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Ireland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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3533
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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98-0606750
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
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Jonathan B. Newton
Heath C. Trisdale Allison C. Bell King & Spalding LLP 1100 Louisiana St., Suite 4100 Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 751-3200 |
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Ori Lev
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. 19350 State Highway 249, Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77070 (281) 453-2222 |
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James Marshall
Jamie L. Yarbrough Baker Botts L.L.P. 910 Louisiana St. Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 229-1234 |
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Large accelerated filer
☒
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Accelerated filer
☐
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Non-accelerated filer
☐
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Smaller reporting company
☐
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| | | | |
Emerging growth company
☐
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For Information Regarding Weatherford:
|
| |
For Information Regarding NCS:
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| |
Weatherford International plc
2000 St. James Place Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 836-4000 Attention: U.S. Investor Relations |
| |
NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.
19350 State Highway 249, Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77070 (281) 453-2222 Attention: Investor Relations |
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| | | | | | D-1 | | | |
| | | | | | E-1 | | | |
| | | | | | F-1 | | |
| | | |
NCS Common
Stock closing price |
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Weatherford
Ordinary Shares closing price |
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Implied per share
value of NCS Common Stock(1) |
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|
May 29, 2026
|
| | | $ | 42.38 | | | | | $ | 103.64 | | | | | $ | 57.39 | | |
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July 2, 2026
|
| | | $ | 44.59 | | | | | $ | 83.01 | | | | | $ | 45.96 | | |
| | | |
Fiscal Year Ending December 31,
|
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($ in millions)
|
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2H 2026P
|
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2027P
|
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2028P
|
| |
2029P
|
| |
2030P
|
| |||||||||||||||
|
Adjusted Gross Profit(1)(2)
|
| | | $ | 46.7 | | | | | $ | 87.3 | | | | | $ | 91.0 | | | | | $ | 94.2 | | | | | $ | 97.4 | | |
|
EBITDA(1)(3)
|
| | | $ | 18.1 | | | | | $ | 29.2 | | | | | $ | 31.4 | | | | | $ | 33.6 | | | | | $ | 35.4 | | |
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(4)
|
| | | $ | 21.5 | | | | | $ | 34.0 | | | | | $ | 36.6 | | | | | $ | 38.8 | | | | | $ | 40.2 | | |
| | ACT Energy Technologies Ltd. | | | KLX Energy Services Holdings, Inc. | |
| | DMC Global Inc. | | | PHX Energy Services Corp. | |
| | Drilling Tools International Corp. | | | Ranger Energy Services, Inc. | |
| | | |
Implied EV / Adjusted EBITDA
|
| |||||||||||||||
| | | |
2025
|
| |
LTM
|
| |
2026P
|
| |||||||||
|
Maximum
|
| | | | 5.0x | | | | | | 7.0x | | | | | | 5.1x | | |
| Average | | | | | 4.4x | | | | | | 4.9x | | | | | | 4.1x | | |
| Median | | | | | 4.5x | | | | | | 4.7x | | | | | | 4.0x | | |
|
Minimum
|
| | | | 3.8x | | | | | | 3.9x | | | | | | 3.3x | | |
| | | |
Multiple
|
| |
Implied Price Per share of
NCS Common Stock |
| |
Implied
Exchange Ratio |
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| | | |
Maximum
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Average
|
| |
Median
|
| |
Minimum
|
| |
Maximum
|
| |
Average
|
| |
Median
|
| |
Minimum
|
| |
Average
|
| |
Median
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Implied EV / 2025 Adjusted EBITDA
|
| | | | 5.0x | | | | |
|
4.4x
|
| | | |
|
4.5x
|
| | | | | 3.8x | | | | | $ | 51.88 | | | | | $ | 46.28 | | | | | $ | 46.92 | | | | | $ | 40.26 | | | | | | 0.447 | | | | | | 0.453 | | |
|
Implied EV / LTM Adjusted EBITDA
|
| | | | 7.0x | | | | |
|
4.9x
|
| | | |
|
4.7x
|
| | | | | 3.9x | | | | | $ | 62.81 | | | | | $ | 44.71 | | | | | $ | 43.38 | | | | | $ | 36.27 | | | | | | 0.431 | | | | | | 0.419 | | |
|
Implied EV / 2026 Projected EBITDA
|
| | | | 5.1x | | | | |
|
4.1x
|
| | | |
|
4.0x
|
| | | | | 3.3x | | | | | $ | 52.52 | | | | | $ | 43.36 | | | | | $ | 42.35 | | | | | $ | 35.24 | | | | | | 0.418 | | | | | | 0.409 | | |
|
Acquiror
|
| |
Target
|
|
| Expro Group Holdings N.V. | | | Enhanced Well Technologies Group AS | |
| Flowco Holdings Inc. | | | Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions, LLC | |
| Superior Energy Services, Inc. | | | Abaco Energy Technologies, LLC | |
| Global Energy Capital | | | TXAM Pumps, LLC | |
| ARC Financial Corp. | | | STEP Energy Services Ltd. | |
| Apollo Global Management, Inc. | | | BOLD Production Services, LLC | |
| Ranger Energy Services, Inc. | | | American Well Services | |
| Innovex International, Inc. | | | Citadel Casing Solutions, LLC | |
| Innovex International, Inc. | | | Downhole Well Solutions, LLC | |
| ChampionX Corporation | | | RMSpumptools Limited | |
| Expro Group Holdings N.V. | | | Coretrax Technology Ltd. | |
| NOV Inc. | | | Extract Companies, LLC | |
| Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. | | | Variperm Holdings Ltd. | |
| Precision Drilling Corporation | | | CWC Energy Services Corp. | |
| Dril-Quip, Inc. | | | Great North Wellhead | |
| Stratim Cloud Acquisition Corp. | | | Force Pressure Control, LLC | |
| ProPetro Holding Corp. | | | Silvertip Completion Services Operating, LLC | |
| | | |
Transaction Value /
Historical EBITDA |
| |
Transaction Value /
Projected EBITDA |
| ||||||
|
Maximum
|
| | | | 5.0x | | | | | | 6.1x | | |
| Average | | | | | 3.8x | | | | | | 4.1x | | |
| Median | | | | | 3.8x | | | | | | 4.2x | | |
|
Minimum
|
| | | | 2.5x | | | | | | 2.1x | | |
| | | |
Multiple
|
| |
Implied Price Per share of
NCS Common Stock |
| |
Implied
Exchange Ratio |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |
Maximum
|
| |
Average
|
| |
Median
|
| |
Minimum
|
| |
Maximum
|
| |
Average
|
| |
Median
|
| |
Minimum
|
| |
Average
|
| |
Median
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Transaction Value / Historical
EBITDA |
| | | | 5.0x | | | | |
|
3.8x
|
| | | |
|
3.8x
|
| | | | | 2.5x | | | | | $ | 52.06 | | | | | $ | 40.31 | | | | |
$
|
39.94
|
| | | | $ | 27.46 | | | | | | 0.389 | | | | | | 0.385 | | |
|
Transaction Value / Projected
EBITDA |
| | | | 6.1x | | | | |
|
4.1x
|
| | | |
|
4.2x
|
| | | | | 2.1x | | | | | $ | 62.52 | | | | | $ | 43.16 | | | | |
$
|
43.86
|
| | | | $ | 23.78 | | | | | | 0.416 | | | | | | 0.423 | | |
| | | |
NCS
RSUs (#) |
| |
NCS
RSUs ($) |
| |
NCS
PSUs (#)(1) |
| |
NCS
PSUs ($)(1) |
| |
NCS
ESUs (#) |
| |
NCS
ESUs ($) |
| |
Deferred
NCS DSUs (#) |
| |
Deferred
NCS DSUs ($) |
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| Executive Officers | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ryan Hummer
|
| | | | 10,505 | | | | | | 558,551 | | | | | | 55,193 | | | | | | 2,934,612 | | | | | | 18,302 | | | | | | 973,117 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Tim Willems
|
| | | | 4,672 | | | | | | 248,410 | | | | | | 26,395 | | | | | | 1,403,396 | | | | | | 8,624 | | | | | | 458,538 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Michael Morrison
|
| | | | 4,608 | | | | | | 245,007 | | | | | | 26,033 | | | | | | 1,384,175 | | | | | | 8,506 | | | | | | 452,264 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Ori Lev(2)
|
| | | | 3,629 | | | | | | 192,954 | | | | | | 20,503 | | | | | | 1,090,131 | | | | | | 6,699 | | | | | | 356,186 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Robert Nipper
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Michael McShane
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
John Deane
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
W. Matt Ralls
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,256 | | | | | | 1,342,862 | | |
|
Valerie Mitchell
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 19,212 | | | | | | 1,021,502 | | |
|
Gurinder Grewal
|
| | | | 3,221 | | | | | | 171,261 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 17,698 | | | | | | 940,003 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Cash
($)(1) |
| |
Equity
($)(2) |
| |
Perquisites /
Benefits ($)(3) |
| |
Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||
|
Ryan Hummer
|
| | | | 3,607,714 | | | | | | 4,466,280 | | | | | | 54,958 | | | | | | 8,128,952 | | |
|
Tim Willems
|
| | | | 1,645,458 | | | | | | 2,110,344 | | | | | | 33,568 | | | | | | 3,789,370 | | |
|
Michael Morrison
|
| | | | 1,527,600 | | | | | | 2,081,446 | | | | | | 54,692 | | | | | | 3,663,738 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Severance
($) |
| |
Pro-Rated
Annual Bonus ($) |
| ||||||
|
Ryan Hummer
|
| | | | 3,305,813 | | | | | | 301,901 | | |
|
Tim Willems
|
| | | | 1,473,370 | | | | | | 172,088 | | |
|
Michael Morrison
|
| | | | 1,376,726 | | | | | | 150,874 | | |
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
|
Capital Structure
|
| |
The authorized share capital of Weatherford is US$1,356,000 divided into 1,356,000,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of $0.001 per share.
