts for such
securities (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable. 

(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all documentary, stamp or transfer tax, or other tax or governmental charge, that is
payable in respect of the issuance and delivery of the Rights Certificates or the issuance and delivery of any certificates or depository receipts or entries in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock for a number
of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other equity securities of the Company that may be delivered upon exercise of the Rights) upon the exercise of Rights;
provided, however, the Company shall not be required to pay any such tax or governmental charge that may be payable in connection with the issuance or delivery of any of any certificates or depositary receipts or entries in the
Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other equity securities of the Company as the
case may be) to any Person other than the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing the Rights surrendered for exercise. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts or entries in the
Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other equity securities of the Company as the case may be) to, or in a name other than that of, the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights
until any such tax or governmental charge has been paid (any such tax or governmental charge being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s or Rights
Agent’s satisfaction that no such tax or governmental charge is due. 

  
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 SECTION 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. 

Each Person in whose name any certificate or entry in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock for a number
of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall be for all purposes the holder of record of such
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate or entry shall be dated the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable transfer taxes and governmental charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the applicable transfer books
of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such securities (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate or entry shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the applicable transfer
books of the Company are open; provided, further, that if delivery of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock is delayed pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof, such Persons
shall be deemed to have become the record holders of such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock only when such Preferred Stock first become deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the
Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the securities for which the Rights are exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote,
to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein. 

SECTION 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights. 

The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11. 
 (a) (i) In the event the Company at any time after the date hereof
(A) declares a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock; (B) subdivides the outstanding Preferred Stock; (C) combines the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares; or
(D) issues any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), then the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares (or
fractions thereof) of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date upon exercise of the Rights, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time becomes entitled to receive,
upon payment of the Exercise Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares (or fractions thereof) of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, such
holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event may the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of
one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares (or fractions thereof) of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. 

  
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 (ii) Subject to Section 23 and Section 24 hereof, in the event that any Person
(other than any Excluded Person), alone or together with its Related Persons, becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event, the “Flip-In Event”), unless the event
causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, then proper provision shall be made so that promptly following the Redemption Period, each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in
Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of an amount equal to the then current Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was or would have been exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event, whether or not
such Right was then exercisable; and (B) dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall be referred to as the “Exercise Price” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement except to the
extent set forth in Section 13 hereof) by 50% of the Current Market Price of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the “Adjustment Shares”); provided, however, that in connection with
any exercise effected pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii), no holder of Rights shall be entitled to receive Common Stock (or other shares of capital stock of the Company) that would result in such holder, together with such holder’s
Affiliates and Associates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of more than 4.95% of the then-outstanding Common Stock. If a holder would, but for the immediately preceding sentence, be entitled to receive a number of shares that would otherwise result in
such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates and Associates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of in excess of 4.95% of the then-outstanding Common Stock (such shares, the “Excess Shares”), then in lieu of receiving
such Excess Shares and to the extent permitted by law or orders applicable to the Company, such holder will only be entitled to receive an amount in cash or, at the election of the Company, a note or other evidence of indebtedness maturing within
nine months with a principal amount, equal to the current per share Current Market Price of a share of Common Stock at the Close of Business on the Trading Day following the date of exercise multiplied by the number of Excess Shares that would
otherwise have been issuable to such holder. The Company shall provide the Rights Agent with written notice of the identity of any such Acquiring Person, Related Person or the nominee or transferee of any of the foregoing, and the Rights Agent may
rely on such notice in carrying out its duties under this Agreement and shall be deemed not to have any knowledge of the identity of any such Acquiring Person, Related Person or the nominee or transferee of any of the foregoing, unless and until it
has received such notice. 
 (iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation, but
not outstanding, or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing clause (ii), the Board shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and by any agreements or instruments then in effect to which the Company is a party, (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the “Current
Value”) over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess being the “Spread”), 

  
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and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for some or all of the Adjustment Shares, upon exercise of a Right and payment
of the applicable Exercise Price, (1) cash; (2) a reduction in the Exercise Price; (3) shares or fractions of a share of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of
shares, of Preferred Stock which the Board has determined to have the same value as shares of Common Stock) (such shares of equity securities being herein called “Common Stock Equivalents”); (4) debt securities of the
Company; (5) other assets; or (6) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, as determined by the Board based upon the advice of a financial advisor selected by the Board;
provided, however, if the Company has not made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a
Flip-In Event; and (y) the date on which the Redemption Period expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the “Flip-In Trigger
Date”), then the Company shall deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if necessary such number or fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. 

If, upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the Board determines in good faith that it is likely that
sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then if the Board so elects, the thirty-day period set forth above may be extended to the
extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Flip-In Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period,
as it may be extended, the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that action is to be taken pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (aa) shall provide, subject to
Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights; and (bb) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek an authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) at such
time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the Flip-In Trigger Date and
the value of any Common Stock Equivalents shall have the same value as the Common Stock on such date. The Board may establish procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii). 
 (b) In case the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to
all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of
Preferred Stock (“Equivalent Preferred Stock”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred 

  
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Stock) less than the Current Market Price of the Preferred Stock on such record date, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or Equivalent Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to
be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred
Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event may the consideration to be
paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration all or part of which
may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be determined by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary will not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. 

(c) In case the Company fixes a record date for a distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the
Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in shares of Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock), or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), then, in each case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current
Market Price of the Preferred Stock on such record date minus the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding and conclusive for
all purposes on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect of a share of Preferred Stock,
and the denominator of which shall be the Current Market Price of the Preferred Stock on such record date; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate
par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price
shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed. 

  
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 (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment in the Exercise Price is
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(d) are not required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common
Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(d), no adjustment required by this Section 11 may
be made after the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction that requires such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date. 

(e) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Sections 11(a)(ii) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised becomes
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock, the number of such other shares shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect
to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (l) hereof, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such
other shares. 
 (f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder will
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities or amount of cash or combination thereof) that may be
acquired from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. 
 (g) Unless the
Company has exercised its election pursuant to Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such
adjustment will thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (A) the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by
(B) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price; and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price. 

(h) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the Exercise Price, to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become a number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a Right) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of
the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the 

  
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adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten
(10) days later than the date of such public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(h), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, at the option
of the Company, either (A) cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders are entitled as a
result of such adjustment, or (B) cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required
by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders become entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and delivered by the Company, and countersigned and
delivered by the Rights Agent, in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement. 
 (i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a share and the number of one one-thousandths of a share which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder. 

(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below the then par value, if any, of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue, such number of fully paid and non-assessable of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price. 

(k) In any case in which this Section 11 requires that an adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon
the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. 
 (l) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11 to the contrary, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company is entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, to the extent that the Board determines that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Stock; (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price; (iii) issuance 

  
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wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock; (iv) stock dividends; or (v) issuance
of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock is taxable to such holders or reduces the taxes payable by such holders. 

(m) The Company may not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a direct or indirect,
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(n) hereof); (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that
complies with Section 11(n) hereof); or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with
Section 11(n) hereof), if (A) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights; or (B) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders or other Persons holding an equity interest in such Person
that constitutes, or would constitute, the “Principal Party” for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of, or otherwise have transferred to them, the Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Related Persons; provided, however, this Section 11(m) shall not affect the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of
the Company. 
 (n) After the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Stock Acquisition Date and as long as any Rights are outstanding
(other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof), the Company may not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24, and 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to take) any action if at the time
such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. 

(o) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company, at any time after the date hereof and prior to
the Distribution Date, (i) declares a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock; (ii) subdivides any outstanding shares of Common Stock; (iii) combines any of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares; or (iv) issues any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), then the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event equals the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following
the 

  
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occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(o) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination, or
reclassification is effected. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and this Section 11(o), the adjustments provided for in this Section 11(o) shall be in addition and prior to any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. 
 SECTION 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares. 

Whenever an adjustment is made or any event affecting the Rights or their exercisability (including without limitation an event that causes
Rights to become null and void) occurs as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment or describing such event, and a brief reasonably detailed
statement of the facts, computations and methodology accounting for such adjustment; (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate; and
(c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, each registered holder of shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 27 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 11 or Section 13 hereof
shall be effective as of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be entitled to rely on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall have no duty or liability with respect
thereto, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such certificate. 

SECTION 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. 

(a) At any time after a Person has become an Acquiring Person, in the event that, directly or indirectly, 

(x) the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(n) hereof), and the Company is not the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger; 

(y) any Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with
Section 11(n) hereof) consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and the Company is the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property; or 

(z) the Company sells or otherwise transfers (or one or more of its Subsidiaries sells or otherwise transfers) to any Person or Persons
(other than the Company or any of its direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; 

  
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 (any such event described in (x), (y), or (z), a “Flip-Over Event”), then, in each
such case, proper provision shall be made so that: 
 (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, upon the
expiration of the Redemption Period, will have the right to receive, upon the exercise of the Right at the then current Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and in lieu of a number of one
one-thousandth shares of Preferred Stock, a number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party, free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions or other adverse claims, equal to the result obtained by: 

(A) multiplying such then current Exercise Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which such Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event (or, if a Flip-In Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event,
multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the first occurrence of such Flip-In
Event by the Exercise Price that would be in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence), and 
 (B) dividing that product (which,
following the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event, shall be the “Exercise Price” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the then Current Market Price of the shares of Common Stock of such Principal
Party on the date of consummation of such Flip-Over Event (or the fair market value on such date of other securities or property of the Principal Party, as provided for herein); 

(ii) such Principal Party shall be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over Event, all the obligations and duties of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement; 
 (iii) the term “Company” will thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it
being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event; 

(iv) such Principal Party will take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be possible, to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; and 
 (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no further effect following the first
occurrence of any Flip-Over Event, and the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in this Section 13. 

(b) “Principal Party” shall mean 

  
 - 28 - 

 (i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence
of Section 13(a) hereof, (A) the Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving entity) that is the issuer of any securities or other equity interests into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted
in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Stock that has the highest aggregate Current Market Price; and (B) if no securities or other equity interests are so issued, (1) the Person
that is the other constituent party to such merger, if such Person survives the merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person, the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Current Market Price or (2) if the Person that is
the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (3) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and 

(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the
party receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever Person that has received assets or earning power pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Current Market Price; provided, however, that in any such case: (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been
continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered,
“Principal Party” will refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of such Person is not and has not been so registered and such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stocks of two
or more of which are and have been so registered, “Principal Party” will refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the highest aggregate market value; and (3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
and has not been so registered and such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above will
apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this
Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests. 
 (c) The
Company may not consummate any Flip-Over Event unless the Principal Party has a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued (or reserved for issuance) or that are held in its treasury to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any such Flip-Over Event, the Principal Party, at its own expense, shall: 

  
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 (i) if the Principal Party is required to file a registration statement pursuant to the
Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, (A) prepare and file such registration statement; (B) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and remain effective (and to include a prospectus at all times complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date; and (C) take such action as may be required to ensure that
any acquisition of such securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights complies with any applicable state security or “blue sky” laws as soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement; 

(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all
respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; 
 (iii) use its best efforts to
obtain any and all necessary regulatory approvals as may be required with respect to the securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights; and 

(iv) use its best efforts, if such Common Stock of the Principal Party is listed or admitted to trading on NASDAQ, the NYSE or on another
national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights on NASDAQ, the NYSE or on such securities exchange, or if the securities of the
Principal Party that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on NASDAQ, the NYSE or a national securities exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights to
be authorized for quotation on any other system then in use; and 
 (v) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in
respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights. 
 (d) In case the Principal
Party that is to be a party to a transaction referred to in this Section 13 has at the time of such transaction, or immediately following such transaction has a provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate or articles of
incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its affairs, or any other agreements or arrangements, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in
connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then Current Market Price or securities exercisable for, or convertible
into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such then Current Market Price (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13); (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provisions in connection with the
issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13; or (iii) otherwise eliminating or substantially diminishing the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, then, in each such case, the Company may not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party has been cancelled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities have been redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no
effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of such transaction. 

  
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 (e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply similarly to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Flip-Over Event occurs after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) hereof. 
 (f) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the
event of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates) which agreement has
been approved by the Board prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this Agreement and the rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in accordance with Section 7(a). 

SECTION 14. Fractional Rights; Fractional Shares; Waiver. 

