Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 4.4

Description of Securities

Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

As of December 31, 2019, Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“WHLR”, the “Company” or “our”) had four classes of securities: our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), Series A Preferred Stock, no par value per share (“Series A Preferred”); Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value per share (“Series B Preferred”) and Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value per share (“Series D Preferred”). Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred are collectively referred to “Preferred Stock” hereinafter.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company had authority to issue 33,750,000 shares of stock consisting of the following: 
•18,750,000 Common Stock authorized, 9,694,284 of which were issued and outstanding; 
•4,500 Series A Preferred authorized, 562 of which were issued and outstanding; 
•5,000,000 Series B Preferred authorized, 1,875,748 of which were issued and outstanding; and 
•4,000,000 Series D Preferred authorized, 3,600,636 of which were issued and outstanding.

Our Common Stock, Series B Preferred, and Series D Preferred are registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) on the Nasdaq Capital Market exchange.  The following is a summary of each class of our securities registered under the Act and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Charter”), Supplementary Articles, as amended and restated and our by-laws, as amended and restated (the “By-Laws”), copies of which are incorporated by reference within the Exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 of which this Exhibit 4.4 is a part.  Our Series A Preferred stock is not registered on an exchange for trading and is not included in the following description.

Common Stock

Pursuant to Article V of our Charter, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of stock. 

With respect to dividend payments and distribution of the Company’s assets upon redemption and upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of shares of our Common Stock are subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of our Preferred Stock. 

When and if declared by the Board, the holders of shares of Common Stock are subject to prior rights of the holders of any shares of our Preferred Stock for any dividends declared, paid upon or set aside for the Common Stock in any such year, dividends in cash, stock or otherwise. Any dividends declared but not paid shall be cumulative. No deposit, payment, dividend or distribution of any kind shall be made with respect to the Common Stock unless all dividends payable on the Preferred Stock have been paid. 

Preferred Stock

In the event of (i) any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company or (ii) any sale or transfer by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets, the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, prior to and in preference of any distribution or payment upon the Common Stock, an amount per share of Preferred Stock equal to the sum of the Preferred Stock purchase price plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon. To the extent the assets and funds available for distribution after payment of all required obligations of the Company are insufficient to make such payment, then the entire assets and funds available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Preferred Stock. Any amounts remaining after payment in full of the holders of the Preferred Stock shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Common Stock. 

Series B Preferred

Holders of Series B Preferred shares have the right to cumulative cash dividends at a rate of 9% per annum of the $25 liquidation preference per share.  The Series B Preferred has no redemption rights. However, the Series B Preferred is subject to a mandatory conversion once the 20-trading day volume-weighted average closing price of our Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, exceeds $58 per share; once this weighted average closing price is met, each share of our Series B Preferred will automatically convert into shares of our Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $40.00 per share. In addition, holders of our Series B Preferred also have the option, at any time, to convert shares of our Series B Preferred into shares of our Common Stock at a conversion price of $40.00 per share of Common Stock. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the holders of shares of our Series B Preferred shall be entitled to be paid out of our assets a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the date of payment. The Series Preferred B has no maturity date and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless subject to a mandatory or voluntary conversion as described above. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock have no voting rights except as provided by law.

Series D Preferred

The Series D Preferred has a $25.00 liquidation preference per share. Until September 21, 2023, the holders of the Series D Preferred are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate of 8.75% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to the fixed annual amount of $2.1875 per share) (the “Initial Rate”). Commencing September 21, 2023, the holder’s will be entitled to cumulative cash dividends at an annual dividend rate of the Initial Rate increased by 2% of the liquidation preference per annum on each subsequent anniversary thereafter, subject to a maximum annual dividend rate of 14%. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on or before January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October 15th of each year. On or after September 21, 2021, the Company, may at its option, redeem the Series D Preferred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to and including the redemption date. The holder of the Series D Preferred may convert shares at any time into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an initial conversion rate of $16.96 per share of Common Stock. On September 21, 2023, the holders of the Series D Preferred may, at their option, elect to cause the Company to redeem any or all of their shares at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to and including the redemption date, payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof, at the holder’s option. 