The authorized share capital may be increased or reduced by way of an ordinary resolution of Weatherford. An “ordinary resolution” is a resolution passed by a simple majority
|
| | NCS’s certificate of incorporation authorizes 21.25 million shares of capital stock, consisting of 11.25 million shares of NCS Common Stock, par value of US$0.01 per share, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, par value of US$0.01 per share (“NCS Preferred Stock”), with one such share of NCS Preferred Stock | |
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | | of the votes cast by shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of Weatherford. | | |
designated as the “Special Voting Share.”
Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation, the number of authorized shares of capital stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of NCS’s then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any NCS Common Stock or NCS Preferred Stock voting separately as a class or series shall be required therefor.
Under Delaware law, the NCS Board, without stockholder approval, may approve the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of capital stock.
Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation, at any time and from time to time, the NCS Board is expressly authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, to provide by resolution or resolutions for the issuance of shares of NCS Preferred Stock in one or more series or classes and, for each such series or class of NCS Preferred Stock, to fix, among other things, (i) the number of shares constituting such series or class and the designation thereof, (ii) the voting powers (if any), whether full or limited, of the shares of such series or class, (iii) the powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of such series or class, and (iv) the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, and to cause a certificate of designation with respect thereto to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
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|
|
Consolidation and Division; Subdivision
|
| | Under Irish law and the Weatherford Articles, Weatherford may, by ordinary resolution, sub-divide or consolidate | | | Under Delaware law, NCS may effect a stock split or reverse stock split by amending its certificate of | |
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | | (i.e., a reverse share split) its shares, or reduce or increase the nominal value of its shares. | | | incorporation to subdivide or combine its issued shares. | |
|
Reduction of Share Capital
|
| | Under Irish law, Weatherford may, by special resolution and subject to confirmation by the Irish High Court, reduce its company capital (which includes, amongst other things, its issued share capital and its share premium) in any manner permitted by the Irish Companies Act. A “special resolution” is a resolution passed by not less than 75% of the votes cast by shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of Weatherford. | | | Under Delaware law, NCS, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the NCS Board, may reduce its capital (i) by reducing or eliminating the capital associated with shares of capital stock that have been retired, (ii) by applying some or all of the capital represented by shares purchased, redeemed, converted or exchanged or (iii) by transferring to surplus capital the capital associated with certain shares of its stock. No reduction of capital may be made unless the assets of the corporation remaining after the reduction are sufficient to pay any debts for which payment has not otherwise been provided. | |
|
Statutory Pre-emption Rights
|
| |
Under Irish law, subject to certain exceptions, allotments, issuances and grants of “equity securities” (comprising, subject to certain exceptions, new ordinary shares and convertible rights) for cash are subject to statutory pre-emption rights in favor of shareholders, save to the extent such statutory pre-emption rights are generally, or specifically, disapplied by special resolution passed by shareholders at a general meeting.
A general disapplication of statutory pre-emption rights may be given for a maximum period of five years, at which point it must be renewed by special resolution.
The Weatherford shareholders most recently resolved by special resolution passed at Weatherford’s 2026 annual general meeting to approve a general disapplication of statutory pre-emption rights for a period of 15 months ending September 11, 2027 (or the date of the next annual general meeting, whichever is later) in respect of up to 14,387,000 ordinary shares (representing approximately 20% of its issued share capital).
Under Irish law, statutory pre-emption rights do not apply to the allotment
|
| | Under Delaware law and NCS’s certificate of incorporation, NCS’s stockholders do not have pre-emptive rights to acquire newly issued shares. | |
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | | and issue of ordinary shares or grant of convertible rights in pursuance of an employees’ share scheme. | | | | |
|
Issuance of Shares; Share Warrants and Share Options
|
| |
Under Irish law, no shares may be allotted and issued by Weatherford unless comprised in its authorized but unissued share capital.
Under Irish law and the Weatherford Articles, the Weatherford Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may (i) allot and issue ordinary shares, and (ii) grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, ordinary shares (including share warrants and share options) (“convertible rights”) up to the maximum amount of Weatherford’s authorized but unissued share capital, once generally, or specifically, authorized to do so by ordinary resolution passed by shareholders at a general meeting.
A general allotment authorization may be given for a maximum period of five years, at which point it must be renewed by ordinary resolution.
The Weatherford shareholders most recently resolved by ordinary resolution passed at Weatherford’s 2026 annual general meeting to generally authorize the Weatherford Board to issue new ordinary shares and convertible securities for a period of 15 months ending September 11, 2027 (or the date of the next annual general meeting, whichever is later) in respect of up to 14,387,000 ordinary shares (representing approximately 20% of its issued share capital).
Under Irish law, a shareholder allotment authorization is not required for the allotment and issue of ordinary shares or grant of convertible rights in pursuance of an employees’ share scheme.
|
| |
Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation and subject to applicable law, the NCS Board may authorize NCS to issue and sell all or any part of the authorized but unissued shares of any series or class of NCS’s capital stock for such consideration and for such corporate purposes as the NCS Board, in its discretion, may determine from time to time, whether or not greater consideration could be received upon the issue or sale of the same number of shares of another class.
Under Delaware law, a corporation’s board of directors may authorize the issuance of the corporation’s authorized capital stock for consideration consisting of cash, any tangible or intangible property, any benefit to the corporation or any combination thereof.
|
|
|
Dividends and Distributions
|
| |
Under Irish law, Weatherford may only pay dividends and make other distributions (and, generally, make share repurchases and redemptions) out of distributable profits.
In addition, under Irish law, no
|
| | Under Delaware law and NCS’s certificate of incorporation, holders of NCS Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, property, or stock as may be declared on NCS Common Stock by the NCS Board, in its | |
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | |
dividend may be paid or other distribution, share repurchase or redemption made by Weatherford unless the net assets of Weatherford are equal to, or exceed, the aggregate of Weatherford’s called-up share capital plus its un-distributable reserves and the dividend or other distribution, share repurchase or redemption does not reduce Weatherford’s net assets below such aggregate.
Subject to the requirements of Irish law, as referenced above, the Weatherford Articles authorize the Weatherford Board to pay such dividends as appears to the Weatherford Board to be justified by the profits of Weatherford.
The Weatherford Board may also recommend a dividend to be approved and declared by the Weatherford shareholders at a general meeting, provided that no such dividend may exceed the amount recommended by the Weatherford Board.
Under the Weatherford Articles, Weatherford Ordinary Shares rank equally for all dividends which are declared and paid.
|
| |
discretion, from time to time out of assets or funds of NCS legally available therefor, and such holders of NCS Common Stock share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends and other distributions that the NCS Board may declare from time to time.
The decision whether or not to pay dividends, the amount of any such dividends and the manner in which dividends are payable are subject to the discretion of the NCS Board, applicable Delaware law, the NCS certificate of incorporation and the existence of legally available funds.
|
|
|
Share Repurchases, Redemptions and Conversions
|
| |
Under the Weatherford Articles, Weatherford is authorized to acquire its own shares. Under Irish law, such shares may technically be acquired (i) by purchase, or (ii) in the case of redeemable shares, by redemption or purchase.
All acquisitions (whether by purchase or redemption) are required to be made out of distributable profits or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for that purpose.
The Weatherford Articles provide that, unless the Weatherford Board determines otherwise, any Weatherford Ordinary Shares (or an interest in such shares) which Weatherford has acquired, or proposes to acquire, shall be deemed to be redeemable shares on, and from the time of, the existence or
|
| |
Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation, NCS has the power to purchase any shares of any class of stock authorized by NCS’s certificate of incorporation from such persons, and for such consideration and for such corporate purposes, as the NCS Board, in its discretion, may determine from time to time, whether or not less consideration could be paid upon the purchase of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law.
Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, shares of NCS Common Stock and NCS Preferred Stock are not currently subject to conversion privileges or redemption by NCS.
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|
|
PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | |
creation of the relevant agreement, transaction or trade for their acquisition.
Accordingly, unless the Weatherford Board determines otherwise, acquisitions by Weatherford of its ordinary shares may be implemented as a redemption of those shares without the requirement for shareholder approval.
If the Weatherford Articles did not contain such provision, the acquisition by Weatherford of its ordinary shares would need to be implemented as a purchase and would be subject to additional requirements under Irish law, including the requirement for shareholder authority to do so.
Weatherford’s ordinary shares which are acquired (whether by purchase or redemption) may be cancelled or held as treasury shares, provided that the aggregate value of treasury shares held by Weatherford at any time must not exceed 10% of Weatherford’s company capital (consisting of the aggregate of all amounts of nominal value plus share premium paid for shares of Weatherford, plus certain other sums that may be credited as such).