(a) The Company is not required to issue fractions of Rights except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(o) hereof, or
to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the Persons to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to such fraction of the
market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the market value of a whole Right is the Closing Price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date that such fractional Rights would have been otherwise
issuable. 
 (b) The Company is not required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock is one one-thousandth of the Closing Price of a share of Preferred Stock for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
of such exercise. 
 (c) Following the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 11 hereof giving rise to the right to
receive Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities upon the exercise of a Right, the Company will not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities upon exercise of the Rights
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities, the Company may pay to the
registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities.
For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock is the Closing Price of one share of Common Stock for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. 

  
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 (d) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of the Right, expressly waives such
holder’s right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14. 

(e) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under this Agreement, the Company shall
(i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and formulas utilized in calculating such payments; and (ii) provide sufficient monies
to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent may rely upon such a certificate and has no duty with respect to, and will not be deemed to have knowledge of, any payment for fractional Rights or
fractional shares under any Section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent has received such a certificate and sufficient monies. 

SECTION 15. Rights of Action. 
 All
rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than the rights of action vested in the Rights Agent hereunder, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of shares of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, any registered holder of shares of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any
other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, any registered holder of shares of the Common Stock), may, in such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company or any other Person to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in
this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement by the Company
and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations by the Company of the obligations hereunder of any Person (including, without limitation, the Company) subject
to this Agreement. 
 SECTION 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. 

Every holder of a Right, by accepting such Right, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a
Right that: 
 (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced by the balances indicated in the Book Entry account system
of the transfer agent for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of Common Stock (which Common Stock shall also be deemed to represent certificates for Rights) or, in the case of certificated shares, the certificates for the Common
Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for shares of Common Stock also constitute certificates for Rights) and each Right is transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock; 

  
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 (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates shall be transferable only on the
registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates properly completed and
duly executed; 
 (c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated balance indicated in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, or in the case of certificated shares, by the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated balance indicated in the Book Entry account
system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, or in the case of certificated shares, by the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor
the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and 
 (d)
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent has any liability to any holder of a Right or any other Person as a result of the inability of the Company or the Rights Agent to perform any of its
or their obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree, judgment or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory,
self-regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided,
however, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order, decree, judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as promptly as practicable. 

SECTION 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. 

No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate is entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of
Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate
action, or, except as provided in Section 26 hereof, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders, or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right evidenced by such Rights Certificate have
been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof. 

  
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 SECTION 18. Duties of Rights Agent. 

The Rights Agent undertakes to perform its duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, or, prior to the Distribution Date, Common Stock, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound: 

(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may be legal counsel for the Rights Agent or the Company or an employee
of the Rights Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent will have no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted to
be taken by it in the absence of bad faith in accordance with such advice or opinion. 
 (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking,
suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it, in the absence of bad faith, under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate. 
 (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad
faith, or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment). Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent
be liable for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Any
liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent. 

(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its countersignature thereof), but all such statements and recitals are deemed to have been made by the Company only. 

(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for nor be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the
execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or for the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereon); nor will it be liable or responsible for any breach by
the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to satisfy any condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor will it be liable or responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including, but not
limited to, the Rights becoming 

  
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null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or any change or adjustment in the terms of the Rights including, but not limited, to any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections
11, 13, 23 or 24 hereof or for the manner, method or amount of any such change or adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of the certificate describing any such adjustment contemplated by Section 12 hereof, upon which the Rights Agent may rely); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or any other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common
Stock, Preferred Stock or any other securities will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable. 

(f) The Company shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further
acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the performance by the Rights Agent of its duties under this Agreement. 

(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept verbal or written instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer
or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and such advice or instruction shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent
shall have no duty to independently verify the accuracy or completeness of such instructions and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted to be taken by it by it, in the absence of bad faith, in
accordance with advice or instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set
forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and
protected in relying upon the most recent verbal or written instructions received from any such officer, and shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in the absence of bad faith in accordance with
a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken, suffered or omitted. 
 (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise
act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person. 

  
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 (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in
it or perform any duty hereunder either itself (through its directors, officers and employees) or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company, any holder of Rights or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in the selection and continued
employment thereof. 
 (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there are reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it. 
 (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or
transfer, either (i) the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, or (ii) any other
actual or suspected irregularity exists, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company. 

SECTION 19. Concerning the Rights Agent. 

(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent on demand compensation as agreed in writing between the Company and the Rights Agent for all
services rendered by it hereunder and from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, to reimburse the Rights Agent for all of its reasonable and documented expenses incurred in the preparation, delivery, amendment, administration and execution of
this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent ,its employees, officers or directors for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, demand, judgment,
fine, penalty, claim, settlement, cost or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the
acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the reasonable and documented costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing
its rights hereunder; provided that the Company shall not be required to indemnify the Rights Agent, its employees, officers or directors for any such loss, liability, damage, demand, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, settlement cost or expense to the
extent caused by the Right Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment). 

(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
to be taken by it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or Book Entry for Common Stock or other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statements or other paper or 

  
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document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and shall not be obligated to verify the accuracy or completeness of such instrument, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit,
letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statements or other paper or document and, where necessary, guaranteed, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in
Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take
action in connection therewith unless and until it has received such notice in writing. 
 (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, in no case shall the Company be liable with respect to any action, proceeding, suit or claim against the Rights Agent unless the Rights Agent shall have notified the Company in accordance with Section 27 hereof of the assertion of
such action, proceeding, suit or claim against the Rights Agent, promptly after the Rights Agent shall have notice of such assertion of an action, proceeding, suit or claim or have been served with the summons or other first legal process giving
information as to the nature and basis of the action, proceeding, suit or claim; provided that the failure to provide such notice promptly shall not affect the rights of the Rights Agent hereunder except to the extent that such failure actually
prejudices the Company. The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action, proceeding, suit or claim, and, if the Company so elects, the Company shall assume the defense of any such action, proceeding,
suit or claim. In the event that the Company assumes such defense, the Company shall not thereafter be liable for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Rights Agent, so long as the Company shall retain counsel satisfactory to the
Rights Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable judgment, to defend such action, proceeding, suit or claim, and provided that the Rights Agent does not have defenses that are adverse to or different from any defenses of the Company. The Rights Agent
agrees not to settle any litigation in connection with any action, proceeding, suit or claim with respect to which it may seek indemnification from the Company without the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. 
 (d) The provisions of this Section 19 and Section 18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the resignation,
replacement or removal of the Rights Agent and the exercise, termination and the expiration of the Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, incidental,
indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action; and the Company
agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and to hold it harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law against any loss, liability or expense incurred as a result of claims for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damages of
any kind whatsoever provided in each case that such claims are not based on the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Rights Agent (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Any liability of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent. 

  
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 SECTION 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. 

(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is merged or with which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
is consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any Person succeeding to the stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; but only if such Person would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. The purchase of all or substantially all of the Rights Agent’s assets employed in the performance of transfer agent activities shall be deemed a merger or consolidation for
purposes of this Section 20. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such
Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. 

(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. 

SECTION 21. Change of Rights Agent. 

The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon at least thirty
(30) days’ notice in writing to the Company, and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, in which case the Company will give or cause to be given written notice to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon at least thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights
Agent resigns or is removed or otherwise becomes incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company fails to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (such holder shall, with such notice, submit its Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new 

  
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Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any
State thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust, stock transfer or stockholder services powers and which at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent has, or with its parent has, a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a Person described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it
had been originally named as Rights Agent under this Agreement without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose in each case at the sole expense of the Company. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure
to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. 

SECTION 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. 

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Rights Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new
Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in the Exercise Price or the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property that may be acquired under the Rights Certificates. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date (other than upon exercise of a Right) and prior to the
redemption or the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange
of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate may be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company has been advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate may be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof. 

SECTION 23. Redemption. 
 (a) The
Board may, within its sole discretion, at any time before any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the “Redemption Period”) cause the Company to redeem all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price, as adjusted, the
“Redemption Price”). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, 

  
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the Rights will not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event or Flip-Over Event until such time as the Company’s right of
redemption hereunder has expired. The redemption of the Rights by the Board pursuant to this paragraph (a) may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board may establish, in its sole discretion. The
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock based on the Current Market Price or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board. 

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or
such later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall
be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right held. The Company shall promptly give (i) written notice to the Rights Agent of any such redemption; and (ii) public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice will not affect the validity of such redemption. Within ten (10) days after such action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all
the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice that is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price shall be made. Neither the Company nor any
of its Related Persons may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, or other than in connection with the purchase of
shares of Common Stock or the conversion or redemption of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation prior to the Distribution Date. 

SECTION 24. Exchange. 
 (a) The Board
may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of two shares of Common Stock per each outstanding Right, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board is not empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Acquiring
Person, together with all of its Related Persons, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. From and after the occurrence of a Flip-Over Event, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) will thereafter be exercisable only in
accordance with Section 13 hereof and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). 

  
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 (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action or notice, the right to exercise such Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive a number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in connection with any exchange effected pursuant to this Section 24(b), no holder of Rights shall be entitled to receive Common
Stock (or other shares of capital stock of the Company) that would result in such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates and Associates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of more than 4.95% of the then-outstanding Common Stock. If a holder
would, but for the immediately preceding sentence, be entitled to receive Excess Shares, in lieu of receiving such Excess Shares and to the extent permitted by law or orders applicable to the Company, such holder will only be entitled to receive an
amount in cash or, at the election of the Company, a note or other evidence of indebtedness maturing within nine months with a principal amount, equal to the current per share Current Market Price of a share of Common Stock at the Close of Business
on the Trading Day following the date the Board effects the forgoing exchange multiplied by the number of Excess Shares that would otherwise have been issuable to such holder. The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Company shall promptly give (i) written notice to the Rights Agent of any such exchange; and (ii) public notice of any such exchange;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice will not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by
which the exchange of the shares of Common Stock for Rights shall be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that shall be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of
Rights (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. 

(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for Common Stock as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that
would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (or Equivalent Preferred Stock, as such term is defined in Section 11(b)) such that the Current Market Price of one share of
Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock as of the date of such exchange.. 

(d) Upon declaring an exchange pursuant to this Section 24, or as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, the Company may implement
such procedures as it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion, for the purpose of ensuring that the Common Stock (or such other consideration) issuable upon an exchange pursuant to this Section 24 is not received by holders of Rights that
have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof. Before effecting an exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Board may direct the Company to enter into a Trust Agreement in such form and with such terms as the Board shall then
approve (the “Trust Agreement”). If the Board so directs, the Company shall enter into the Trust Agreement and the Company shall issue to the trust created by the Trust Agreement (the “Trust”) all or a

  
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portion (as designated by the Board) of the shares of Common Stock and other securities, if any, distributable pursuant to the Exchange, and all stockholders entitled to distribution of such
shares or other securities (and any dividends or distributions made thereon after the date on which such shares or other securities are deposited in the Trust) shall be entitled to receive a distribution of such shares or other securities (and any
dividends or distributions made thereon after the date on which such shares or other securities are deposited in the Trust) only from the Trust and solely upon compliance with all relevant terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement. Prior to
effecting an exchange and registering shares of Common Stock (or other such securities) in any Person’s name, including any nominee or transferee of a Person, the Company may require (or cause the trustee of the Trust to require), as a
condition thereof, that any holder of Rights provide evidence, including, without limitation, the identity of the Beneficial Owners thereof and their Related Persons (or former Beneficial Owners thereof and their Related Persons) as the Company
reasonably requests in order to determine if such Rights are null and void. If any Person fails to comply with such request, the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the Rights formerly held by such Person to be null and void pursuant to
Section 7(e) hereof and not transferable or exercisable or exchangeable in connection herewith. Any shares of Common Stock or other securities issued at the direction of the Board in connection herewith shall be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock or of such other securities (as the case may be), and the Company shall be deemed to have received as consideration for such issuance a benefit having a value that is at least equal to the aggregate par value of
the shares so issued. 
 SECTION 25. Process to Seek Exemption 