The Series D Preferred requires the Company maintain asset coverage of at least 200%.   If we fail to maintain asset coverage of at least 200% calculated by determining the percentage value of (i) our total assets plus accumulated depreciation and accumulated amortization minus our total liabilities and indebtedness as reported in our financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) (exclusive of the book value of any Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock (defined below)) over (ii) the aggregate liquidation preference, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends, of outstanding shares of our Series D Preferred Stock and any outstanding shares of term preferred stock or preferred stock providing for a fixed mandatory redemption date or maturity date (collectively referred to as “Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock”) on the last business day of any calendar quarter (“Asset Coverage Ratio”), and such failure is not cured by the close of business on the date that is 30 calendar days following the filing date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as applicable, for that quarter, or the “Asset Coverage Cure Date,” then we will be required to redeem, within 90 calendar days of the Asset Coverage Cure Date, shares of Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock, which may include Series D Preferred Stock, at least equal to the lesser of (i) the minimum number of shares of Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock that will result in us having a coverage ratio of at least 200% and (ii) the maximum number of shares of Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock that can be redeemed solely out of funds legally available for such redemption. In connection with any redemption for failure to maintain the Asset Coverage Ratio, we may, in our sole option, redeem any shares of Redeemable and Term Preferred Stock we select, including on a non-pro rata basis. We may elect not to redeem any Series D Preferred Stock to cure such failure as long as we cure our failure to meet the Asset Coverage Ratio by or on the Asset Coverage Cure Date.  If shares of Series D Preferred Stock are to be redeemed for failure to maintain the Asset Coverage Ratio, such shares 

will be redeemed solely in cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares (whether or not declared) to and including the redemption date.

Dividends on the Series D Preferred cumulate from the end of the most recent dividend period for which dividends have been paid. Dividends on the Series D Preferred cumulate whether or not (i) we have earnings, (ii) there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and (iii) such dividends are authorized by the Board or declared by us. Dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock do not bear interest. If the Company, fails to pay any dividend within three (3) business days after the payment date for such dividend, the then-current dividend rate increases following the payment date by an additional 2.0% of the $25.00 stated liquidation preference per share, or $0.50 per annum, until we pay the dividend, subject to our ability to cure the failure. On December 20, 2018, the Company suspended the Series D Preferred dividend. As such, the Series D Preferred shares began accumulating dividends at 10.75% beginning January 1, 2019 and will continue to accumulate dividends at this rate until all accumulated dividends have been paid.

Holders of shares of the Series D Preferred have no voting rights. However, if dividends on the Series D Preferred are in arrears for six or more consecutive quarterly periods, the number of directors on the Board will automatically be increased by two, and holders of shares of the Series D Preferred and the holders of shares of Parity Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (voting together as a single class) will be entitled to vote, at a special meeting called upon the written request of the holders of at least 20% of such stock or at our next annual meeting and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of two additional directors to serve on the Board, until all unpaid dividends on such Series D Preferred and Parity Preferred Stock, if any, have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment. The Series D Preferred Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election.  In addition, holders of shares of the Series D Preferred shall have the right to vote to approve any amendment to the terms of the Series D Preferred Stock.  Any such amendment of the terms of the Series D Preferred Stock requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.odfl-ex415_266.htm

 

Exhibit 4.15

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (the “Company”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  The Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value (the “Common Stock”), is registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Global Select Market) under the symbol “ODFL”.

The following is a summary of the material terms of the Company’s capital stock.  This summary is not complete and is qualified by reference to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (collectively, the “Articles”), and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”).  The Articles and the Bylaws are filed as exhibits to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

Authorized Capital Stock

The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 140,000,000 shares of Common Stock.  As of December 31, 2019, 79,688,356 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding.  All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

The Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ODFL.”  The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends, or other distributions with respect to outstanding shares of Common Stock, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors.  In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in the assets, if any, available for distribution after payment of all creditors and the liquidation preferences on any outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any such stock is authorized and issued in the future.  Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities of any class the Company may issue, nor any conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights.

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote and do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.  Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast and entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum (a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by a voting group on a matter) is present, and action on other matters by holders of Common Stock will be approved at a shareholders meeting for which a quorum is present if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or by the Articles.  Holders of Common Stock may also take action without a meeting if one or more written consents, setting forth the action taken, are signed by all the shareholders who would be entitled to vote upon the action at a meeting.