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| | | |
|
Bonus Shares
|
| |
Under the Weatherford Articles, the Weatherford Board may resolve to capitalize any amount standing to the credit of Weatherford’s un-denominated capital, any of Weatherford’s profits available for distribution, any sum representing unrealized revaluation reserves, a merger reserve, or any other capital reserve of Weatherford, and apply such amount in paying-up in full unissued shares to be allotted and issued as bonus shares to shareholders who would have been entitled to such amount if it had been distributed by way of dividend (and in the same proportions).
|
| | Under Delaware law, a corporation may make distributions to its stockholders in the form of a stock dividend, which distributions result in consequences similar to the issuance of bonus shares as contemplated under Irish law. See the discussion of dividends and distributions under “— Dividends and Distributions” above for additional information. | |
|
Number and Election of Directors; Director Terms
|
| |
The Weatherford Articles provide that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Weatherford Board, provided the number shall not be less than 3 nor more than 14.
|
| | NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws initially fix the total number of directors constituting the NCS Board at nine. The total number of directors constituting the NCS Board may be | |
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PROVISION
|
| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
|
| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | |
The Weatherford Articles provide that the directors may be appointed by Weatherford shareholders in general meeting or by the Weatherford Board.
The Weatherford Articles provide that each director shall (unless his or her office is earlier vacated) serve for a one-year term concluding on the later of (i) the annual general meeting after such director was last appointed or reappointed and (ii) the date his or her successor is elected and qualified.
The Weatherford Articles provide that each director shall be elected by ordinary resolution passed by shareholders at a general meeting provided that, if the number of director nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “contested election”), each of those nominees shall be voted upon as a separate resolution and the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, in person or represented by proxy, at such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.
The Weatherford Articles provide that, in an uncontested election (where the number of director nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected), any nominee for election to the Weatherford Board who is then serving as a director and who receives a greater number of “against” votes than “for” votes shall promptly tender his or her resignation following certification of the vote. The Weatherford Board (excluding the director who has so tendered his or her resignation) is then obliged to consider the resignation offer and decide whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken.
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fixed at a different number of directors from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the NCS Board then in office.
The NCS certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the terms of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock, the NCS Board is divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class consisting, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, and with terms expiring successively for the respective classes at each annual meeting of NCS stockholders. No member of the NCS Board may serve concurrently on more than one class of directors. If the number of directors constituting the NCS Board is changed, NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes in such a manner as the NCS Board shall determine so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly as equal as possible, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.
NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and voting for nominees in the election of directors. At each annual meeting following the initial classified-board terms, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting are elected to hold office until the third annual meeting succeeding such directors’ election and until such directors’ successors are duly elected and qualified.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that, whenever the holders of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by series or class, to
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | | | | elect one or more directors at an annual or special meeting of NCS stockholders, the election, filling of vacancies, removal of directors and other features of such one or more directorships shall be governed by the terms of such one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by applicable law. | |
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Appointment of Directors; Vacancies on the Board and Newly Created Directorships
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| | The Weatherford Articles provide that the Weatherford Board may from time to time appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing directors, provided that the total number of directors shall not at any time exceed the maximum number of 14 as provided for in the Weatherford Articles. | | | Subject to the terms of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock, the NCS certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any vacancies in the NCS Board for any reason, including in the case of any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by the NCS Board, and not by NCS stockholders, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any directors so appointed will hold office until the next election of the class of directors to which such director has been appointed and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified. | |
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Removal of Directors
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Under Irish law, Weatherford shareholders may remove a director without cause by ordinary resolution, provided that at least 28 clear days’ notice of the resolution is given to Weatherford and the Weatherford shareholders comply with the relevant procedural requirements.
Under Irish law one or more Weatherford shareholders representing not less than 10% of the paid-up share capital of Weatherford carrying voting rights may requisition Weatherford to convene an extraordinary general meeting at which a resolution to remove a director and appoint another person in his or her place may be proposed.
The Weatherford Articles also provide that one or more Weatherford shareholders holding at least 25% of the outstanding ordinary shares may directly convene an extraordinary
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| | Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation, subject to the terms of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock, any director or the entire NCS Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of NCS’s outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. For the purposes of director removal under NCS’s certificate of incorporation, “cause” means, with respect to any NCS director, (i) the willful failure by such director to perform, or the gross negligence of such director in performing, the duties of a director, (ii) the engaging by such director in willful or serious misconduct that is injurious to NCS or (iii) the conviction of such director of, or the entering by such director of a plea of nolo | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | general meeting, at which a resolution to remove a director and appoint another person in his or her place may be proposed. | | | contendere to, a crime that constitutes a felony. | |
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Duties of the Board of Directors
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The Irish Companies Act sets out nine principal fiduciary duties for directors. These statutory duties are non-exhaustive and are based upon, and interpreted in accordance with, common law rules and equitable principles which have been developed by the Irish courts over many years. The nine principal fiduciary duties of a director are:
(i)
to act in good faith in what the director considers to be the interests of the company;
(ii)
to act honestly and responsibly in relation to the conduct of the affairs of the company;
(iii)
to act in accordance with the company’s constitution and to exercise his or her powers only for the purposes allowed by law;
(iv)
not to use the company’s property, information, or opportunities for his or her own benefit, or that of anyone else;
(v)
not to agree to restrict the director’s power to exercise an independent judgement;
(vi)
to avoid conflicts of interest;
(vii)
to exercise due care, skill and diligence;
(viii)
to have regard to the interests of the company’s employees in general and its shareholders; and
(ix)
to have regard to the interests of the company’s creditors, where a director believes, or has reasonable cause to believe the company is, or is likely to be, unable to pay its debts or where the directors become aware of the company’s insolvency.
Such duties are owed to Weatherford (not to individual shareholders or third parties) and only Weatherford may take
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In Delaware, fiduciary duties are generally developed by case law. Under Delaware law, a company’s directors are charged with fiduciary duties of care and loyalty (which further include the duties of good faith, oversight, and disclosure). The duty of care requires directors not to act with gross negligence, including, depending on the facts and circumstances, by being well-informed and gathering and considering reasonably available relevant information. The duty of loyalty requires directors to act in good faith and under the belief that their actions will be best for the corporation and its stockholders.
Under Delaware law, a director, or a member of any committee designated by a corporation’s board of directors, shall, in the performance of such director’s duties, be “fully protected” in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of the corporation’s officers or employees, by committees of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | an action for breach of duty against a director. In limited situations, shareholders may be able to bring a derivative action on behalf of Weatherford. | | | | |
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Advancement of Expenses; Insurance
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Subject to exceptions, Irish law does not permit a company to exempt a director or certain officers from, or indemnify a director against, liability in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust by a director in relation to Weatherford. The exceptions allow a company to (i) purchase and maintain directors and officers insurance against any liability attaching in connection with any negligence default, breach of duty or breach of trust owed to the company, and (ii) indemnify a director or such other officer against any liability incurred in defending proceedings, whether civil or criminal (a) in which judgment is given in his or her favor or in which he or she is acquitted, or (b) in respect of which an Irish court grants him or her relief from any such liability on the grounds that he or she acted honestly and reasonably and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, he or she ought fairly to be excused for the wrong concerned.
The Weatherford Articles include a provision which, subject to the provisions of the Irish Companies Act as aforesaid, entitles every present and former director and other officer of Weatherford and each other person who is or was serving at the request of Weatherford as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another company, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by Weatherford (including the heirs, executors, administrators, and estates of such persons) to be indemnified and held harmless by Weatherford to the fullest extent permitted by law against all costs, charges, losses, expenses, and liabilities incurred by him or her in the execution and discharge of his or her duties in relation thereto.
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| | Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, NCS shall indemnify, advance expenses to and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (such person, an “Indemnitee”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of NCS or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including appeal therefrom, in which such Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of NCS, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or her of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director, officer, employee or agent of NCS, or by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of NCS as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under NCS’s certificate of incorporation. NCS’s bylaws provide that nothing in NCS’s bylaws shall limit the right of NCS, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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In addition, Weatherford and Weatherford International Ltd. have entered (and/or, if required, any other subsidiary of Weatherford may enter) into indemnification agreements (or deed poll indemnities) with or as to each of Weatherford’s directors and certain officers as well as with individuals serving as directors, officers, employees, agents, or fiduciaries of our subsidiaries or any other company, corporation, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity or enterprise or by reason of anything done or not done by such person in any capacity providing for the indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, these persons to the fullest extent permitted by law.
As permitted by Irish law, Weatherford has also taken out directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
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advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action, including that NCS may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the NCS Board, provide rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees and agents of NCS.
Delaware law generally provides that a corporation may indemnify any officer, director, employee, or agent who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any third party suit or proceeding on account of being a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation or serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or other entity against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the action if the officer, director, employee, or agent (i) acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (ii) in a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
NCS’s bylaws provide that NCS is not obligated to provide indemnification or advancement in connection with, among other things, any proceeding initiated by an Indemnitee unless (i) NCS has joined in or, before initiation, the NCS Board authorized the proceeding, (ii) NCS provides indemnification or advancement in its sole discretion under applicable law, or (iii) the proceeding is brought to enforce indemnification, advancement or exculpation rights under the NCS bylaws, the NCS certificate of incorporation, applicable law or an agreement providing such rights.
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Limitation on Director and Officer Liability
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| | Irish law does not permit Weatherford to exempt directors and certain officers from liability in connection with their negligence, default, breach of duty, or | | | NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no director of NCS shall have any personal liability to | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | breach of trust in relation to Weatherford. | | |
NCS or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director and that, if the DGCL is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of director liability, the liability of an NCS director shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended, without further action by NCS.
Under Delaware law, a corporation may not limit the personal liability of a director or officer for (i) any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit; (iv) with respect to a director, willful or negligent payment of unlawful dividends or stock purchases or redemptions; or (v) with respect to an officer, personal liability to the corporation or its stockholders in any action by or in the right of the corporation.