(a) Any Person who desires to effect any acquisition of Common Stock that might, if consummated, result in such Person beneficially owning
4.95% or more of the then-outstanding Common Stock (or, in the case of a Grandfathered Person, additional shares of Common Stock) (a “Requesting Person”) may request that the Board grant an exemption with respect to such
acquisition under this Agreement so that such Person would be deemed to be an “Exempt Person” for purposes of this Agreement (an “Exemption Request”). An Exemption Request shall be in proper form and shall be
delivered by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive office of the Company. The Exemption Request shall be deemed made upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company. To be in proper form,
an Exemption Request shall set forth (i) the name and address of the Requesting Person, (ii) the number and percentage of shares of Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by the Requesting Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates
of the Requesting Person, and (iii) a reasonably detailed description of the transaction or transactions by which the Requesting Person would propose to acquire Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock aggregating 4.95% or more of the
then-outstanding Common Stock and the maximum number and percentage of shares of Common Stock that the Requesting Person proposes to acquire. The Board shall endeavor to respond to an Exemption Request within twenty (20) Business Days after
receipt of such Exemption Request; provided, that the failure of the Board to make a determination within such period shall be deemed to constitute the denial by the Board of the Exemption Request. The Requesting Person shall respond promptly
to reasonable and appropriate requests for additional information from the Company or the Board and its advisors to assist the Board in making its determination. The Board shall only grant an exemption in response to an Exemption Request if it
receives, at the Board’s request, a report from the Company’s advisors to the effect that the 

  
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acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by the Requesting Person does not create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Board otherwise
determines in its sole discretion that the exemption is in the best interests of the Company. Any exemption granted hereunder may be granted in whole or in part, and may be subject to limitations or conditions (including a requirement that the
Requesting Person agree that it will not acquire Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock in excess of the maximum number and percentage of shares approved by the Board), in each case as and to the extent the Board shall determine necessary or
desirable to provide for the protection of the Company’s NOLs. Any Exemption Request may be submitted on a confidential basis and, except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall maintain the confidentiality of such Exemption
Request and determination of the Board with respect thereto, unless the information contained in the Exemption Request or the determination of the Board with respect thereto otherwise becomes publicly available. The Exemption Request shall be
considered and evaluated by the Independent Directors who are also independent of the Requesting Person and disinterested with respect to the Exemption Request, and the action of a majority of such Independent Directors shall be deemed to be the
determination of the Board for purposes of such Exemption Request. 
 SECTION 26. Notice of Certain Events. 

(a) In case the Company proposes, at any time after the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) to pay any
dividend payable in stock of any class or series to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the
Company); (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options; (iii) to
effect any reclassification of Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock); (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n) hereof) or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of
more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with
Section 11(n) hereof); or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each registered holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, and to the Rights
Agent in accordance with Section 27 hereof, a written notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given
in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action and, in the case of any such other action,
at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever is earlier; provided, however, that no such action
shall be taken pursuant to this Section 26(a) that will or would conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation; provided, further, that no such notice is required pursuant to this Section 26 if any
Subsidiary of the Company effects a consolidation or merger with or into, or effects a sale or other transfer of assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company. 

  
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 (b) In case any Flip-In Event occurs, (i) the
Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give to each registered holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, and to the Rights Agent in accordance with Section 27 hereof, a written notice of the occurrence of such event,
which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof; and (ii) all references in paragraph (a) of this Section 26 to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, to any other securities that may be acquired upon exercise of a Right. 
 (c) In
case any Flip-Over Event occurs, then the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give to each registered holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, and to the Rights Agent in accordance with Section 27 hereof, a written
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 13(a) hereof. 

SECTION 27. Notices. 
 Notices or
demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class or express United States mail, FedEx or UPS,
postage prepaid and properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows: 
 If to
the Company, at its address at: 
 Contango Oil & Gas Company 

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900 

Houston, Texas 77002 

Attention:    Corporate Secretary 

with a copy to: 

Vinson & Elkins LLP 

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 

Houston, Texas 77002 
 Attention:
James M. Prince 
 Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company
or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent in writing by first-class or express United States mail, FedEx or UPS, postage prepaid or overnight delivery service and properly
addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows: 
 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company 
 One State Street, 30th Floor 

New York, NY 10004 
 Attention:
Isaac Kagan 

  
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 Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the
Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent in writing by first-class or express United States mail, FedEx or UPS,
postage prepaid or overnight delivery service and properly addressed, to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. 

SECTION 28. Supplements and Amendments. 

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 28, the Company, by action of the Board, may from time to time and in its sole and absolute
discretion, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights, including, without limitation, in order to (a) cure any ambiguity;
(b) correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein; (c) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder; (d) otherwise change, amend, or supplement any
provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that from and after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended in any manner
that would (a) adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) as such or (b) cause this Agreement to become amendable other than in accordance
with this Section 28. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company, by action of the Board, may at any time before any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to make the provisions of this Agreement inapplicable to a
particular transaction by which a Person might otherwise become an Acquiring Person or to otherwise alter the terms and conditions of this Agreement as they may apply with respect to any such transaction. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 28, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that any
supplement or amendment that does not amend Sections 18, 19, 20, 21, or this Section 28 in a manner adverse to the Rights Agent shall become effective immediately upon execution by the Company, whether or not also executed by the Rights Agent.
The Company shall provide within three (3) Business Days of the adoption of an amendment to the Agreement written notification of such amendment to the Rights Agent. 

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent may enter into any supplement or amendment that affects
the Rights Agent’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. 
 Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests
of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock. 

  
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 SECTION 29. Successors. 

All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit
of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. 
 SECTION 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board. 

(a) For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock outstanding
at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act or Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, the Board has the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company hereunder, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power (a) to interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (b) to make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights in accordance with Section 23 hereof, to exchange or not exchange the rights in accordance with Section 24 hereof, to amend or not amend this
Agreement in accordance with Section 28 hereof). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (ii) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the
Board shall be (i) be final, conclusive, and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties; and (ii) not subject the Board or any member thereof to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

 SECTION 31. Benefits of this Agreement. 

Nothing in this Agreement may be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of shares of the Common Stock of the Company) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; rather, this Agreement is for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company). 

SECTION 32. Tax Compliance and Withholding. 

(a) The Rights Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company, will comply with all applicable certification, information reporting and
withholding (including “backup” withholding) requirements imposed by applicable tax laws, regulations or administrative practice with respect to (i) any payments made hereunder and (ii) the issuance, delivery, holding, transfer,
redemption or exercise of Rights, Common Stock or Preferred Stock hereunder. Such compliance shall include, without limitation, the preparation and timely filing of required returns and the timely payment of all amounts required to be withheld to
the appropriate taxing authority 

  
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or its designated agent. The Rights Agent shall maintain all appropriate records documenting compliance with such requirements, and shall make such records available, on written request, to the
Company or its authorized representative within a reasonable period of time after receipt of such request. 
 (b) In the event that the
Company, the Rights Agent or their agents determine that they are obligated to withhold or deduct any tax or other governmental charge under any applicable law on actual or deemed payments or distributions hereunder to a holder of the Rights, Common
Stock or other cash, securities or other property, the Company, the Rights Agent or their agents shall be entitled to (i) deduct and withhold such amount by withholding a portion or all of the cash, securities or other property otherwise
deliverable or by otherwise using any property (including, without limitation, Rights, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or cash) that is owned by such holder, or (ii) in lieu of such withholding, require any holder to make a payment to the
Company, the Rights Agent or their agents, in each case in such amounts as they deem necessary to meet their withholding obligations, and in the case of (i) above, shall also be entitled to sell all or a portion of such withheld securities or
other property by public or private sale in such amounts and in such manner as they deem necessary and practicable to pay such taxes and governmental charges. 

SECTION 33. Severability. 
 If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, null and void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or
restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, null and void or unenforceable and the Board determines in good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would materially and adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and will not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board. 

SECTION 34. Governing Law. 
 This
Agreement, each Right, and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State. 
 SECTION 35. Counterparts. 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of Agreement by facsimile or other customary shall mean of electronic transmission
(e.g., “PDF”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. 

  
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 SECTION 36. Interpretation. 

The headings contained in this Agreement are for descriptive purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, whenever a specific provision of the Code or a specific Treasury Regulation is referenced, such reference shall also apply to any successor or replacement provision or Treasury Regulation, as
applicable. 
 SECTION 37. Force Majeure. 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent will not have any liability for not performing, or a delay in the
performance of, any act, duty, obligation or responsibility by reason of any occurrence beyond the reasonable control of the Rights Agent (including, without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental
authority, any act of God, war, civil or military disobedience or disorder, riot, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, fire, earthquake, storm, flood, strike, work stoppage, interruptions or malfunctions of computer facilities, loss of data due to
power failures or mechanical difficulties with information, labor dispute, accident or failure or malfunction of any utilities, communication or computer (software or hardware) services or similar occurrence). 

[Signature Page To Follow On Next Page] 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all
as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY,
	as Company,
		
	By:	 	 /s/ E. Joseph Grady

	Name:	 	E. Joseph Grady
	Title:	 	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	
	CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
	as Rights Agent,
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Isaac Kagan

	Name:	 	Isaac Kagan
	Title:	 	Vice President

 [Signature Page to Rights Agreement] 

 Exhibit A 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS 

OF 
 SERIES A JUNIOR
PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK 
 OF 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY 

(Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law) 

In accordance with Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the undersigned corporation hereby certifies that the following
resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), at a meeting duly called and held on July 31, 2018: 

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the board of directors of this Corporation (the
“Board”) in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, and as may be further amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the
Board hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.04 per share, of the Corporation (the “Preferred Stock”), and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights,
preferences, and limitations thereof as follows: 
 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock: 

(1) Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock”
(the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 27,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided, that no
decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock. 
 (2) Dividends and
Distributions. 
 (a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar
stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $0.04 per share (the “Common
Stock”), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of
March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (1) $1.00 or (2) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash 

  
 - A-1 - 

 
dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable
in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (2) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. 

(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a)
of this subsection immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided, that in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the
Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. 
 (c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof. 

  
 - A-2 - 

 (3) Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the
following voting rights: 
 (a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A
Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. 

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other certificate of designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any
similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. 
 (c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action. 

(4) Certain Restrictions. 

(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section (2) are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not: 

(1) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; 
 (2) declare or pay dividends, or make any
other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; 

(3) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock other than (A) such redemptions or 

  
 - A-3 - 

 
purchases that may be deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or similar rights or grant, vesting or lapse of restrictions on the grant of any other performance shares,
restricted stock, restricted stock units or other equity awards to the extent that such shares represent all or a portion of (x) the exercise or purchase price of such options, warrants or similar rights or other equity awards and (y) the
amount of withholding taxes owed by the recipient of such award in respect of such grant, exercise, vesting or lapse of restrictions; (B) the repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any such shares from
employees, former employees, directors, former directors, consultants or former consultants of the Corporation or their respective estate, spouse, former spouse or family member, pursuant to the terms of the agreements pursuant to which such shares
were acquired, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or 
 (4) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes. 
 (b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section (4), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such
manner. 
 (5) Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any
manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred
Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other certificate of designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by
law. 
 (6) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
otherwise, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received the greater of (A) $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, and (B) an amount,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends 

  
 - A-4 - 

 
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. 

(7) Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into
an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding
sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. 
 (8) No
Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. 
 (9) Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank,
with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of any other class of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters. 

(10) Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class. 

  
 - A-5 - 

 (11) Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a
share, which fractions shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions, and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A
Preferred Stock. 

  
 - A-6 - 

 Exhibit B 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS 
 TO
PURCHASE SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK 
 Introduction 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.04 per share, of the Company (the
“Common Stock”). The dividend is payable on August 13, 2018 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.04 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”)
at a price of $33.72 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2018, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights
Agent (the “Rights Agent”). 
 Until the earlier to occur of (i) the
close of business on the tenth business day after a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with certain exceptions, an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired beneficial ownership of 4.95% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day after the commencement by any person of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person to commence, a tender or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in such Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.95% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”),
the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock certificates (or book entry shares) outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate (or book entry shares) together with this Summary of Rights. 

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration or redemption of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration or redemption of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain
a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and notice of such legend will be furnished to holders of book entry shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration or redemption of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for shares of Common Stock (or book entry shares of Common Stock) outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such legend or a copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate or registered in book entry form. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Rights Certificates”) will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. 