1

 

 

Certain Provisions of the Articles and Bylaws

Authorized but Unissued Shares.  Authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock can be reserved for issuance by the Company’s Board of Directors from time to time, without shareholder action, for stock dividends or stock splits, to raise equity capital, and to structure future corporate transactions, including acquisitions, as well as for other proper corporate purposes, including under equity compensation plans adopted by the Board of Directors.  Shareholders have no preemptive rights.

Advance Notice of Proposals and Nominations.  The Bylaws provide that shareholders must provide timely written notice to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual or a special meeting of shareholders.  At a special meeting, shareholders may only nominate candidates for election as directors (if the special meeting is called for the purpose of electing directors), and special meetings may only be called by the Company’s Board of Directors, its Chairman or Vice Chairman, or the Company’s President or Secretary, except that a special meeting must be called if the Company has 35 or fewer shareholders of record and the holders of at least 20% of all votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the proposed special meeting sign, date, and deliver to the Company’s Secretary one or more written demands for the meeting describing the purposes for which it is to be held. 

Notice for an annual meeting is timely if it is given, either by personal delivery to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office or by U.S. certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and received not later than the close of business on the 120th day and not earlier than the close of business on the 150th day  prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Company mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if no annual meeting of shareholders was held in the prior year or the date of the annual meeting of shareholders has changed by more than 30 days from the prior year, notice must be received not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting.  Notice for shareholders to nominate candidates for election as directors at a special meeting for the election of directors is timely if it is given not later than the close of business on the 7th day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to shareholders.  The Bylaws also specify the form and content of a shareholder’s notice.  These provisions may prevent shareholders from bringing matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or from nominating candidates for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of shareholders.

Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees.  The Bylaws provide that any person who at any time serves or has served as one of the Company’s (or any subsidiary’s) directors or officers or, at the Company’s request, as a director or officer of another enterprise, or 

2

 

as a trustee or administrator under any of the Company’s (or any subsidiary’s) employee benefit plan, has the right to be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities and litigation expenses (including attorneys’ fees) in the event a claim is made or threatened against that person in, or that person is made or threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether or not brought by or on behalf of the Company (including appeals), arising out of such service.  However, indemnification is not available with respect to that portion of any liabilities or litigation expenses with respect to which such person is entitled to receive payment under any insurance policy or any liabilities or litigation expenses incurred on account of any of such person’s activities that were, at the time taken, known or believed by the person to be clearly in conflict with the Company’s best interests.

Certain Anti-Takeover Effects of Virginia Law

Certain provisions of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, or VSCA, may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect.  These provisions may delay or deter the removal of the Company’s directors or the assumption of control by shareholders.

The Control Share Acquisitions Act of the VSCA may make an unsolicited attempt to gain control of the Company more difficult by restricting the right of specified shareholders to vote newly acquired large blocks of stock.  The Control Share Acquisitions Act denies voting rights to any shares held by an acquiror (other than pursuant to certain statutorily defined transactions approved by the Company’s Board of Directors), unless a majority of disinterested shares votes to grant such rights in a shareholder resolution.  Disinterested shares are shares not held by the acquiror, any officer of the Company, or any employee of the Company who is also a director. The provisions of the Control Share Acquisitions Act apply when an acquiror acquires at least one-fifth of the total votes entitled to be cast in an election of directors.

In addition, the Affiliated Transactions Act of the VSCA may make it difficult to merge with or otherwise absorb a Virginia corporation acquired in a tender offer for three years after the acquisition.  Pursuant to the Affiliated Transactions Act, an acquiror would not be permitted to engage in an affiliated transaction with the Company for three years unless the transaction was approved by a majority, but not less than two, of the Company’s disinterested directors and two-thirds of the Company’s voting shares, other than shares beneficially held by the acquiror.  After three years, the acquiror may engage in an affiliated transaction with the Company if the transaction is approved by two-thirds of the Company’s voting shares (other than shares beneficially held by the acquirer), the transaction is approved by a majority of disinterested directors, or the acquiror pays a statutorily defined value for each class of the Company’s voting securities.

3

 

The Affiliated Transactions Act of the VSCA is only applicable to corporations that have more than 300 shareholders. The Control Share Acquisitions Act of the VSCA is only applicable to public corporations. A corporation may provide in its articles of incorporation or bylaws that the Affiliated Transactions Act and the Control Share Acquisitions Act of the VSCA do not apply, but the Company has not done so.

 

4

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00305-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00305-of-00352.parquet"}]]