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Shareholders’ Suits
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Under Irish law, fiduciary duties are owed by Weatherford’s directors to Weatherford (not to individual shareholders or third parties) and only Weatherford may take an action for breach of fiduciary duty against a Weatherford director.
In limited situations, the Weatherford shareholders may be able to bring a derivative action on behalf of Weatherford.
While Irish law only permits a Weatherford shareholder to initiate a lawsuit on behalf of Weatherford in limited circumstances, it does permit a shareholder to apply for a court order where Weatherford’s affairs are being conducted or the powers of the Weatherford Board are being exercised (i) in a manner oppressive to him or her or any of the members, or (ii) in disregard of his or her or their interests as members.
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Delaware law provides that a stockholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. In Delaware, before a stockholder may bring a derivative action, it must make a demand on the board. The demand requirement may be excused where it would be futile due to the interests of a majority of the board. If demand is excused, the demanding stockholder may proceed with the derivative action; if demand is required, the court will assess the reasonableness of the board’s decision not to pursue the matter.
An individual also may commence a class action suit on behalf of himself or herself and other similarly situated stockholders where the requirements for maintaining a class action have been met.
A person may institute and maintain such a suit only if such person was a
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | | | | stockholder at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit or his or her shares thereafter developed upon him or her by operation of law. Additionally, under Delaware case law, the plaintiff generally must be a stockholder not only at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit, but also through the duration of the derivative suit. Other than in the event of a voluntary dismissal by the plaintiff, the action will not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery. | |
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Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals
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Under the Weatherford Articles, in addition to any other applicable requirements, for business or nominations to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a member, such member must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to Weatherford’s Secretary. Under the Weatherford Articles, any business other than the election of directors must be (i) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Weatherford Board, or (ii) properly brought before the meeting by a member in accordance with the provisions of the Weatherford Articles.
To be timely for an annual general meeting, a member’s notice must be delivered to and received at Weatherford’s registered office, addressed to Weatherford’s Secretary, no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days before the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual general meeting. If the annual general meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from that anniversary, or if no annual general meeting was held in the prior year, notice must be received no earlier than 120 days before the meeting and no later than the later of 90 days before the meeting and the 10th day after notice of the meeting was first made by mail or public disclosure. An adjournment or postponement does not commence a new time period or
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Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, in addition to any other applicable requirements, for business or nominations to be properly brought before a meeting of NCS stockholders by an NCS stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to NCS’s Secretary. This procedure is the exclusive means by which a stockholder may make director nominations or submit other business to be transacted at a meeting of NCS’s stockholders (other than proposals made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in NCS’s notice of meeting, which proposals are not governed by NCS’s bylaws).
To timely propose business to be transacted at an annual meeting of NCS stockholders, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at NCS’s principal executive offices no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and no later than the close of business on the 90th day before the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of an annual meeting of NCS stockholders is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and no later than
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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extend any time period for the giving of a member’s notice.
A member’s notice must set forth, among other things: a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed and, if amending the Weatherford Articles, the text of the proposed amendment) and the reasons therefor; the name, address, and shareholding details of the proposing member and any associated persons; detailed information regarding the member’s and any associated person’s ownership interests, including derivatives, hedging arrangements, and proxy or voting agreements; any material interest in the proposed business; a representation as to whether the member intends to solicit proxies; and any other information reasonably requested by Weatherford.
The proposing member must update and supplement such information as of specified dates prior to the meeting. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with these procedures, and if any proposed business is not in compliance, to declare that such defective proposal shall be disregarded.
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the close of business on the later of the 90th day before the meeting or, if the first public announcement of the meeting date is less than 100 days before the meeting, the 10th day following the day on which NCS first publicly announces the meeting date.
To timely propose business to be transacted at a special meeting of NCS stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day before the meeting or the 10th day following the date on which notice of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the special meeting date was made, whichever first occurs.
No adjournment or postponement of an NCS annual or special meeting of stockholders will commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
A stockholder’s notice must set forth, among other things: the name, address, and ownership details of the noticing stockholder, beneficial owner, and any stockholder associated persons, including derivatives, voting arrangements, short interests, dividend rights, and performance-related fees; a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy and whether the stockholder intends to solicit proxies; for proposals other than nominations of directors for election at the meeting, a reasonably detailed description of (i) the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), the reasons for transacting such business at the meeting and any material direct or indirect interest of the noticing stockholder in such business and (ii) all agreements, arrangements and understandings, direct and indirect, between the noticing stockholder and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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proposal of such business; and for proposals to nominate a person or persons for election as a director, with respect to each person so proposed to be nominated, all information required in proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act, specified relationship and compensation information and a completed questionnaire and completed representation and agreement in the form required by NCS’s bylaws.
The chairperson of any meeting of NCS stockholders shall have the power to determine whether any nomination or business proposal was made in compliance with the bylaws, and if not, to declare that such nomination or business shall be disregarded or not be transacted.
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Extraordinary (Special) Meetings of Shareholders
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| | Under Irish law, all general meetings of Weatherford other than annual general meetings are called extraordinary general meetings, and (i) may be convened by the Weatherford Board whenever it thinks fit, (ii) must be convened by the Weatherford Board upon the requisition of one or more shareholders holding at least 10% of the paid-up share capital, or (iii) may be convened by one or more Weatherford shareholders holding at least 25% of the outstanding ordinary shares. | | |
Subject to the terms of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock, special meetings of NCS stockholders may be called at any time, but only by or at the direction of a majority of the NCS Board, by the Chairperson of the NCS Board or by NCS’s Chief Executive Officer. The ability of NCS stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied under NCS’s bylaws.
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Record Dates for Shareholder Meetings
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The Weatherford Articles provide that the Weatherford Board may fix in advance a date as the record date:
(i)
for any such determination of Weatherford shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a shareholders’ meeting, which record date shall not, subject to applicable law and the relevant exchange rules, be more than 90 days before the date of such meeting; and
(ii)
for the purpose of determining the Weatherford shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination
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| | Under NCS’s bylaws, the NCS Board may fix in advance a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of NCS stockholders, which record date may not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the NCS Board and must not be more than 60 days before the meeting nor less than 10 days before the meeting (or, if a merger or consolidation is to be acted upon at the meeting, not less than 20 days before the meeting). If no record date is fixed by the NCS Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting is the close of business on the day before | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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of Weatherford shareholders for any other proper purpose, which record date shall not, subject to applicable law and the relevant exchange rules, be more than 60 days prior to the date of payment of such dividend or other distribution or the taking of any action to which such determination of Weatherford shareholders is relevant.
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| | notice is given or, if notice is waived, the close of business on the day before the meeting. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of NCS stockholders applies to any adjournment of such meeting, unless the NCS Board, in its discretion, fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting. | |
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Notice to Shareholders
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| | Under Irish law and the Weatherford Articles, notice of an annual or extraordinary general meeting must be given to the persons entitled to notice, including Weatherford members, the Weatherford directors and secretary and, unless Weatherford has availed itself of the audit exemption under Irish law, the auditors. The Weatherford Articles provide that, subject to Irish law permitting shorter notice, an annual general meeting and an extraordinary general meeting called to pass a special resolution must be called on not less than 21 days’ notice, and all other extraordinary general meetings must be called on not less than 14 days’ notice. | | | Under NCS’s bylaws, written notice of each meeting of NCS stockholders must be given personally by mail or by electronic transmission not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days before the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote. The notice must state the place, if any, date, and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. In the case of a special meeting called to act on a merger or consolidation, notice must be given not fewer than 20 nor more than 60 days before the meeting. | |
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Quorum Requirements
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| | The Weatherford Articles provide that one or more Weatherford shareholders present in person or by proxy and having the right to attend and vote at the meeting and together holding shares representing more than 50% of the votes that may be cast by all Weatherford shareholders at the relevant time shall be a quorum at a general meeting. | | |
NCS’s bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by law or NCS’s certificate of incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of holders of record of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote at a stockholder meeting constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Where a separate vote by one or more classes or series of NCS capital stock is required, the presence in person or by proxy of holders of record of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Shares owned by NCS, or by another corporation, if NCS directly or indirectly holds a majority of the shares entitled to vote in that corporation’s director elections, are not entitled to vote and are not counted for quorum purposes, subject to the exception for stock held in a fiduciary capacity.
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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Adjournment of Shareholder Meetings
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| | The Weatherford Articles provide that the chairperson of the meeting may, with the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place. | | |
NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that (i) the NCS Board may postpone any meeting of NCS stockholders at any time in advance of such meeting and (ii) at any meeting of NCS stockholders at which a quorum is not present, the Chairperson of the NCS Board may adjourn any such meeting of stockholders without a vote of stockholders.
Notice of any adjourned meeting of NCS stockholders need not be given if the place, if any, date and hour of the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed pursuant to NCS’s bylaws, a notice of the adjourned meeting conforming to the requirements set forth above must be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.
At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
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Voting
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Under the Weatherford Articles, each Weatherford shareholder who, being entitled to attend, is present (in person or by proxy) at a general meeting of Weatherford shall have one vote for each Weatherford Ordinary Share held by him or her on the record date of the meeting.
Except where a greater majority is required by Irish law or the Weatherford Articles, any question proposed for a decision of the Weatherford shareholders at any general meeting of Weatherford or a decision of any class of Weatherford shareholders at a separate meeting will be decided by an ordinary resolution.