  
 - B-1 - 

 The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire prior to
the earliest of (i) August 1, 2021 or such later date as may be established by the Board prior to the expiration of the Rights as long as the extension is submitted to the stockholders of the Company for ratification at the
next annual meeting of stockholders succeeding such extension (the “Final Expiration Date”), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below, (iii) upon the
occurrence of certain transactions, (iv) the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, if approval by the stockholders of the Company of the Rights Agreement has not been obtained at such
meeting, (v) the Close of Business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if the Board determines that this Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of
Tax Benefits, and (vi) the Close of Business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are available to be carried forward. 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights
is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date. 

Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled,
when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of the greater of (a) $1.00 per share, and (b) an amount equal to 1,000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential payment of the greater of (i) $1,000.00 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends), and (ii) an amount equal to 1,000
times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of
Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. 

Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock. 

  
 - B-2 - 

 In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, affiliates and associates of the Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof (which will thereupon become null and void), will thereafter
have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. 

In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, affiliates and associates of the Acquiring
Person and certain transferees thereof which will have become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. 

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous
paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof which will have
become null and void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of two shares of Common Stock,
or a fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right. 
 With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued (other than fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock. 
 At any time prior to the
time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”) payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock
or such other form of consideration as the Board shall determine. The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price. 

For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any
manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights (other than holders of
Rights owned by or transferred to any person who is or becomes an Acquiring Person or affiliates and associates of an Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof). 

  
 - B-3 - 

 Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as
a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. 
 A copy of the Rights Agreement
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated August 1, 2018. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

  
 - B-4 - 

 Exhibit C 

FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE 
  

			
	Certificate No. R-                    	  	                    Rights

 NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 1, 2021 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE
SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
ANY SUCH PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. THE RIGHTS SHALL NOT BE EXERCISABLE, AND SHALL BE NULL AND VOID, AS LONG AS HELD BY A HOLDER IN ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE THE REQUISITE QUALIFICATION TO THE ISSUANCE TO SUCH HOLDER, OR THE EXERCISE BY SUCH HOLDER, OF THE RIGHTS IN SUCH JURISDICTION SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN OBTAINED OR BE OBTAINABLE. 

[THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR A
RELATED PERSON OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(E) OF THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]1 
  

	1 	The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence. 

  
 - C-1 - 

 Rights Certificate 

This certifies that
                                , or its registered assigns, is the registered holder of
the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2018, as amended from time to time (the “Rights
Agreement”), between Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights
Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 1, 2021, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.04 per
share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $33.72 per one one-thousandth share of Preferred Stock (the “Exercise Price”), upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares that may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share as set forth above, are the number and Exercise Price as of August 1, 2018, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date, and are subject to adjustment upon the happening of
certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Rights Agreement. 

From and after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event or Flip-Over Event, the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, concurrently with or after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any
right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Flip-In Event or Flip-Over Event. 

The Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall not be exercisable, and shall be null and void as long as held, by a holder in any
jurisdiction where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such holder, or the exercise by such holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or be obtainable. 

As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be
acquired upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including Triggering Events. 

This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the
Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent. 

  
 - C-2 - 

 This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances at its option at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the Close of Business on (i) the Stock Acquisition Date and (ii) the Final Expiration Date. 

At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of two shares of Common Stock per each outstanding Right or, in certain
circumstances, other equity securities of the Company which are deemed by the Board to have the same value as shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment. 

No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement. 
 No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be
deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer
upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. 
 This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent. 

  
 - C-3 - 

 WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company. 

 

			
	Dated as of                                 ,
            .	  	
		  	 CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

		
		  	
By:                  
                                         
                                      

		  	
Name:                  
                                         
                                  

		  	
Title:                  
                                         
                                    

	Countersigned:	  	
	Dated as of                                 ,
            .	  	
		
	 CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
	  	
	 as Rights Agent
	  	
		
	
By:                  
                                         
                                         
 
	  	
	Authorized Signatory	  	

  
 - C-4 - 

 [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate] 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT 
 (To be executed by
the registered holder if 
 such holder desires to transfer the 

Rights Certificate.) 
  

			
	 FOR VALUE RECEIVED

transfers unto
	  	hereby sells, assigns and

  
  

(Please print name and address of transferee) 
  

 
 this Rights Certificate, together with all right,
title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution. 
  

			
	Dated                     ,             .	 	
		
		 	  

		 	 Signature

		
	Signature Guaranteed:	 	

  
 - C-5 - 

 Certificate 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: 

(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement); and 
 (2)
after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person. 
  

			
	Dated                     ,             .	 	
		
		 	  

		 	 Signature

		
	Signature Guaranteed:	 	

  
 - C-6 - 

 NOTICE 

The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 
 Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a
Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a level acceptable to the Rights Agent. 
 In the event the certification set forth above is not
completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will
affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate. 

  
 - C-7 - 

 FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE 

(To be executed if the registered holder 
 desires to exercise
Rights represented 
 by the Rights Certificate.) 

To:______________________ 
 The undersigned
hereby irrevocably elects to exercise                Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise
of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person or such other property which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares (or such other securities of the Company or of
any other person or such other property as may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) be issued in the name of and delivered to: 
  

 
 (Please print name and address) 

 
  

Please insert social security 
 or other identifying
number:                                      
                                         
                                         
                                         
          
 If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: 
 (Please print name and address)

  
  

 
 Please insert social security 

or other identifying number:
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
       
  

	
	Dated _____________, ______.

  

	
	  

	 Signature

 

	
	Signature Guaranteed:

  
 - C-8 - 

 Certificate 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: 

(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [    ] are
[    ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement); and 
 (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned 

[    ] did [    ]
did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person. 
  

	
	Dated _____________, ______.

  

	
	  

	 Signature

 

	
	Signature Guaranteed:

  
 - C-9 - 

 NOTICE 

The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 
 Signatures must be guaranteed by a
participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a level acceptable to the Rights Agent. 
 In the event the certification set
forth above is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an
Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate. 

  
 - C-10 -Exhibit 10.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOAN AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,

AND

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATED AS OF MAY 1, 2018

    

     

    
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE I
	 
	DEFINITIONS
	 
	SECTION 1.01.	Definitions	2
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II
	 
	REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER
	 
	SECTION 2.01.	Representations of Borrower	6
	SECTION 2.02.	Particular Covenants of Borrower	9
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III
	 
	LOAN TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS
	 
	SECTION 3.01.	Loan; Loan Term	14
	SECTION 3.02.	Disbursement of Loan Proceeds	15
	SECTION 3.03.	Amounts Payable	16
	SECTION 3.03A.	Amounts on Deposit in Project Loan Account after Completion of Project Draws	17
	SECTION 3.04.	Unconditional Obligations	17
	SECTION 3.05.	Loan Agreement to Survive Loan	18
	SECTION 3.06.	Disclaimer of Warranties and Indemnification	18
	SECTION 3.07.	Option to Prepay Loan Repayments	19
	SECTION 3.08.	Priority of Loan and I-Bank Loan	19
	SECTION 3.09.	Approval of the New Jersey State Treasurer	20
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV
	 
	ASSIGNMENT OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND
	 
	SECTION 4.01.	Assignment and Transfer by State	21
	SECTION 4.02.	Assignment by Borrower	21
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V
	 
	EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
	 
	SECTION 5.01.	Events of Default	22
	SECTION 5.02.	Notice of Default	23
	SECTION 5.03.	Remedies on Default	23
	SECTION 5.04.	Attorneys’ Fees and Other Expenses	23

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	SECTION 5.05.	Application of Moneys	23
	SECTION 5.06.	No Remedy Exclusive; Waiver; Notice	23
	SECTION 5.07.	Retention of State’s Rights	24
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI
	 
	MISCELLANEOUS
	 
	SECTION 6.01.	Notices	25
	SECTION 6.02.	Binding Effect	25
	SECTION 6.03.	Severability	25
	SECTION 6.04.	Amendments, Supplements and Modifications	25
	SECTION 6.05.	Execution in Counterparts	26
	SECTION 6.06.	Applicable Law and Regulations	26
	SECTION 6.07.	Consents and Approvals	26
	SECTION 6.08.	Captions	26
	SECTION 6.09.	Further Assurances	26

 

 

	SCHEDULE A 	Certain Additional Loan Agreement Provisions	S-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT A	(1) Description of Project and Environmental Infrastructure System	A-1
	 	(2) Description of Loan	A-2
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT B	Basis for Determination of Allowable Project Costs	B-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT C	Estimated Disbursement Schedule	C-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT D	Specimen Borrower Bond	D-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT E	Opinions of Borrower’s Bond Counsel and General Counsel	E-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT F	Additional Covenants and Requirements	F-1
	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT G	General Administrative Requirements for the New Jersey Water Bank	G-1
	 	 	 

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NEW JERSEY
WATER BANK FUND LOAN AGREEMENT

THIS LOAN AGREEMENT,
made and entered into as of May 1, 2018 by and between THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, acting by and through the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection, and the Borrower (capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall have, unless the context otherwise
requires, the meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.01 hereof);

WITNESSETH
THAT:

WHEREAS, the
Borrower has, in accordance with the Regulations, made timely application to the State for a Loan to finance a portion of the Costs
of the Project;

WHEREAS, the
State has approved the Borrower’s application for a Loan from Federal Funds, if and when received by and available to the
State, and moneys from repayments of loans previously made from such Federal Funds, in the amount of the loan commitment set forth
in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof to finance a portion of the Costs of the Project;

WHEREAS, the
New Jersey State Legislature has approved an appropriations act that authorizes an expenditure of said proceeds, Federal Funds
or related moneys to finance a portion of the Costs of the Project;

WHEREAS, the
Borrower, in accordance with the Business Corporation Law and all other applicable law, will issue a Borrower Bond to the State
evidencing said Loan at the Loan Closing; and

WHEREAS, in
accordance with the New Jersey Infrastructure Trust Act, P.L. 1985, c. 334, as amended, and the Regulations, the Borrower has been
awarded an I-Bank Loan for a portion of the Costs of the Project plus, if applicable to the Borrower, capitalized interest on the
I-Bank Loan and certain costs of issuance.

NOW, THEREFORE,
for and in consideration of the award of the Loan by the State, the Borrower agrees to complete the Project and to perform
under this Loan Agreement in accordance with the conditions, covenants and procedures set forth herein and attached hereto as part
hereof, as follows:

     

     

    

ARTICLE
I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION
1.01.       Definitions.

(a)       The
following terms as used in this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Administrative
Fee” means an annual fee of up to one percent (1.0%) of the initial principal amount of the Loan or such lesser amount,
if any, as may be authorized by any act of the New Jersey State Legislature and as the State may approve from time to time.

“Authorized
Officer” means, in the case of the Borrower, any person or persons authorized pursuant to a resolution of the board of
directors of the Borrower to perform any act or execute any document relating to the Loan, the Borrower Bond or this Loan Agreement.

“Bond Counsel”
means a law firm appointed or approved by the State, as the case may be, having a reputation in the field of municipal law whose
opinions are generally acceptable by purchasers of municipal bonds.

“Borrower”
means the corporation that is a party to and is described in Schedule A to this Loan Agreement, and its successors and assigns.

“Borrower
Bond” means the general obligation bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness authorized, executed, attested
and delivered by the Borrower to the State and authenticated on behalf of the Borrower to evidence the Loan, a specimen of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit D and made a part hereof.

“Borrowers”
means any other Local Government Unit or Private Entity (as such terms are defined in the Regulations) authorized to construct,
operate and maintain Environmental Infrastructure Facilities that have entered into Loan Agreements with the State pursuant to
which the State will make Loans to such recipients from Federal Funds.

"Business
Corporation Law" means the "New Jersey Business Corporation Act", constituting Chapter 263 of the Pamphlet Laws
of 1968 of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 14A:1-1 et seq.), as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented.

“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented, including any regulations
promulgated thereunder, any successor code thereto and any administrative or judicial interpretations thereof.

“Costs”
means those costs that are eligible, reasonable, necessary, allocable to the Project and permitted by generally accepted accounting
principles, including Allowances and Building Costs (as defined in the Regulations), as shall be determined on a project-specific
basis in accordance with the Regulations as set forth in Exhibit B hereto, as the same may be amended by subsequent eligible costs
as evidenced by a certificate of an authorized officer of the State.

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“Department”
means the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“Environmental
Infrastructure Facilities” means Water Supply Facilities (as such term is defined in the Regulations).

