EXHIBIT 4.6
Published on February 19, 2020
Exhibit 4.6
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Unless we indicate otherwise or the context requires, references to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Words denoting the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders.)
Our common shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). We have registered no other securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES
The following description summarizes the most important terms of our common shares. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our memorandum of association and our second amended and restated bye-laws (the “Bye-Laws”), which are included as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Overview
We have an authorized share capital divided into common shares, par value $1.00 per share, and undesignated shares, par value $1.00 per share, that our Board of Directors is authorized to designate from time to time as common shares or as preference shares. Pursuant to our Bye-Laws, subject to the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and to any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, our Board of Directors is authorized to issue any of our authorized but unissued shares. There are no limitations on the right of non-Bermudians or non-residents of Bermuda to hold or vote our shares.
Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our Bye-Laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any issued and outstanding preference shares.
Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AXTA”.
Dividend Rights
Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay dividends if there are reasonable grounds for believing that: (i) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (ii) the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than its liabilities. Under our Bye-Laws, each common share is entitled to dividends if, as and when dividends are declared by our Board of Directors, subject to any preferred dividend right of the holders of any preference shares.
Variation of Rights
If at any time we have more than one class of shares, the rights attaching to any class, unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of the relevant class, may be varied either: (i) with the consent in writing of the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class; or (ii) with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of the relevant class of shareholders at which a quorum consisting of at least two persons holding or representing one-third of the issued shares of the relevant class is present. Our Bye-Laws specify that the creation or issue of shares ranking equally with existing shares will not, unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of existing shares, vary the rights attached to existing shares. In addition, the creation or issue of preference shares ranking prior to common shares will not be deemed to vary the rights attached to common shares or, subject to the terms of any other class or series of preference shares, to vary the rights attached to any other class or series of preference shares.
Meetings of Shareholders
Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors of a company and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Bermuda law also requires that shareholders be given at least five days’ advance notice of a general
meeting, but the accidental omission to give notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Our Bye-Laws provide that our Board of Directors may convene an annual general meeting and the chairman or a majority of our directors then in office may convene a special general meeting. Under our Bye-Laws, at least 14 days’ notice of an annual general meeting or ten days’ notice of a special general meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. This notice requirement is subject to the ability to hold such meetings on shorter notice if such notice is agreed: (i) in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting; or (ii) in the case of a special general meeting, by a majority in number of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting holding not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. Subject to the rules of the NYSE, the quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders is two or more persons present in person at the start of the meeting and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of all issued and outstanding common shares.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our Bye-Laws provide that our Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors as the Board of Directors may determine. Prior to the 2021 Annual General Meeting of Members, our Board of Directors is divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III that are, as nearly as possible, of equal size. The Class I directors who were elected at the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Members will serve for a three year term of office. The Class II directors who were elected at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of Members will serve for a two year term of office. At the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Members, the term of office of the Class III directors shall expire and the Class III directors will be elected for a one year term of office. Effective as of our 2021 Annual General Meeting of Members, the classification of the directors shall expire, and at such meeting, and each annual general meeting thereafter, all of the directors so elected at any such meeting will hold office for a one year term. A director shall hold office until the annual general meeting for the year in which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor has been duly elected or appointed, subject to such director’s office being vacated pursuant to the Bye-Laws.
A shareholder holding not less than 10% in nominal value of the common shares in issue may propose for election as a director someone who is not an existing director or is not proposed by our Board of Directors. Where a director is to be elected at an annual general meeting, notice of any such proposal for election must be given not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the last annual general meeting prior to the giving of the notice or, in the event the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not less than 30 days before or after such anniversary the notice must be given not later than ten days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the annual general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting was made. Where a director is to be elected at a special general meeting, the notice must be given not later than 7 days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the special general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the special general meeting was made.
A director may be removed, only with cause (as defined in the Bye-Laws), by the shareholders, provided notice of the special general meeting convened to remove the director is given to the director. The notice must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and a summary of the facts justifying the removal and must be served on the director not less than 14 days before the meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for such director’s removal.
Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders. Our Bye-Laws provide that no bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended, and no new bye-law shall be made, unless it shall have been approved by a resolution of our Board of Directors and by a resolution of our shareholders including the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the resolution.
Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20% in nominal value of a company’s issued share capital or any class thereof have the right to apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment that alters or reduces a company’s share capital as provided in the Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Supreme Court of Bermuda. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the company’s memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No application may be made by shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.
Amalgamations and Mergers
The amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation (other than certain affiliated companies) requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company’s Board of Directors and by its shareholders.
Unless the company’s bye-laws provide otherwise (which the Bye-laws do not), the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at such meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two or more persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company.
Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder of the Bermuda company who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation or merger and who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder’s shares may, within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those shares.
Registrar or Transfer Agent
A register of holders of the common shares is maintained by Codan Services Limited in Bermuda, and a branch register is maintained in the United States by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which serves as branch registrar and transfer agent.
Certain Provisions of Bermuda Law
We have been designated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes. This designation allows us to engage in transactions in currencies other than the Bermuda dollar, and there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has given its consent for the issue and free transferability of all of the common shares that are the subject of this offering to and between residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, provided our shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the NYSE. Approvals or permissions given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority do not constitute a guarantee by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in giving such consent or permissions, the Bermuda Monetary Authority shall not be liable for the financial soundness, performance or default of our business or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this prospectus. Certain issues and transfers of common shares involving persons deemed resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes require the specific consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.