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| | Under NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, subject to the terms of any one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock then-outstanding, each holder of record of NCS Common Stock is entitled to vote for each share of NCS Common Stock held of record as of the applicable record date on any matter submitted to a vote of NCS stockholders at all meetings of NCS stockholders. However, NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of NCS Common Stock have no voting power with respect to, and are not entitled to vote on, any amendment to NCS’s certificate of incorporation or any certificate of designations relating to any series or class of preferred stock that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series or classes of | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | | | | | preferred stock if the holders of such affected preferred stock are entitled to vote thereon pursuant to applicable law or NCS’s certificate of incorporation. | |
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Shareholder Consent to Action Without Meeting
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| | Under Irish law, to be valid and effective, a resolution in writing requires to be signed by all the members (i.e., registered shareholders) of Weatherford for the time being entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of Weatherford. | | | NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to the terms of any series or class of preferred stock, from and after the time that Advent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 50.01% of the then-outstanding shares of NCS Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by NCS stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting, unless the directors then in office unanimously recommend that such action be permitted to be taken by written consent of stockholders. | |
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Director Nominations
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| | Under the Weatherford Articles, director nominations may only be made at a meeting properly called for the election of directors and only (i) by or at the direction of the Weatherford Board or any committee thereof, or (ii) if properly nominated by a member in accordance with the provisions of the Weatherford Articles. | | |
NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that advance notice of nominations for the election of directors made other than by the NCS Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or an authorized officer to whom the NCS Board or such committee has delegated such authority must be given in the manner provided in NCS’s bylaws. NCS’s bylaws provide that director nominations may be made by or at the direction of the NCS Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, or by a stockholder that complies with the notice procedures in NCS’s bylaws, which stockholder notice procedures are the exclusive means for an NCS stockholder to make director nominations before a stockholder meeting. Only persons nominated in accordance with the applicable procedures set forth in NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws are eligible to serve as directors.
See “— Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals” above for a description of the advance notice requirements applicable to stockholder nominations for director elections and other stockholder proposals.
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
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Shareholder Approval of Business Combinations
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| |
Where Weatherford proposes to acquire another company, the approval of Weatherford shareholders is not required under Irish law unless (i) the acquisition is effected as a domestic merger by Weatherford or a cross-border merger with another company incorporated in the European Union, (ii) the acquisition involves the issuance of new Weatherford shares or other securities carrying voting rights, which would otherwise trigger the mandatory bid requirements of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules, 2022 (the “Irish Takeover Rules”), or (iii) the acquisition involves the issuance of new Weatherford shares or grant of convertible rights, and Weatherford has insufficient headroom in its authorized share capital or the Weatherford Board does not have sufficient general shareholder authority to issue such shares or to grant such convertible rights (or to issue or grant them unrestricted from the application of statutory pre-emption rights).
Where another company proposes to acquire Weatherford, the approval of Weatherford shareholders is required under Irish law, with the approval threshold being dependent on the method of acquisition, as described in the following paragraphs.
Takeover Offer
Under a takeover offer, the bidder would make a general offer to Weatherford shareholders to acquire their ordinary shares. Under the Irish Takeover Rules, the offer must be conditional on the bidder acquiring, or having agreed to acquire, whether pursuant to the offer, or otherwise, ordinary shares conferring more than 50% of the voting rights of Weatherford (the “acceptance condition”), although the acceptance condition may be set at a higher percentage. Where a bidder has acquired or contracted to acquire not less than 80% of the Weatherford Ordinary Shares to which the offer relates, the bidder may invoke statutory
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| |
Under Delaware law, a sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets, a merger or consolidation of a corporation with another corporation or a dissolution of a corporation generally requires the approval of the corporation’s board of directors and, with limited exceptions, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on the transaction.
Additionally, Section 253 of the DGCL permits a corporation to merge with a subsidiary corporation without a vote of stockholders of the subsidiary if the parent owns 90% or more of the outstanding shares of each class of the subsidiary’s stock that would otherwise be entitled to vote on the merger.
Subject to a number of requirements (including a requirement that the corporation have a class or series of stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders immediately prior to the execution of the merger agreement by the corporation), Section 251(h) of the DGCL permits merger agreements to contain a provision eliminating the need for a stockholder vote for a second-step merger following consummation of a tender or exchange offer for all of the outstanding stock of a corporation on the terms provided in such merger agreement and the stock accepted for purchase or exchange prior to expiration of such offer (together with certain other shares as provided under Section 251(h) of the DGCL) equals at least such percentage of shares, and of each class or series of stock of the corporation, that, absent Section 251(h), would be required to adopt the merger agreement.
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
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| | | |
squeeze-out rights under Irish law and require any non-accepting Weatherford shareholders to sell and transfer their ordinary shares to the bidder on the terms of the offer.
Statutory Scheme of Arrangement
Under a statutory scheme of arrangement, Weatherford would make a proposal (i.e., the scheme) to its shareholders to (i) transfer their shares to the bidder, or (ii) cancel their shares, in each case in exchange for the relevant consideration to be provided by the bidder, with the result that the bidder would become the 100% owner of Weatherford. A scheme requires the approval of a majority in number of the members (i.e., registered shareholders) of each class of Weatherford’s shares affected, representing at least 75% of the shares of each class affected, present and voting, in person or by proxy, at a meeting of shareholders, together with the sanction of the Irish High Court. Shares held by a bidder or persons “acting in concert” with a bidder (including members of a bidder’s group) will be treated as a separate class for the purpose of a scheme vote.
Statutory Merger
It is possible for Weatherford to be acquired by way of a domestic merger or cross-border merger with another company incorporated in the European Union. Such mergers must be approved by a special resolution passed by Weatherford shareholders and confirmed by the Irish High Court or, in the case of a cross-border merger, the relevant supervisory authority in the other European Union member state, as the case may be.
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Inspection of Books and Records
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Under Irish law, members have the right to:
(i)
receive a copy of Weatherford’s memorandum of association and the Weatherford Articles;
(ii)
inspect and obtain copies of the minutes of Weatherford’s general meetings and resolutions;
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| | Under Delaware law, a stockholder of a Delaware corporation, in person or by attorney or other agent, may, upon a written demand made in good faith under oath that states with reasonable particularity a proper purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder and the record sought, inspect during usual business | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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(iii)
inspect and receive a copy of the register of members, register of directors and secretaries, register of directors’ interests and certain other statutory registers maintained by Weatherford;
(iv)
receive copies of Weatherford’s statutory financial statements together with the directors’ and auditors’ reports thereon for the most recent fiscal year; and
(v)
receive copies of the balance sheets of any subsidiary of Weatherford that have previously been produced to an annual general meeting of such subsidiaries in the preceding ten years.
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| | hours the corporation’s stock ledger, list of stockholders, and its books and records, and may make copies or extracts therefrom. | |
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Disclosure of Interests in Shares
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Under Irish law, a person is required to notify Weatherford if, as a result of a transaction, that person will be interested in 3% or more of Weatherford’s ordinary shares or if, as a result of a transaction, a person who was interested in more than 3% of Weatherford’s ordinary shares ceases to be so interested.
Furthermore, where a person is interested in more than 3% of Weatherford’s ordinary shares, any alteration of that person’s interest that brings his or her total holding through the nearest whole percentage number, whether an increase or a reduction, must be notified to Weatherford.
Notification is required to be made within five business days of the transaction or the alteration that gave rise to the notification requirement.
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| |
Neither Delaware law nor NCS’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws imposes a general obligation on NCS stockholders to notify NCS solely because they acquire, dispose of or hold a specified percentage of NCS shares.
However, NCS’s bylaws require a stockholder seeking to propose business to be transacted a stockholder meeting or nominate directors for election to give advance notice and include specified information about the stockholder’s and its related persons’ beneficial ownership, derivative instrument, voting, dividend and other related interests, and to supplement that information as necessary within 10 business days after the record date. NCS stockholders are also subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act with respect to beneficial ownership reporting and related matters.
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Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights
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Irish law provides for dissenters’ rights in the event of certain mergers and acquisitions.
Takeover Offer
In the case of a takeover offer for Weatherford, where a bidder has acquired or contracted to acquire not less than 80% of the Weatherford Ordinary Shares to which the offer
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| | Under Delaware law, stockholders of Delaware corporations have appraisal rights provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, to the extent applicable, provided they satisfy the special criteria and conditions set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL. | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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relates, and has invoked the statutory squeeze-out procedure to require any non-accepting Weatherford shareholders to sell and transfer their ordinary shares on the terms of the offer, a non-accepting shareholder has the right to apply to the Irish High Court for an order permitting him, or her, to retain his, or her, shares or to vary the terms of the offer as they pertain to that shareholder.
Statutory Scheme of Arrangement
In the case of a takeover by statutory scheme of arrangement which has been approved by the requisite majority of shareholders, dissenting shareholders have the right to appear at the Irish High Court sanction hearing and make representations in objection to the scheme.
Statutory Merger
In the case of a domestic merger or cross-border merger which has been approved by the requisite majority of Weatherford shareholders, if the consideration that is proposed to be paid to Weatherford shareholders is not all in the form of cash, dissenting Weatherford shareholders may require that their Weatherford shares be acquired for cash at a price determined in accordance with the share exchange ratio.