“Environmental
Infrastructure System” means the Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the Borrower, including the Project, described
in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and made a part hereof for which the Borrower is borrowing the Loan under this Loan Agreement.

“Event
of Default” means any occurrence or event specified in Section 5.01 hereof.

“Excess
Project Funds” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03A hereof.

“Federal
Funds” means those funds awarded to the State pursuant to the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.) or
the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. §300f et seq.), as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented.

“I-Bank”
means the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (f/k/a the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust), a public body corporate and
politic with corporate succession duly created and validly existing under and by virtue of P.L. 1985, c. 334, as amended (N.J.S.A.
58:11B-1 et seq.).

“I-Bank
Loan” means the loan made to the Borrower by the I-Bank pursuant to the I-Bank Loan Agreement.

“I-Bank
Loan Agreement” means the loan agreement by and between the Borrower and the I-Bank dated as of May 1, 2018 to finance
or refinance a portion of the Costs of the Project.

“Loan”
means the loan made by the State to the Borrower to finance or refinance a portion of the Costs of the Project pursuant to this
Loan Agreement. For all purposes of this Loan Agreement, the principal amount of the Loan at any time shall be the amount of the
loan commitment set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof (such amount being also specified as the initial
aggregate principal amount of the Borrower Bond) less any amount of such principal amount that has been repaid by the Borrower
under this Loan Agreement and less any adjustment made for low bid or final building costs pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C.
7:22-3.26 and the appropriations act of the New Jersey State Legislature authorizing the expenditure of moneys to finance a portion
of the Costs of the Project.

“Loan Agreement”
means this Loan Agreement, including Schedule A and the Exhibits attached hereto, as it may be supplemented, modified or amended
from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Loan Agreements”
means any other loan agreements entered into by and between the State and one or more of the Borrowers pursuant to which the State
will make Loans to such Borrowers from Federal Funds.

“Loan Closing”
means the date upon which the Borrower shall deliver its Borrower Bond, as previously authorized, executed, attested and, if applicable,
authenticated, to the State.

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“Loan Repayments”
means the sum of (i) the repayments of the principal amount of the Loan payable by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.03(a) of
this Loan Agreement and (ii) any late charges incurred hereunder, but shall not include the Administrative Fee.

“Loan Term”
means the term of this Loan Agreement provided in Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof and in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part
hereof.

“Loans”
means the loans made by the State to the Borrowers under the Loan Agreements from moneys from Federal Funds.

“Master
Program Trust Agreement” means that certain Master Program Trust Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1995, by and among
the Trust, the State, United States Trust Company of New York, as Master Program Trustee thereunder, The Bank of New York (NJ),
in several capacities thereunder, and First Fidelity Bank, N.A. (predecessor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), in several
capacities thereunder, as supplemented by that certain Agreement of Resignation of Outgoing Master Program Trustee, Appointment
of Successor Master Program Trustee and Acceptance Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2001, by and among United States Trust Company
of New York, as Outgoing Master Program Trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, N.A. (predecessor to U.S. Bank Trust National
Association), as Successor Master Program Trustee, and the I-Bank, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time
in accordance with its terms.

“Prime
Rate” means the prevailing commercial interest rate announced by the Trustee from time to time in the State as its prime
lending rate.

“Project”
means the Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the Borrower described in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and made a part hereof,
which constitutes a project for which the State is permitted to make a loan to the Borrower pursuant to the Regulations, all or
a portion of the Costs of which is financed or refinanced by the State through the making of the Loan under this Loan Agreement
and which may be identified under either the Drinking Water or Clean Water Project Lists with the Project Number specified in Exhibit
A-1 attached hereto.

“Regulations”
means the rules and regulations, as applicable, now or hereafter promulgated under N.J.A.C. 7:22-3 et seq., 7:22-4 et
seq., 7:22-5 et seq., 7:22-6 et seq., 7:22-7 et seq., 7:22-8 et seq., 7:22-9 et seq. and
7:22-10 et seq., as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented.

“State”
means the State of New Jersey, acting, unless otherwise specifically indicated, by and through the Department, and its successors
and assigns.

“Trustee”
means, initially, ZB, National Association d/b/a Zions Bank, the Trustee appointed by the I-Bank and its successors as Trustee
under the Bond Resolution (as defined in the I-Bank Loan Agreement), as provided in Article X of the Bond Resolution.

(b)       In
addition to the capitalized terms defined in subsection (a) of this Section 1.01, certain additional capitalized terms used in
this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to such additional capitalized
terms in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

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(c)       Except
as otherwise defined herein or where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular number shall include the plural
number and vice versa, and words importing persons shall include firms, associations, corporations, agencies and districts. Words
importing one gender shall include the other gender.

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ARTICLE
II

REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER

SECTION
2.01.       Representations of Borrower. The Borrower represents for the benefit of the State as follows:

(a)       Organization
and Authority.

(i)       The
Borrower is a corporation duly created and validly existing under and pursuant to the Constitution and statutes of the State of
New Jersey, including the Business Corporation Law.

(ii)       The
acting officers of the Borrower who are contemporaneously herewith performing or have previously performed any action contemplated
in this Loan Agreement either are or, at the time any such action was performed, were the duly appointed or elected officers of
such Borrower empowered by applicable New Jersey law and, if applicable, authorized by resolution of the Borrower to perform such
actions. To the extent any such action was performed by an officer no longer the duly acting officer of such Borrower, all such
actions previously taken by such officer are still in full force and effect.

(iii)       The
Borrower has full legal right and authority and all necessary licenses and permits required as of the date hereof to own, operate
and maintain its Environmental Infrastructure System, to carry on its activities relating thereto, to execute, attest and deliver
this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, to authorize the authentication of the Borrower Bond, to sell the Borrower Bond to the
State, to undertake and complete the Project and to carry out and consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement.

(iv)       The
proceedings of the Borrower’s board of directors approving this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the execution,
attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the sale of the Borrower Bond to the State,
authorizing the authentication of the Borrower Bond on behalf of the Borrower and authorizing the Borrower to undertake and complete
the Project, including, without limitation, the Borrower Bond Resolution (collectively, the “Proceedings”), have been
duly and lawfully adopted in accordance with the Business Corporation Law and other applicable New Jersey law at a meeting or meetings
that were duly called and held in accordance with the Borrower By-Laws and at which quorums were present and acting throughout.

(v)       By
official action of the Borrower taken prior to or concurrent with the execution and delivery hereof, including, without limitation,
the Proceedings, the Borrower has duly authorized, approved and consented to all necessary action to be taken by the Borrower for:
(A) the execution, attestation, delivery and performance of this Loan Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (B) the
issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the State upon the terms set forth herein; and (C) 

    -6- 

     

    

the execution, delivery
and due performance of any and all other certificates, agreements and instruments that may be required to be executed, delivered
and performed by the Borrower in order to carry out, give effect to and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement.

(vi)       This
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond have each been duly authorized by the Borrower and duly executed, attested and delivered by
Authorized Officers of the Borrower, and the Borrower Bond has been duly sold by the Borrower to the State, duly authenticated
by the trustee or paying agent, if applicable, under the Borrower Bond Resolution and duly issued by the Borrower in accordance
with the terms of the Borrower Bond Resolution; and assuming that the State has all the requisite power and authority to authorize,
execute, attest and deliver, and has duly authorized, executed, attested and delivered, this Loan Agreement, and assuming further
that this Loan Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the State, enforceable against the State in accordance with
its terms, each of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower,
enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be affected by
bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws or the application by a court of legal or equitable principles affecting creditors' rights;
and the information contained under "Description of Loan" in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof is true
and accurate in all respects.

(b)       Full
Disclosure. There is no fact that the Borrower has not disclosed to the State in writing on the Borrower’s application
for the Loan or otherwise that materially adversely affects or (so far as the Borrower can now foresee) that will materially adversely
affect the properties, activities, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System, or the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments or otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations
and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.

(c)       Pending
Litigation. There are no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower
in any court or before any governmental authority or arbitration board or tribunal that, if adversely determined, would materially
adversely affect (i) the undertaking or completion of the Project, (ii) the properties, activities, prospects or condition (financial
or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure System, (iii) the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments,
(iv) the authorization, execution, attestation or delivery of this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond, (v) the issuance of the
Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the State, (vi) the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution, or (vii) the Borrower’s
ability otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond, which proceedings have not been previously disclosed in writing to the State either in the Borrower’s application for
the Loan or otherwise.

(d)       Compliance
with Existing Laws and Agreements. (i) The authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond by the Borrower, (ii) the authentication of the Borrower Bond by the trustee or paying agent under the Borrower Bond
Resolution, as the case may be, and the sale of the Borrower Bond to the State, 

    -7- 

     

    

(iii) the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution,
(iv) the observation and performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements hereunder and thereunder,
(v) the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Loan Agreement, the Borrower Bond Resolution and the Borrower Bond,
and (vi) the undertaking and completion of the Project will not (A) other than the lien, charge or encumbrance created hereby,
by the Borrower Bond, by the Borrower Bond Resolution and by any other outstanding debt obligations of the Borrower that are at
parity with the Borrower Bond as to lien on, and source and security for payment thereon from, the revenues of the Borrower’s
Environmental Infrastructure System, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties
or assets of the Borrower pursuant to, (B) result in any breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or (C) constitute
a default under, any existing resolution, outstanding debt or lease obligation, trust agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower, its Environmental Infrastructure
System or any of its properties or assets may be bound, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter
or other document pursuant to which the Borrower was established or any laws, ordinances, injunctions, judgments, decrees, rules,
regulations or existing orders of any court or governmental or administrative agency, authority or person to which the Borrower,
its Environmental Infrastructure System or its properties or operations is subject.

(e)       No
Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition exists that, upon the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of
this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the State, the adoption of
the Borrower Bond Resolution or the receipt of the amount of the Loan, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder. The Borrower
is not in violation of, and has not received notice of any claimed violation of, any term of any agreement or other instrument
to which it is a party or by which it, its Environmental Infrastructure System or its properties may be bound, which violation
would materially adversely affect the properties, activities, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or
its Environmental Infrastructure System or the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments, to pay all other amounts due
hereunder or otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond.

(f)       Governmental
Consent. The Borrower has obtained all permits and approvals required to date by any governmental body or officer for the authorization,
execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, for the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the
sale thereof to the State, for the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution, for the making, observance and performance by the
Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond and for the undertaking
or completion of the Project and the financing or refinancing thereof, including, but not limited to, if required, the approval
by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (the “BPU”) of the issuance by the Borrower of the Borrower Bond to the
State and any other approvals required therefor by the BPU; and the Borrower has complied with all applicable provisions of law
requiring any notification, declaration, filing or registration with any governmental body or officer in connection with the making,
observance and performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond or with the undertaking or completion of the Project and the financing or refinancing thereof. No consent, approval
or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any 

    -8- 

     

    

governmental body or officer that has not been obtained
is required on the part of the Borrower as a condition to the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement
and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the State, the undertaking or completion of the
Project or the consummation of any transaction herein contemplated.

(g)       Compliance
with Law. The Borrower:

(i)       is
in compliance with all laws, ordinances, governmental rules and regulations to which it is subject, the failure to comply with
which would materially adversely affect (A) the ability of the Borrower to conduct its activities or to undertake or complete the
Project, (B) the ability of the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and to pay all other amounts due hereunder, or (C) the condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure System; and

(ii)       has
obtained all licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations presently necessary for the ownership of its properties
or for the conduct of its activities that, if not obtained, would materially adversely affect (A) the ability of the Borrower to
conduct its activities or to undertake or complete the Project, (B) the ability of the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and
to pay all other amounts due hereunder, or (C) the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System.

(h)       Use
of Proceeds. The Borrower will apply the proceeds of the Loan from the State as described in Exhibit B attached hereto and
made a part hereof (i) to finance or refinance a portion of the Costs of the Borrower’s Project; and (ii) where applicable,
to reimburse the Borrower for a portion of the Costs of the Borrower’s Project, which portion was paid or incurred in anticipation
of reimbursement by the State and is eligible for such reimbursement under and pursuant to the Regulations, the Code and any other
applicable law. All of such costs constitute Costs for which the State is authorized to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to
the Regulations.

SECTION
2.02.Particular Covenants of Borrower.

(a)       Promise
to Pay. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably promises in accordance with the terms of and to the extent provided in
the Borrower Bond Resolution, to make punctual payment of the principal of the Loan and the Borrower Bond, and all other amounts
due under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond according to their respective terms.

(b)       Performance
Under Loan Agreement; Rates. The Borrower covenants and agrees (i) to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules
and regulations in the performance of this Loan Agreement; (ii) to maintain its Environmental Infrastructure System in good repair
and operating condition; (iii) to cooperate with the State in the observance and performance of the respective duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements of the Borrower and the State under this Loan Agreement; and (iv) to establish, levy and collect rents,
rates and other charges for the products and services provided by its Environmental Infrastructure System, which rents, rates 

    -9- 

     

    

and
other charges shall be at least sufficient to comply with all covenants pertaining thereto contained in, and all other provisions
of, any bond resolution, trust indenture or other security agreement, if any, relating to any bonds, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued or to be issued by the Borrower, including without limitation rents, rates and other charges, together with
other available moneys, sufficient to pay the principal of, and interest if any on, the Borrower Bond, plus all other amounts due
hereunder.

(c)       Revenue
Obligation; No Prior Pledges. The Borrower shall not be required to make payments under this Loan Agreement except from the
revenues of its Environmental Infrastructure System and from such other funds of such Environmental Infrastructure System legally
available therefor and from any other sources pledged to such payment pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 2.02. In no event
shall the Borrower be required to make payments under this Loan Agreement from any revenues or receipts not derived from its Environmental
Infrastructure System or pledged pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 2.02. Except for (i) loan repayments required with
respect to the I-Bank Loan, (ii) the debt service on any future bonds or notes of the Borrower issued at parity with the Borrower
Bond under the Borrower Bond Resolution, and (iii) the debt service on any bonds, notes or evidences of indebtedness of the Borrower
at parity with the Borrower Bond under the Borrower Bond Resolution and currently outstanding or issued on the date hereof, the
revenues derived by the Borrower from its Environmental Infrastructure System, after the payment of all costs of operating and
maintaining the Environmental Infrastructure System, are and will be free and clear of any pledge, lien, charge or encumbrance
thereon or with respect thereto prior to, or of equal rank with, the obligation of the Borrower to make Loan Repayments under this
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, and all corporate or other action on the part of the Borrower to that end has been and will
be duly and validly taken.

(d)       Completion
of Project and Provision of Moneys Therefor. The Borrower covenants and agrees (i) to exercise its best efforts in accordance
with prudent environmental infrastructure utility practice to complete the Project and to accomplish such completion on or before
the estimated Project completion date set forth in Exhibit C hereto and made a part hereof; (ii) to comply with the terms and provisions
contained in Exhibit G hereto; and (iii) to provide from its own fiscal resources all moneys, in excess of the total amount of
loan proceeds it receives under the Loan and I-Bank Loan, required to complete the Project.

(e)       See
Section 2.02(e) as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto, made a part hereof and incorporated in this Section 2.02(e) by reference
as if set forth in full herein.

(f)       Reserved.

(g)       Operation
and Maintenance of Environmental Infrastructure System. The Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall, in accordance with
prudent environmental infrastructure utility practice, (i) at all times operate the properties of its Environmental Infrastructure
System and any business in connection therewith in an efficient manner, (ii) maintain its Environmental Infrastructure System in
good repair, working order and operating condition, and (iii) from time to time make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals,
replacements, additions, betterments and improvements with respect to its Environmental 

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Infrastructure System so that at all times
the business carried on in connection therewith shall be properly and advantageously conducted.

(h)       Records
and Accounts.

(i)       The
Borrower shall keep accurate records and accounts for its Environmental Infrastructure System (the “System Records”)
separate and distinct from its other records and accounts (the “General Records”). Such System Records shall be audited
annually by an independent or certified public accountant, which may be part of the annual audit of the General Records of the
Borrower. Such System Records and General Records shall be made available for inspection by the State at any reasonable time upon
prior written notice, and a copy of such annual audit(s) therefor, including all written comments and recommendations of such accountant,
shall be furnished to the State within 150 days of the close of the fiscal year being so audited or, with the consent of the State,
such additional period as may be provided by law.

(ii)       Within
thirty (30) days following receipt of any Loan proceeds, including without limitation the “Allowance for Administrative Costs”
or the “Allowance for Planning and Design” set forth in Exhibit B hereto, the Borrower shall allocate such proceeds
to an expenditures in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation §1.148-6(d) and transmit a copy of each
such allocation to the State. No portion of the Allowance for Administrative Costs will be allocated to a cost other than a cost
described in N.J.A.C. 7:22-5.11(a) 3, 4 or 6. No portion of the Allowance for Planning and Design will be allocated to a cost other
than a cost described N.J.A.C. 7:22-5.12, or other costs of the Borrower’s Environmental Infrastructure System which are
“capital expenditures,” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §1.150-1. The Borrower shall retain records
of such allocations for at least until the date that is three years after the scheduled maturity date of the Loan. The Borrower
shall make such records available to the State within 15 days of any request by the State.

(i)       Inspections;
Information. The Borrower shall permit the State and any party designated by the State, at any and all reasonable times during
construction of the Project and thereafter upon prior written notice, to examine, visit and inspect the property, if any, constituting
the Project and to inspect and make copies of any accounts, books and records, including (without limitation) its records regarding
receipts, disbursements, contracts, investments and any other matters relating thereto and to its financial standing, and shall
supply such reports and information as the State may reasonably require in connection therewith.

(j)       Insurance.
The Borrower shall maintain or cause to be maintained, in force, insurance policies with responsible insurers or self-insurance
programs providing against risk of direct physical loss, damage or destruction of its Environmental Infrastructure System at least
to the extent that similar insurance is usually carried by utilities constructing, operating and maintaining Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities of the nature of the Borrower’s Environmental Infrastructure System, including liability coverage, all to the
extent available at reasonable cost but in no case less than will satisfy all applicable regulatory requirements.

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(k)       Costs
of Project. The Borrower certifies that the building cost of the Project, as listed in Exhibit B hereto and made a part hereof,
is a reasonable and accurate estimation thereof, and it will supply to the State a certificate from a licensed professional engineer
authorized to practice in the State stating that such building cost is a reasonable and accurate estimation and that the useful
life of the Project exceeds the maturity date of the Borrower Bond.

(l)       Delivery
of Documents. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan Agreement (as previously authorized, executed and attested) at the
Loan Closing, the Borrower will cause to be delivered to the State each of the following items:

(i)       an
opinion of the Borrower’s bond counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto; provided, however, that the State may
permit portions of such opinion to be rendered by general counsel to the Borrower and may permit variances in such opinion from
the form set forth in Exhibit E if such variances are acceptable to the State;

(ii)       counterparts
of this Loan Agreement as previously executed and attested by the parties hereto;

(iii)       copies
of those resolutions finally adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower and requested by the State, including, without limitation,
(A) the resolution of the Borrower authorizing the execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement, (B) the Borrower
Bond Resolution, as amended and supplemented as of the date of the Loan Closing, authorizing the execution, attestation, authentication,
sale and delivery of the Borrower Bond to the State, (C) the resolution of the Borrower confirming the details of the sale of the
Borrower Bond to the State, each of said resolutions of the Borrower being certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
of the date of the Loan Closing, (D) the resolution of the BPU approving the issuance by the Borrower of the Borrower Bond to the
State and setting forth any other approvals required therefor by the BPU, if applicable, and (E) any other Proceedings; and

(iv)       the
certificates of insurance coverage as required pursuant to the terms of Section 3.06(c) hereof and such other certificates, documents,
opinions and information as the State may require in Exhibit F hereto, if any.

(m)       Execution
and Delivery of Borrower Bond. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan Agreement at the Loan Closing, the Borrower shall
also deliver to the State the Borrower Bond, as previously executed, attested and, if applicable, authenticated.

(n)       Notice
of Material Adverse Change. The Borrower shall promptly notify the State of any material adverse change in the properties,
activities, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure System, or in the
ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments and otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.

(o)       Continuing
Representations. The representations of the Borrower contained herein shall be true at the time of the execution of this Loan
Agreement and at all times during the term of this Loan Agreement.

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(p)       Additional
Covenants and Requirements. (i) No later than the Loan Closing and, if necessary, in connection with the making of the Loan,
additional covenants and requirements have been included in Exhibit F hereto and made a part hereof. Such covenants and requirements
may include, but need not be limited to, the maintenance of specified levels of Environmental Infrastructure System rates, the
issuance of additional debt of the Borrower, and the transfer of revenues and receipts from the Borrower’s Environmental
Infrastructure System. The Borrower agrees to observe and comply with each such additional covenant and requirement, if any, included
in Exhibit F hereto. (ii) Additional defined terms, covenants, representations and requirements have been included in Schedule
A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such additional defined terms, covenants, representations and requirements are incorporated
in this Loan Agreement by reference thereto as if set forth in full herein and the Borrower hereby agrees to observe and comply
with each such additional term, covenant, representation and requirement included in Schedule A as if the same were set forth in
their entirety where reference thereto is made in this Loan Agreement.

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ARTICLE
III

LOAN TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS

SECTION
3.01.       Loan; Loan Term.

(a)       The
State hereby agrees (i) to make the Loan as described in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, to the Borrower, and
(ii) to disburse proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.02 and Exhibit C hereof. The Borrower hereby
agrees to borrow and accept the Loan from the State upon the terms set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
The Borrower hereby agrees to borrow and accept the Loan from the State upon the terms set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto
and made a part hereof. The Borrower agrees that the aggregate principal amount set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereto shall constitute
the initial principal amount of the Loan (as the same may be adjusted downward in accordance with the definition thereof), and
the State shall have no obligation thereafter to loan any additional amounts to the Borrower.

(b)       Notwithstanding
the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 3.01 to the contrary, the State shall be under no obligation (i) to make the Loan
to the Borrower if (1) at the Loan Closing, the Borrower does not deliver to the State a Borrower Bond and such other documents
as are required pursuant to Section 2.02(l) hereof, or (2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing pursuant to this
Loan Agreement, or (ii) to disburse the proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower in accordance with section 3.02 and Exhibit C hereof,
unless each of the conditions precedent to such disbursement, as set forth in section 3.02 hereof, have been satisfied in full.
The State intends to disburse the proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower at the times and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit C hereof
in order to pay a portion of the Costs of the Project, subject to compliance by the Borrower with the procedures for disbursement
as set forth in Section 3.02 hereof; nevertheless, due to unforeseen circumstances, there may not be a sufficient amount on deposit
in the State Fund on a given disbursement date in order for the State to make the disbursement in the amount indicated in Exhibit
C hereof so as to satisfy a Loan disbursement request by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.02 hereof, in which
case (1) the State shall have no obligation hereunder to make such disbursement until such time as sufficient funds are on deposit
in the State Fund, and (2) the obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall not be affected.

(c)       The
Borrower shall have no legal or equitable interest in the Federal Funds received by and available to the State or in moneys from
repayments of loans previously made from Federal Fund by the State.

(d)       The
Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loan strictly in compliance with the provisions of Section 2.01(h) hereof.

(e)       The
payment obligations of the Borrower created pursuant to the terms of this Loan Agreement and the obligations of the Borrower to
pay the principal of and other amounts due under the Borrower Bond are each direct, general, irrevocable and unconditional obligations
of the Borrower payable from any source legally available to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of and to the extent provided
in the Borrower Bond Resolution.

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SECTION
3.02.       Disbursement of Loan Proceeds.

(a)       The
State shall disburse Federal Funds to the Borrower (i) upon receipt of a requisition executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
in a form satisfying the requirements of the Regulations, and (ii) consistent with the schedule for disbursement as set forth in
Exhibit C hereof.