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Regulation of Takeovers
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Public takeovers of, and certain other transactions affecting, Weatherford are principally regulated by the Irish Takeover Rules. In particular, the Irish Takeover Rules apply to transactions in which a person or persons acting in concert seek to acquire securities carrying 30% or more of a listed Irish company’s voting rights (the control threshold under the Irish Takeover Rules).
In addition, as Weatherford shares are listed on Nasdaq, takeovers of, and certain other transactions affecting, Weatherford are also subject to applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including (i) the Exchange Act and the
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Under Delaware law, Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for three years after the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless specified conditions are satisfied. However, NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that NCS is not governed by Section 203 and that the restrictions contained in Section 203 do not apply to NCS. Further, NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that, for as long as Advent and its affiliates own at least 10% of the outstanding shares of NCS’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, such provision, among others, may not be
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and (ii) Nasdaq listing rules.
The Irish Takeover Rules operate to provide that, among other matters, in a takeover situation, target shareholders of the same class are afforded equivalent treatment, no offer is frustrated or unfairly prejudiced and, in situations involving multiple bidders, that there is a level playing field. The Irish Takeover Rules apply irrespective of whether a takeover is implemented by means of a takeover offer, a statutory scheme of arrangement or a statutory merger, and impose obligations on bidders and target companies, their directors, and on other transaction participants.
The Irish Takeover Rules are administered by the Irish Takeover Panel, a statutory body which has supervisory jurisdiction over takeovers and other relevant transactions which are subject to the Irish Takeover Rules.
Some key provisions of the Irish Takeover Rules include the following:
(i)
All shareholders of the same class must be afforded equivalent treatment and save with Irish Takeover Panel consent (which may be given in limited circumstances), any offer must be made to shareholders on the same terms (including as to price).
(ii)
In a competitive situation, a target company must, if specifically requested, provide each bidder with any information that it has already provided to another bidder.
(iii)
A bidder may only announce a firm intention to make an offer when it and its financial adviser are satisfied, after careful and responsible consideration, that the bidder is and will at all relevant times be able to implement the offer. If the consideration comprises cash,
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| |
amended, altered or revised, including by merger or otherwise, without Advent’s prior written consent (which consent was provided with respect to the Transaction on May 31, 2026).
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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resources must be available and committed to satisfy full acceptance of the offer.
(iv)
Once a bidder announces a firm intention to make an offer, it is, save in certain specified circumstances, bound to proceed with the offer and, save with the consent of the Irish Takeover Panel, to send the formal offer document or scheme proxy statement within 28 days of such announcement. Time extensions are typically granted for U.S. listed target companies to accommodate any SEC proxy statement review process.
(v)
The formal transaction documentation (whether in a takeover offer or scheme of arrangement) must, among other information, contain disclosure of the full transaction terms, conflicts of interests, the bidder’s intentions regarding the target company’s business, employees and trading facilities and the target’s board’s considered views (having taken competent independent financial advice) on whether it believes the terms of the offer are fair and reasonable.
(vi)
Save for material competition law conditions and the acceptance condition (see above), neither a bidder nor a target company is permitted to invoke any condition without the Irish Takeover Panel’s consent. This involves satisfying a high burden of proof, with consent only being given where the underlying circumstances are of material significance to the bidder or the target company in the context of the offer and the Irish Takeover Panel is satisfied that it would be reasonable for the bidder or the target company to invoke the condition to cause the offer to lapse. With limited exception in the case of material competition law conditions,
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
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subjective conditions are not permitted.
(vii)
A bidder and target company and persons “acting in concert” with them are required to publicly disclose their holdings of, and dealings in, target company securities, and in the case of a securities exchange offer, in bidder securities also.
(viii)
A takeover offer must be open for a minimum of 21 days from the formal offer document being sent, the acceptance condition must be satisfied by the 60th day following such sending and, save with Irish Takeover Panel consent, all other conditions must be satisfied by the 81st day following such sending.
(ix)
In a takeover offer, accepting shareholders may withdraw their acceptances of a takeover offer after 21 days from the first closing date of the offer (typically day 42) if the acceptance condition has not been satisfied by that date.
(x)
Save with the approval of the target company shareholders or, in the case of certain actions, with the prior written consent of the Irish Takeover Panel, once the target company board has received an approach which may lead to an offer or has reason to believe an offer is, or may be, imminent, the target company is not permitted to take any action (other than seeking alternative offers) which might result in the frustration of that offer or possible offer.
(xi)
Except with the consent of the Irish Takeover Panel, if (a) any person, or persons acting in concert, acquire(s) shares carrying 30% or more in the voting rights in a target company, or (b) a person, or persons acting in concert, already holding more than 30% but less than 50% of
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
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| | | |
outstanding voting rights in a target company increase(s) that holding by more than 0.05% in any 12-month period, such person or in the case of persons acting in concert, such one or more of those persons as the Irish Takeover Panel shall direct, must make a mandatory offer to all shareholders in cash (or with a cash alternative) at no less than the highest price paid by such persons in the previous 12 months.
(xii)
Break fees are capped at 1% of the ascertainable deal value. Reverse break fees are permitted without a cap.
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Anti-Takeover Measures
|
| |
Subject to applicable law, the Weatherford Articles expressly authorize the Weatherford Board to adopt any shareholder rights plan or similar plan, agreement or arrangement pursuant to which, under circumstances provided therein, some or all Weatherford shareholders will have rights to acquire shares or interests in shares in the capital of Weatherford at a discounted price, upon such terms and conditions as the Weatherford Board deems expedient and in the best interests of Weatherford.
However, once the Weatherford Board has received an approach which may lead to an offer for Weatherford or has reason to believe such an offer is, or may be, imminent, the Weatherford Board’s ability to adopt a rights’ plan or to take other anti-takeover measures would be restricted by the frustrating actions’ provisions of the Irish Takeover Rules.
The frustrating actions’ provisions (which apply from when the Weatherford Board has received an approach which may lead to an offer for Weatherford or has reason to believe such an offer is, or may be, imminent) prohibit Weatherford from taking any action (other than seeking alternative offers) which might result in
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NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that NCS shall not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. For additional information, see “— Regulation of Takeovers” above.
NCS’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain other provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change in control or changes in the composition of the NCS Board, including (i) the NCS Board’s authority to issue one or more series or classes of NCS Preferred Stock and to determine the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions associated with any such series or classes; (ii) the classification of the NCS Board into three, staggered classes with three-year terms expiring in successive years at annual meetings of NCS stockholders; (iii) the limitation that directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of NCS’s outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; (iv) the authority of only the NCS Board to fill vacancies and newly created directorships; (v) the limitation on stockholder action by written consent after Advent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 50.01% of the then outstanding shares
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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| | | |
the frustration of an offer or possible offer or in Weatherford shareholders being denied the opportunity to decide on the merits of an offer or possible offer, save with the prior approval of independent Weatherford shareholders or, in the case of certain actions, with the prior written consent of the Irish Takeover Panel.
The Irish Takeover Rules include a default put-up or shut-up “PUSU” period of 42 days after a bidder is first identified in a public announcement, which is designed to prevent a company from being placed under siege by an unwelcome bidder for a prolonged period. Before the expiry of this 42-day period, the bidder must either (i) “put up” by announcing a firm intention to make an offer for the target company, or (ii) “shut up” by announcing it will not proceed with an offer, barring, subject to certain exceptions, the bidder from making a further approach to the target company for a period of 6 months. This PUSU period can be extended by the Irish Takeover Panel if talks with the bidder are still progressing, but only at the request of the target company.
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| | of NCS Common Stock, unless the directors then in office unanimously recommend that such action be permitted by written consent; (vi) the inability of stockholders to call special meetings; (vii) advance notice requirements for stockholder directors nominations and proposals to transact other business at meetings of NCS stockholders; and (viii) supermajority vote requirements to amend specified certificate provisions and bylaws. | |
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Variation of Rights Attaching to a Class or Series of Shares
|
| | Under the Weatherford Articles, where the shares in Weatherford are divided into different classes, the rights attaching to a class of shares may only be varied if the holders of 75% in nominal value of the issued shares of that class consent in writing to the variation, or (ii) a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of that class, sanctions the variation. | | | Under Delaware law, the holders of outstanding shares of a class of capital stock will be entitled to vote separately as a class in connection with a proposed amendment to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, whether or not such class is entitled to vote thereon by the certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such class, increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely. | |
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Amendments to Governing Documents
|
| | Under Irish law, a special resolution passed by the shareholders at a general meeting is required to amend any provision of the Weatherford Articles. | | | Under Delaware law, amendments to a Delaware corporation’s certificate of incorporation must be approved by a resolution of the board of directors declaring the advisability of the | |
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PROVISION
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WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
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amendment, and in most cases by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment. If an amendment would vary the rights of a series or class of capital stock so as to affect the class adversely, then a majority of the voting power of the shares of that class also must approve the amendment. The DGCL also permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation requiring a greater proportion of voting power to approve a specified amendment. See “— Variation of Rights Attaching to a Class or Series of Shares” above.
NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that NCS reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to alter, amend, add to, or repeal any provision contained in its certificate of incorporation in any manner prescribed by Delaware law; provided, however, that, in addition to any other vote required by NCS’s certificate of incorporation or applicable law, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% of the voting power of NCS’s then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to alter, amend, add to, or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, the provisions relating to the classification of the NCS Board, removal of directors, vacancies, special meetings of stockholders, exclusive forum and the related supermajority amendment proviso. In addition, for as long as Advent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own shares representing at least 10% of NCS’s then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the provisions of NCS’s certificate of incorporation relating to NCS’s waiver of DGCL 203 and the corporate opportunities article may not be amended, altered, or revised, including by merger or otherwise, without Advent’s prior written consent.