(b)       The
State shall not be under any obligation to disburse any Loan proceeds to the Borrower pursuant to this Loan Agreement, unless:

(i)       the
Loan Closing shall have occurred on the date established therefor by the State;

(ii)       there
shall be Federal Funds for disbursement, as determined by the State in its sole and absolute discretion;

(iii)       in
accordance with the “New Jersey Infrastructure Trust Act”, P.L. 1985, c. 334, as amended (N.J.S.A. 58:11B-1 et seq.),
and the Regulations, the Borrower shall have timely applied for, shall have been awarded and, prior to or simultaneously with the
Loan Closing, shall have closed a I-Bank Loan for a portion of the Allowable Costs (as defined in such Regulations) of the Project,
plus the amount of: (i) capitalized interest during the Project construction period, if any, (ii) the cost of funding reserve capacity
for the Project, if any, as well as that portion of the Debt Service Reserve Fund (as defined in the I-Bank Loan Agreement) (to
the extent the I-Bank establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund pursuant to the Bond Resolution) attributable to the cost of funding
such reserve capacity for the Project, (iii) certain issuance expenses related thereto, including, if applicable, a municipal bond
insurance policy premium, and (iv) if applicable, an amount sufficient to pay the interest that accrued on the short-term loan
by the I-Bank to the Borrower;

(iv)       the
Borrower shall have on hand moneys to pay for the greater of (A) that portion of the total Costs of the Project that is not eligible
to be funded from the Loan or the I-Bank Loan, or (B) that portion of the total Costs of the Project that exceeds the actual amounts
of the loan commitments made by the State and the I-Bank, respectively, for the Loan and the I-Bank Loan; and

(v)       no
Event of Default nor any event that, with the passage of time or service of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing hereunder.

(c)       Notwithstanding
any provision of this Loan Agreement to the contrary, the State, at the request of the Borrower but at the sole discretion of the
State, may disburse Loan proceeds to the Borrower from Federal Funds either prior to or subsequent to the scheduled date for disbursement
thereof as such scheduled date is identified in the disbursement schedule set forth in Exhibit C hereof, provided that (A) the
Borrower has otherwise satisfied the requirements of this Section 3.02, and (B) such disbursement, in a manner that is inconsistent
with the disbursement schedule as set forth in Exhibit C hereof, does not conflict with any restrictions set forth in the Regulations.

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In the event that, in the
submission of its requisition(s), the Borrower fails to comply with the disbursement schedule as set forth in Exhibit C hereof,
and such non-compliance by the Borrower consists of (i) a failure to timely seek disbursement of Loan proceeds which failure results
in an amount of non-disbursed funds, subsequent to the date on which such funds should have been disbursed pursuant to the disbursement
schedule set forth in Exhibit C hereof, that, in the aggregate, represents twenty-five percent (25%) of the original principal
amount of the Loan, or (ii) a failure to timely seek disbursement of Loan proceeds which failure results in an amount of funds
disbursed earlier than the date on which such funds were scheduled to have been disbursed pursuant to the disbursement schedule
set forth in Exhibit C hereof, that, in the aggregate, represents twenty-five percent (25%) of the original principal amount of
the Loan, then the Borrower shall provide to the I-Bank and the Department a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
providing a revised disbursement schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the Department. Any reference
to Exhibit C in Section 3.01, Section 3.02 and Section 3.03A hereof shall mean Exhibit C as such exhibit may have been revised
from time to time pursuant to the provisions of the preceding sentence.

 

SECTION
3.03.       Amounts Payable.

(a)       The
Borrower shall repay the Loan at zero-interest in principal installments payable to the Trustee semiannually on the Principal Payment
Dates, in accordance with the schedule set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, as the same may be amended
or modified by the State, in particular, without limitation, to make any adjustments to the amount of the Loan in accordance with
the definition thereof; provided, however, that the amount of any reduction in the principal amount of the Loan pursuant to N.J.A.C.
7:22-3.26 shall be credited to the principal payments set forth in Exhibit A-2 in inverse order of their maturity. The obligations
of the Borrower under the Borrower Bond shall be deemed to be amounts payable under this Section 3.03. Each payment made to the
Trustee pursuant to the Borrower Bond shall be deemed to be a credit against the corresponding obligation of the Borrower under
this Section 3.03, and any such payment made to the Trustee shall fulfill the Borrower’s obligation to pay such amount hereunder
and under the Borrower Bond. Each payment made to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be applied to the principal of
the Loan.

(b)       In
addition to the principal payments on the Loan required by subsection (a) of this Section 3.03, the Borrower shall pay a late charge
for any such payment that is received by the Trustee later than its due date in an amount equal to the greater of twelve percent
(12%) per annum or the Prime Rate plus one half of one percent per annum on such late payment from its due date to the date actually
paid; provided, however, that such late charge payable on the Loan shall not be in excess of the maximum interest rate permitted
by law.

(c)       In
addition to the Loan Repayments payable under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 3.03, the Borrower shall pay one-half of
the Administrative Fee, if any, to the Trustee semiannually on each February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2018.

(d)       Upon
thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Borrower, an Authorized Officer of the State may, in the sole discretion of such Authorized
Officer, prescribe the particular method by which payments pursuant to, and in satisfaction of, this Section 3.03 shall be made
by the Borrower. Such method as prescribed by an Authorized Officer of the State may include, 

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without limitation, the automatic
debit by the State or the Trustee of the respective amounts of such payments, as required by this Section 3.03, from an account
that shall be identified by the Borrower in writing and recorded on file with the State. In the absence of any such written notice
to the Borrower by an Authorized Officer of the State pursuant to this subsection (d), the Borrower shall implement the payments
required pursuant to, and in satisfaction of, this Section 3.03 either via electronic transfer of immediately available funds or
via check.

SECTION 3.03A.       Amounts
on Deposit in Project Loan Account after Completion of Project Draws.

(a)       If,
on the date which is thirty (30) days following the final date on which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is scheduled to be made
pursuant to the disbursement schedule contained in Exhibit C hereto, any amounts remain on deposit in the Borrower’s Project
Loan Account, the Borrower shall provide to the I-Bank and the Department a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
(i) stating that the Borrower has not yet completed the Project, (ii) stating that the Borrower intends to complete the Project,
(iii) setting forth the amount of remaining Loan Proceeds required to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a revised disbursement
schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the Department.

(b)       If,
on the date which is thirty (30) days following the final date on which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is scheduled to be made
pursuant to the revised disbursement schedule certified to the I-Bank and the Department in accordance with Section 3.03A(a)
hereof, any amounts remain on deposit in the Borrower’s Project Loan Account, the Borrower shall provide to the I-Bank and
the Department a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (i) stating that the Borrower has not yet completed the Project,
(ii) stating that the Borrower intends to complete the Project, (iii) setting forth the amount of remaining Loan Proceeds required
to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a further revised disbursement schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and
approved by the Department.

(c)       If
(i) the Borrower fails to provide the certificate described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 3.03A, when due, or (ii) a
certificate provided pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 3.03A states that the Borrower does not require all or any
portion of the amount on deposit in the Project Loan Account for completion of the Project, or (iii) on the date which is thirty
(30) days following the final date on which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is scheduled to be made pursuant to a further revised
disbursement schedule certified to the I-Bank and the Department in accordance with Section 3.03A(b) hereof, any amounts remain
on deposit in the Borrower’s Project Loan Account, then such amounts on deposit in the Project Loan Account, which are amounts
that have not been certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as being required to complete the Project (“Excess
Project Funds”), be applied by the State as a prepayment of the Borrower’s Loan Repayments, and shall be applied to
the principal payments (including premium, if any) on the Loan in inverse order of their maturity.

SECTION
3.04.       Unconditional Obligations. The obligation of the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and all other payments
required hereunder and the obligation to perform and observe the other duties, covenants, obligations and agreements on its part
contained herein shall be absolute and unconditional, and shall not be abated, rebated, set-off, 

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reduced, abrogated, terminated,
waived, diminished, postponed or otherwise modified in any manner or to any extent whatsoever while any Loan Repayments remain
unpaid, for any reason, regardless of any contingency, act of God, event or cause whatsoever, including (without limitation) any
acts or circumstances that may constitute failure of consideration, eviction or constructive eviction, the taking by eminent domain
or destruction of or damage to the Project or Environmental Infrastructure System, commercial frustration of the purpose, any
change in the laws of the United States of America or of the State or any political subdivision of either or in the rules or regulations
of any governmental authority, any failure of the State to perform and observe any agreement, whether express or implied, or any
duty, liability or obligation arising out of or connected with the Project or this Loan Agreement, or any rights of set-off, recoupment,
abatement or counterclaim that the Borrower might otherwise have against the State, the Trustee or any other party or parties;
provided, however, that payments hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any such rights. The Borrower shall not be obligated
to make any payments required to be made by any other Borrowers under separate Loan Agreements.

SECTION
3.05.       Loan Agreement to Survive Loan. The Borrower acknowledges that its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements set forth in Sections 3.06(a) and (b) hereof shall survive the payment in full of the Loan.

SECTION
3.06.       Disclaimer of Warranties and Indemnification.

(a)       The
Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the State does not make any warranty or representation, either express or implied, as
to the value, design, condition, merchantability or fitness for particular purpose or fitness for any use of the Environmental
Infrastructure System or the Project or any portions thereof or any other warranty or representation with respect thereto; (ii)
in no event shall the State or its agents be liable or responsible for any incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages
in connection with or arising out of this Loan Agreement or the Project or the existence, furnishing, functioning or use of the
Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project or any item or products or services provided for in this Loan Agreement; and
(iii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold the State harmless against, and the Borrower
shall pay any and all, liability, loss, cost, damage, claim, judgment or expense of any and all kinds or nature and however arising
and imposed by law, which the State may sustain, be subject to or be caused to incur by reason of any claim, suit or action based
upon personal injury, death or damage to property, whether real, personal or mixed, or upon or arising out of contracts entered
into by the Borrower, the Borrower’s ownership of the Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project, or the acquisition,
construction or installation of the Project.

(b)       It
is mutually agreed by the Borrower and the State that the State and its commissioners, officers, agents, servants or employees
shall not be liable for, and shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Borrower in any event from, any action performed under
this Loan Agreement and any claim or suit of whatsoever nature, except in the event of loss or damage resulting from their own
negligence or willful misconduct.

(c)       In
connection with its obligation to provide the insurance required under Section 2.02(j) hereof: (i) the Borrower shall include,
or cause to be included, the State and its employees and officers as additional “named insureds” on (A) any certificate
of liability 

    -18- 

     

    

insurance procured by the Borrower (or other similar document evidencing the liability insurance coverage procured
by the Borrower) and (B) any certificate of liability insurance procured by any contractor or subcontractor for the Project, and
from the later of the date of the Loan Closing or the date of the initiation of construction of the Project until the date the
Borrower receives the written certificate of Project completion from the State, the Borrower shall maintain said liability insurance
covering the State and said employees and officers in good standing; and (ii) the Borrower shall include the State as an additional
“named insured” on any certificate of insurance providing against risk of direct physical loss, damage or destruction
of the Environmental Infrastructure System, and during the Loan Term the Borrower shall maintain said insurance covering the State
in good standing.

The Borrower shall
provide the State with a copy of each of any such original, supplemental, amendatory or reissued certificates of insurance (or
other similar documents evidencing the insurance coverage) required pursuant to this Section 3.06(c).

SECTION
3.07.       Option to Prepay Loan Repayments. The Borrower may prepay the Loan Repayments, in whole or in part,
upon not less than ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the State; provided, however, that, with respect to any prepayment
other than those required by Section 3.03A hereof, any such full or partial prepayment may only be made (i) if the Borrower is
not then in arrears on its I-Bank Loan, (ii) if the Borrower is contemporaneously making a full or partial prepayment of the I-Bank
Loan such that, after the prepayment of the Loan and the I-Bank Loan, the I-Bank gives its consent required under Section 3.07(iii)
of the I-Bank Loan Agreement, (iii) upon the prior written approval of the State; and (iv)
provided that the Borrower shall agree to pay all costs and expenses of the State in connection with such prepayment. Prepayments
shall be applied to the principal payments on the portion of the Loan to be prepaid in inverse order of their maturity.

SECTION
3.08.       Priority of Loan and I-Bank Loan.

(a)       The
Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent allowed by law, including, without limitation, the appropriations act of the New Jersey
State Legislature authorizing the expenditure of I-Bank bond proceeds to finance a portion of the Costs of the Project, or the
Borrower Bond Resolution, any loan repayments then due and payable on the Borrower’s I-Bank Loan, including, without limitation,
any administrative fees and any late payment charges then due and payable under the I-Bank Loan Agreement, shall be satisfied by
the Trustee before any Loan Repayments then due and payable hereunder on the Loan shall be satisfied by the Trustee. The Borrower
agrees not to interfere with any such action by the Trustee.