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | | | | | NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that the NCS Board is expressly authorized and empowered to make, alter, amend, add to, or repeal any and all NCS bylaws by a majority of the directors then in office. NCS’s bylaws further provide that, subject to the certificate of incorporation, the NCS Board may make, alter, amend, add to, or repeal any and all bylaws by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office or by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present at any regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present. Subject to the certificate of incorporation, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% of the voting power of NCS’s then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required for stockholders to make, alter, amend, add to, or repeal any or all bylaws or to adopt any inconsistent provision. | |
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Rights upon Liquidation
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Under Irish law, upon the winding-up of an Irish company, the company’s property must first be applied to discharge its debts and other liabilities. After its debts and other liabilities have been satisfied, any remaining property and assets must be distributed to shareholders according to their respective rights and interests, as set out in the company’s constitutional documents or terms of issue, as the case may be.
The Weatherford Articles operate to the effect that, on a winding-up, the remaining property and assets of Weatherford (after satisfaction of its debts and other liabilities) will be distributed among the holders of Weatherford Ordinary Shares ratably according to the number of Weatherford Ordinary Shares held by them respectively.
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Under Delaware law, a corporation generally may be dissolved upon the approval of its board of directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Alternatively, dissolution may be authorized without action of the board if all stockholders entitled to vote consent in writing.
NCS’s certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the prior rights of NCS’s creditors and the holders of any class or series of stock then outstanding having prior rights as to distributions upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of NCS, the holders of shares of NCS Common Stock will be entitled to receive their ratable and proportionate share of NCS’s remaining assets.
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Enforcement of Civil Liabilities Against Foreign Persons
|
| | There is some uncertainty whether the Irish courts would recognize or enforce judgments obtained against Weatherford or its directors or officers in a U.S. court based on the civil | | | A judgment for the payment of money rendered by a court in the United States based on civil liability generally would be enforceable elsewhere in the United States. | |
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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| |
NCS (Delaware)
|
|
| | | | liabilities provisions of U.S. federal or state laws. The United States and Ireland do not currently have a treaty providing for recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters, and, accordingly, common law rules apply in order to determine whether a judgment of a U.S. federal or state court is enforceable in Ireland. | | | | |
| | | |
A judgment of a U.S. federal or state court obtained against Weatherford or its directors and officers will be enforced by the Irish courts only if the following general requirements are met:
•
the U.S. federal or state court must have had jurisdiction in relation to the particular defendant according to Irish conflict of law rules (the voluntary submission to jurisdiction by the defendant would satisfy this rule); and
•
the judgment must be final and conclusive and the decree must be final and unalterable in the court which pronounces it.
A judgment can be final and conclusive even if it is subject to appeal or even if an appeal is pending. However, where the effect of lodging an appeal under the applicable law is to stay execution of the judgment, it is possible that, in the meantime, the judgment may not be actionable in Ireland. It remains to be determined whether final judgment given in default of appearance is final and conclusive. Irish courts may also refuse to enforce a judgment of a U.S. federal or state court which meets the above requirements for one of the following reasons:
•
the judgment is not for a definite sum of money;
•
the judgment was obtained by fraud;
•
the enforcement of the judgment in Ireland would be contrary to natural or constitutional justice;
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PROVISION
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| |
WEATHERFORD (Ireland)
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NCS (Delaware)
|
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| | | |
•
the judgment is contrary to Irish public policy or involves certain U.S. laws which will not be enforced in Ireland;
•
jurisdiction cannot be obtained by the Irish courts over the judgment debtors in the enforcement proceedings by personal service in Ireland or outside Ireland under Order 11 of the Rules of the Irish Superior Courts;
•
the judgment is irreconcilable with an earlier judgment of the Irish courts; or
•
enforcement proceedings are not instituted in Ireland within six years of the date of the judgment of the state or federal courts of the United States.
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|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Shares of NCS Common
Stock Beneficially Owned (#)(1) |
| |
Outstanding
Common Stock (%) |
| ||||||
| 5% Beneficial Owners: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Funds Affiliated with Advent(2)
|
| | | | 1,478,426 | | | | | | 56.3% | | |
| Directors and Named Executive Officers: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Ryan Hummer
|
| | | | 48,389 | | | | | | 1.8% | | |
|
Tim Willems
|
| | | | 27,241 | | | | | | 1.0% | | |
|
Michael Morrison
|
| | | | 11,049 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Robert Nipper(3)
|
| | | | 122,051 | | | | | | 4.7% | | |
|
John Deane(4)
|
| | | | 40,281 | | | | | | 1.5% | | |
|
Michael McShane
|
| | | | 45,557 | | | | | | 1.7% | | |
|
Gurinder Grewal
|
| | | | — | | | | | | * | | |
|
W. Matt Ralls
|
| | | | 2,588 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Valerie Mitchell
|
| | | | 4,339 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)
|
| | | | 312,885 | | | | | | 11.9% | | |
|
Weatherford SEC Filings
(File No. 001-36504) |
| |
Period or File Date
|
|
| Annual Report on Form 10-K (including information specifically incorporated by reference from Weatherford’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A) | | | | |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K | | | Filed on April 2, 2026, June 1, 2026, and on June 11, 2026 | |
| Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A | | |
Filed on April 21, 2026, and on June 30, 2026
|
|
| Exhibit 4.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K | | | Year ended December 31, 2021, filed on February 17, 2022 | |
| Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q | | | |
|
NCS SEC Filings
(File No. 001-38071) |
| |
Period or File Date
|
|
| Annual Report on Form 10-K (including information specifically incorporated by reference from NCS’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A) | | | | |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K | | | Filed on May 27, 2026, and on June 2, 2026 | |
| Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A | | | | |
| Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q | | | |
| |
For Information Regarding Weatherford:
|
| |
For Information Regarding NCS:
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|
| |
Weatherford International plc
2000 St. James Place Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 836-4000 Attention: U.S. Investor Relations |
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NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.
19350 State Highway 249, Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77070 (281) 453-2222 Attention: Investor Relations |
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Definition
|
| |
Location
|
|
| 401(k) Plans | | | 5.16(e) | |
| Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement | | | 5.2(e)(iii) | |
| Acquisition Proposal | | | 5.2(e)(i) | |
| Action | | | 3.10 | |
| Adverse Recommendation Change | | | 5.3(a) | |
| Affiliate | | | 8.3(a) | |
| Agreement | | | Preamble | |
| Anti-Corruption Laws | | | 3.24(a) | |
| Anti-Money Laundering Laws | | | 3.24(e) | |
| Antitrust Division | | | 5.8(b) | |
| Antitrust Laws | | | 8.3(b) | |
| Assumed Options | | | 2.2(b) | |
| Assumed PSUs | | | 2.2(c) | |
| Assumed RSUs | | | 2.2(a) | |
| Base Amount | | | 5.11(b) | |
| Beneficial Ownership | | | 8.3(c) | |
| Book-Entry Shares | | | 2.3(b) | |
| Business Day | | | 8.3(d) | |
| Cash Consideration | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Cash Exchange Ratio | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Certificate of Merger | | | 1.3 | |
| Certificates | | | 2.3(b) | |
| Closing | | | 1.2 | |
| Closing Date | | | 1.2 | |
| Closing Tax Opinion | | | 6.3(e) | |
| COBRA | | | 3.12(d)(vii) | |
| Code | | | Recitals | |
| Collective Bargaining Agreement | | | 8.3(e) | |
| Company | | | Preamble | |
| Company Board | | | Recitals | |
| Company Board Recommendation | | | Recitals | |
| Company Bylaws | | | 3.1(b) | |
| Company Charter | | | 3.1(b) | |
| Company Common Stock | | | 2.1(a) | |
| Company Disclosure Letter | | | Article III | |
| Company DSU | | | 8.3(f) | |
| Company Equity Awards | | | 8.3(g) | |
| Company ESPP | | | 8.3(h) | |
| Company ESU | | | 8.3(i) | |
| Company Indebtedness | | | 8.3(j) | |
| Company Intellectual Property | | | 3.19 | |
|
Definition
|
| |
Location
|
|
| Company Measurement Time | | | 3.2(a) | |
| Company Option | | | 8.3(k) | |
| Company Plan | | | 3.12(a) | |