(b)       The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that in the event the Borrower fails or is unable to pay promptly to the Trustee in full any loan
repayments on the I-Bank Loan, then any Loan Repayments paid by the Borrower on the Loan under this Loan Agreement and received
by the Trustee during the time of any such loan repayment deficiency under the I-Bank Loan Agreement shall be applied by the Trustee
first to satisfy such I-Bank Loan Agreement loan repayment deficiency as a credit against the obligations of the Borrower
to make loan repayments of that portion of interest under the I-Bank Loan Agreement that is allocable to the interest payable on
the I-Bank Bonds (as defined in the I-Bank Loan Agreement) and to make payments of that portion of interest under the bond or note
issued by the Borrower to the I-Bank 

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that is allocable to the interest payable on the I-Bank Bonds, second, to the extent
available, to make loan repayments of principal under the I-Bank Loan Agreement and payments of principal on the bond or note issued
by the Borrower to the I-Bank pursuant to the I-Bank Loan Agreement, third, to the extent available, to the payment of the
administrative fee payable under the I-Bank Loan Agreement and to make payments of that portion of interest under the bond or note
issued by the Borrower to the I-Bank that is allocable to the administrative fee payable under the I-Bank Loan Agreement, fourth,
to the extent available, to the payment of late charges payable under the I-Bank Loan Agreement and to make payments of that portion
of interest under the bond issued by the Borrower to the I-Bank that is allocable to the late charges payable under the I-Bank
Loan Agreement, and finally, to the extent available, to make Loan Repayments on the Loan.

(c)       The
Borrower hereby further acknowledges that any Loan Repayments paid by the Borrower on the Loan under this Loan Agreement shall
be applied according to the provisions of the Master Program Trust Agreement.

SECTION
3.09.       Approval of the New Jersey State Treasurer. The Borrower and the State hereby acknowledge that prior
to or simultaneously with the Loan Closing the New Jersey State Treasurer, in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 9a of
the Act, issued the “Certificate of the New Jersey State Treasurer Regarding the Approval of the I-Bank Loan and the Fund
Loan” (the “Treasurer’s Certificate”). Pursuant to the terms of the Treasurer’s Certificate, the
New Jersey State Treasurer approved the Loan and the terms and conditions thereof as established by the provisions of this Loan
Agreement.

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ARTICLE
IV

ASSIGNMENT OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND

SECTION
4.01.       Assignment and Transfer by State. The Borrower hereby approves and consents to any assignment or transfer
of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond that the State deems to be necessary in connection with the environmental infrastructure
loan program of the State under the Regulations.

SECTION
4.02.       Assignment by Borrower. Neither this Loan Agreement nor the Borrower Bond may be assigned by the Borrower
for any reason, unless the following conditions shall be satisfied: (i) the State shall have approved said assignment in writing;
(ii) the assignee shall have expressly assumed in writing the full and faithful observance and performance of the Borrower’s
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the
Borrower Bond; and (iii) immediately after such assignment, the assignee shall not be in default in the observance or performance
of any duties, covenants, obligations or agreements of the Borrower under this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond.

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ARTICLE
V

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION
5.01.       Events of Default. If any of the following events occur, it is hereby defined as and declared to be
and to constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a)       failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, any Loan Repayment required to be paid hereunder when due, which failure shall continue
for a period of fifteen (15) days;

(b)       failure
by the Borrower to make, or cause to be made, any required payments of principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest on any
bonds, notes or other obligations of the Borrower issued under the Borrower Bond Resolution (other than the Loan and the Borrower
Bond) or otherwise secured by all or a portion of the property pledged under the Borrower Bond Resolution, after giving effect
to the applicable grace period;

(c)       failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, any late charges incurred hereunder or any portion thereof when due or to observe
and perform any duty, covenant, obligation or agreement on its part to be observed or performed under this Loan Agreement, other
than as referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 5.01 or other than the obligations of the Borrower contained in Section 2.02(d)(ii)
hereof and in Exhibit F hereto, which failure shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice, specifying
such failure and requesting that it be remedied, is given to the Borrower by the State, unless the State shall agree in writing
to an extension of such time prior to its expiration; provided, however, that if the failure stated in such notice is correctable
but cannot be corrected within the applicable period, the State may not unreasonably withhold its consent to an extension of such
time up to 120 days from the delivery of the written notice referred to above if corrective action is instituted by the Borrower
within the applicable period and diligently pursued until the Event of Default is corrected;

(d)       any
representation made by or on behalf of the Borrower contained in this Loan Agreement, or in any instrument furnished in compliance
with or with reference to this Loan Agreement or the Loan, is false or misleading in any material respect;

(e)       a
petition is filed by or against the Borrower under any federal or State bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law in effect
on the date of this Loan Agreement or thereafter enacted, unless in the case of any such petition filed against the Borrower such
petition shall be dismissed within thirty (30) days after such filing and such dismissal shall be final and not subject to appeal;
or the Borrower shall become insolvent or bankrupt or shall make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or a custodian
(including, without limitation, a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Borrower or any of its property) shall be appointed by
court order or take possession of the Borrower or its property or assets if such order remains in effect or such possession continues
for more than thirty (30) days;

(f)       the
Borrower shall generally fail to pay its debts as such debts become due; and

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(g)       failure
of the Borrower to observe or perform such additional duties, covenants, obligations, agreements or conditions as are required
by the State and specified in Exhibit F attached hereto and made a part hereof.

SECTION
5.02.       Notice of Default. The Borrower shall give the State prompt telephonic notice of the occurrence of any
Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01(e) or (f) hereof and of the occurrence of any other event or condition that constitutes
an Event of Default at such time as any senior administrative or financial officer of the Borrower becomes aware of the existence
thereof.

SECTION
5.03.       Remedies on Default. Whenever an Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01 hereof shall have occurred
and be continuing, the State shall have the right to take whatever action at law or in equity may appear necessary or desirable
to collect the amounts then due and thereafter to become due hereunder or to enforce the observance and performance of any duty,
covenant, obligation or agreement of the Borrower hereunder.

In addition, if
an Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01(a) hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, the State shall, to the extent
allowed by applicable law, have the right to declare all Loan Repayments and all other amounts due hereunder (including, without
limitation, payments under the Borrower Bond) to be immediately due and payable, and upon notice to the Borrower the same shall
become due and payable without further notice or demand.

SECTION
5.04.       Attorneys’ Fees and Other Expenses. The Borrower shall on demand pay to the State the reasonable
fees and expenses of attorneys and other reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonably allocated costs of
in-house counsel and legal staff) incurred by the State in the collection of Loan Repayments or any other sum due hereunder or
in the enforcement of the observation or performance of any other duties, covenants, obligations or agreements of the Borrower
upon an Event of Default.

SECTION
5.05.       Application of Moneys. Any moneys collected by the State pursuant to Section 5.03 hereof shall be applied
(a) first to pay any attorneys’ fees or other fees and expenses owed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04 hereof,
(b) second, to the extent available, to pay principal due and payable on the Loan (to the extent permitted by Section 3.08(b)
hereof), (c) third, to the extent available, to pay any other amounts due and payable hereunder, and (d) fourth,
to the extent available, to pay principal on the Loan and other amounts payable hereunder as such amounts become due and payable.

SECTION
5.06.       No Remedy Exclusive; Waiver; Notice. No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the State is intended
to be exclusive, and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given under this Loan
Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity. No delay or omission to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing
upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right, remedy or power or shall be construed to be a waiver thereof, but any such
right, remedy or power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient. In order to entitle the State
to exercise any remedy reserved to it in this Article V, it shall not be necessary to give any notice other than such notice as
may be required in this Article V.

    -23- 

     

    

SECTION
5.07.       Retention of State’s Rights. Notwithstanding any assignment or transfer of this Loan Agreement pursuant
to the provisions hereof, or anything else to the contrary contained herein, the State shall have the right upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default to take any action, including (without limitation) bringing an action against the Borrower at law or in
equity, as the State may, in its discretion, deem necessary to enforce the obligations of the Borrower to the State pursuant to
Section 5.03 hereof.

    -24- 

     

    

ARTICLE
VI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION
6.01.       Notices. All notices, certificates or other communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given and shall
be deemed given when hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Borrower at the address
specified in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and made a part hereof and to the State and the Trustee at the following addresses:

(a)       State:

New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection

Municipal Finance and Construction
Element

401 East State Street –
3rd Floor

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0425

Attention: Assistant
Director

New Jersey Department of
the Treasury

Office of Public Finance

State Street Square –
5th Floor

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0002

Attention: Director

(b)       Trustee:

ZB, National Association
d/b/a Zions Bank

401 Liberty Avenue, Suite
1729

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15222

Attention: Corporate
Trust Department

Any of the foregoing
parties may designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall
be sent by notice in writing given to the others.

SECTION
6.02.       Binding Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the State
and the Borrower and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION
6.03.       Severability. In the event any provision of this Loan Agreement shall be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate, render unenforceable or otherwise affect any other
provision hereof.

SECTION
6.04.       Amendments, Supplements and Modifications. This Loan Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified
without the prior written consent of the State and the Borrower.

    -25- 

     

    

SECTION
6.05.       Execution in Counterparts. This Loan Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall
be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION
6.06.       Applicable Law and Regulations. This Loan Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New Jersey, including the Regulations, which Regulations are, by this reference thereto, incorporated
herein as part of this Loan Agreement.

SECTION
6.07.       Consents and Approvals. Whenever the written consent or approval of the State shall be required under the
provisions of this Loan Agreement, such consent or approval may only be given by the State.

SECTION
6.08.       Captions. The captions or headings in this Loan Agreement are for convenience only and shall not in any
way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or sections of this Loan Agreement.

SECTION
6.09.       Further Assurances. The Borrower shall, at the request of the State, authorize, execute, attest, acknowledge
and deliver such further resolutions, conveyances, transfers, assurances, financing statements and other instruments as may be
necessary or desirable for better assuring, conveying, granting, assigning and confirming the rights, security interests and agreements
granted or intended to be granted by this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.

    -26- 

     

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the State and the Borrower have caused this Loan Agreement to be executed, sealed and delivered as of the date first above
written.

 

	 	 	
        THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

        ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE

        NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF

        ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

         

         

         

	[SEAL]	 	By:	/s/Michele Putnam
	 	 	 	
        Michele Putnam

        Acting Assistant Commissioner

        Water Resource Management

        Department of Environmental Protection

	
        ATTEST:

         
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	/s/Eugene J. Chebra, P.E.	 	 	 
	
        Eugene J. Chebra, P.E.

        Assistant Director

        Municipal Finance and Construction Element

        Department of Environmental Protection
	 	 	 
	 	 	
         

         

         

        MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

	
         

        [SEAL]
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By:	/s/A. Bruce O’Connor
	ATTEST:	 	 	A. Bruce O’Connor, Vice
	
         

         
	 	 	President, Treasurer and Chief
	/s/Jay L. Kooper	 	 	 
	Jay L. Kooper, Vice President, General

 Counsel and Secretary	 	 	 

 

[signature page] 

    -27- 

     

    

SCHEDULE A

Certain Additional Loan Agreement Provisions

In addition to the
terms defined in subsection (a) of Section 1.01 of this Loan Agreement, certain additional capitalized terms used in this Loan
Agreement shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to such additional capitalized terms
in this Schedule A.

Additional Definitions:

“Borrower”
means Middlesex Water Company, a corporation duly created and validly existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

“Borrower
Bond Resolution” means the indenture of the Borrower dated as of April 1, 1927 and entitled “Indenture of Mortgage”,
as amended and supplemented from time to time, in particular by a supplemental indenture detailing the terms of the Borrower Bond
dated as of May 1, 2018 and entitled “Fifty-First Supplemental Indenture”, pursuant to which the Borrower Bond has
been issued.

“Principal
Payment Dates” means February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1, 2018.

SECTION 2.02(e):

Disposition of Environmental Infrastructure
System. The Borrower shall not permit the disposition of all or substantially all of its Environmental Infrastructure System,
directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, by means of sale, lease, abandonment, sale of stock, statutory merger or
otherwise (collectively, a "Disposition"), except on ninety (90) days' prior written notice to the State, and, in any
event, shall not permit a Disposition unless the Borrower shall, in accordance with Section 4.02 hereof, assign this Loan Agreement
and the Borrower Bond and its rights and interests hereunder and thereunder to the purchaser or lessee of the Environmental Infrastructure
System, and such purchaser or lessee shall assume all duties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower under this
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.

 

    -28-

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