| Company Preferred Stock | | | 3.2(a) | |
| Company PSU | | | 8.3(l) | |
| Company Related Parties | | | 7.3(c) | |
| Company RSU | | | 8.3(m) | |
| Company SEC Documents | | | 3.6(a) | |
| Company Stock Plans | | | 8.3(n) | |
| Company Termination Fee | | | 7.3(a) | |
| Company Top Customer | | | 3.28(a) | |
| Company Top Supplier | | | 3.28(a) | |
| Confidentiality Agreement | | | 5.5(b) | |
| Consent Time | | | 5.6 | |
| Consenting Stockholders | | | 8.3(q) | |
| Continuing Employee | | | 5.16(a) | |
| Contract | | | 8.3(o) | |
| control | | | 8.3(p) | |
| Credit Agreement | | | 8.3(r) | |
| Default Stock | | | 2.1(a)(iii) | |
| Delaware Secretary of State | | | 1.3 | |
| DGCL | | | Recitals | |
| Effective Time | | | 1.3 | |
| Elected Cash Consideration | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Election Deadline | | | 2.5(b) | |
| Election Form | | | 2.5(a) | |
| Election Period | | | 2.5(b) | |
| Eligible Shares | | | 2.1(a) | |
| Environmental Law | | | 3.14(e) | |
| ERISA | | | 3.12(a) | |
| ERISA Affiliate | | | 8.3(s) | |
| Excess Cash Amount | | | 2.5(e) | |
| Exchange Act | | | 3.5(b) | |
| Exchange Agent | | | 2.3(a) | |
| Exchange Fund | | | 2.3(a) | |
| Excluded Shares | | | 2.1(c) | |
| Export Approvals | | | 3.24(b)(i) | |
| FCPA | | | 3.24(a) | |
| FDI Laws | | | 8.3(t) | |
| Form S-4 | | | 5.4(a) | |
| FTC | | | 5.8(b) | |
| GAAP | | | 3.6(b) | |
| Governmental Entity | | | 3.5(b) | |
|
Definition
|
| |
Location
|
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| Hazardous Substance | | | 3.14(e) | |
| HSR Act | | | 5.8(a) | |
| Indebtedness | | | 8.3(u) | |
| Indemnified Parties | | | 5.11(a) | |
| Information Statement | | | 5.4(a) | |
| Intellectual Property | | | 3.19 | |
| Intended Tax Treatment | | | Recitals | |
| International Trade Laws | | | 3.24(b) | |
| Irish Companies Act | | | 8.3(v) | |
| IRS | | | 3.12(b) | |
| knowledge | | | 8.3(w) | |
| Law | | | 3.5(a) | |
| Lease Agreement | | | 3.18(b) | |
| Leased Real Property | | | 8.3(x) | |
| Legal Proceeding | | | 8.3(y) | |
| Liens | | | 3.2(a) | |
| Mailing Date | | | 2.5(a) | |
| Material Adverse Effect | | | 3.1(a) | |
| Material Contract | | | 3.16(a) | |
| Maximum Cash Election Amount | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Merger | | | Recitals | |
| Merger Consideration | | | 2.1(a) | |
| Merger Sub | | | Preamble | |
| Mixed Consideration | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Mixed Election Stock | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Mixed Share Consideration | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Mixed Share Consideration Exchange Ratio | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Mixed Share Consideration Value | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Nasdaq Global Select | | | 2.3(f) | |
| nonassessable | | | 8.3(z) | |
| Non-U.S. Benefit Plan | | | 3.12(d)(viii) | |
| Novation | | | 5.19 | |
| OFAC | | | 3.24(b) | |
| Outside Date | | | 7.1(b)(i) | |
| Owned Real Property | | | 8.3(aa) | |
| Parent | | | Preamble | |
| Parent Closing Price | | | 2.1(a)(ii) | |
| Parent Disclosure Letter | | | Article IV | |
| Parent Material Adverse Effect | | | 4.1 | |
| Parent Measurement Time | | | 4.2(a) | |
| Parent Ordinary Shares | | | 8.3(bb) | |
| Parent Redomestication Shareholder Approval | | | 8.3(cc) | |
| Parent Related Parties | | | 7.3(c) | |
|
Definition
|
| |
Location
|
|
| Parent SEC Documents | | | 4.5(a) | |
| Parent Termination Fee | | | 7.3(b) | |
| Payoff Amount | | | 5.18 | |
| Payoff Letter | | | 5.18 | |
| Permits | | | 3.11 | |
| Permitted Liens | | | 8.3(dd) | |
| Person | | | 8.3(ee) | |
| Personal Information | | | 8.3(ff) | |
| Privacy Laws | | | 8.3(gg) | |
| Public Official | | | 8.3(hh) | |
| Registrable Securities | | | 8.3(jj) | |
| Registration Statement 8.3 | | | (kk) | |
| Release | | | 3.14(e) | |
| Repeat Precision Note | | | 8.3(ii) | |
| Representatives | | | 5.2(a) | |
| Rewind | | | 8.3(ll) | |
| Sarbanes-Oxley Act | | | 3.6(a) | |
| SEC | | | Article III | |
| Securities Act | | | 3.5(b) | |
| Share Consideration | | | 2.1(a)(i) | |
| Share Consideration Exchange Ratio | | | 2.1(a)(i) | |
| Share Election Stock | | | 2.1(a)(i) | |
| Shares | | | 2.1(a) | |
| Specified Stockholder Claims | | | 5.17(l) | |
| Specified Stockholder Indemnified Parties | | | 5.17(l) | |
| Specified Stockholder Indemnified Party | | | 5.17(l) | |
| Specified Stockholders | | | 8.3(mm) | |
| Subsidiary | | | 8.3(nn) | |
| Superior Proposal | | | 5.2(e)(ii) | |
| Support Agreement | | | Recitals | |
| Surviving Corporation | | | 1.1 | |
| Takeover Law | | | 3.20 | |
| Tax Counsel | | | 2.5(c) | |
| Tax Return | | | 8.3(oo) | |
| Taxes | | | 8.3(pp) | |
| Tolling Period | | | 1.2 | |
| Transactions | | | 8.3(qq) | |
| Union | | | 8.3(rr) | |
| US Parent | | | 5.19 | |
| VAT | | | 8.3(ss) | |
| WARN Act | | | 3.13(d) | |
| Written Consent | | | Recitals | |
| | | | | ADVENT-NCS ACQUISITION L.P. | | |||||||||
| | | | | By: Advent-NCS GP LLC, its general partner | | |||||||||
| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ Neil Crawford
|
| ||||||
| | | | | | | | Name: | | | Neil Crawford | | | ||
| | | | | | | | Title: | | | President | | | ||
| | |
□
Check here to indicate a permanent address change.
Please provide any address correction here. Any changes require a Medallion Guarantee stamp.
|
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| | |
ELECTION
|
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| | |
MARK ONLY ONE BOX BELOW TO MAKE YOUR ELECTION
(See Instruction 8) |
| |
| | | TO ELECT TO RECEIVE ONLY WEATHERFORD ORDINARY SHARES FOR YOUR SHARES (SHARE CONSIDERATION): | | |
| | | □ Check here if you are electing to receive for each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (“NCS Common Stock”) that you own a number of ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, of Weatherford International plc (“Weatherford Ordinary Shares”) equal to 0.5537 (the “Share Consideration Exchange Ratio”), which is not subject to any cap or proration (such consideration, the “Share Consideration”). | | |
| | | TO ELECT WEATHERFORD ORDINARY SHARES & CASH FOR YOUR SHARES (MIXED CONSIDERATION): | | |
| | | □ Check here if you are electing to receive for each share of NCS Common Stock that you own a combination of (A) cash in an amount equal to the product of (x) the “Mixed Consideration Cash Exchange Ratio” of 0.1371 and (y) the closing price per Weatherford Ordinary Share on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the last complete trading day immediately preceding the closing date of the Transaction (as defined in the Instructions), subject to a maximum cash election amount as described in Instruction 10 (such consideration, the “Cash Consideration”); and (B) a number of Weatherford Ordinary Shares equal to the “Mixed Consideration Exchange Ratio” of 0.2392 (the combination of (A) and (B) collectively, the “Mixed Consideration,” and, the Mixed Consideration together with the Share Consideration, each the “Merger Consideration”). | | |
| | |
* * * * * * *
|
| |
| | | This is an election to receive either solely (i) the Share Consideration for all of your shares of NCS Common Stock or (ii) the Mixed Consideration for all of your shares of NCS Common Stock. You may elect only one form of Merger Consideration for all of the shares of NCS Common Stock that you own. The Mixed Consideration is subject to prorated replacement with the Share Consideration in the event elections to receive Mixed Consideration are oversubscribed, as described further in Instruction 10 below. | | |
| | | If you fail to properly or timely make an election, you will be deemed to have made a Share Election for all of the shares of NCS Common Stock that you own. None of NCS, Weatherford or [ ], the exchange agent, are under any obligation to notify any person of any defect in this or any other Election Form. | | |
| | | Because the Share Consideration Exchange Ratio of 0.5537 is greater than the sum of the Mixed Consideration Cash Exchange Ratio of 0.1371 and the Mixed Consideration Exchange Ratio of 0.2392, the aggregate value of the Share Consideration is generally expected to exceed the aggregate value of the Mixed Consideration. | | |
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GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(If required — See Instructions 1, 3 and 4) APPLY MEDALLION GUARANTEE STAMP BELOW |
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Signatures
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Girishchandra K. Saligram
Girishchandra K. Saligram
|
| | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | | |
July 6, 2026
|
|
| |
/s/ Anuj Dhruv
Anuj Dhruv
|
| | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | | |
July 6, 2026
|
|
| |
/s/ Desmond J. Mills
Desmond J. Mills
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | |
July 6, 2026
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/s/ Charles M. Sledge
Charles M. Sledge
|
| | Chairman of the Board and Director | | |
July 6, 2026
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/s/ Steven Beringhause
Steven Beringhause
|
| | Director | | |
July 6, 2026
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/s/ Benjamin C. Duster IV
Benjamin C. Duster IV
|
| | Director | | |
July 6, 2026
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/s/ Neal P. Goldman
Neal P. Goldman
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| | Director | | |
July 6, 2026
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/s/ Jacqueline Mutschler
Jacqueline Mutschler
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| | Director | | |
July 6, 2026
|
|
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the use of our reports dated February 4, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Weatherford International plc, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
| /s/ KPMG LLP | |
| Houston, Texas | |
| July 6, 2026 |
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our report dated March 5, 2026 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned report in this Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Houston, Texas
July 6, 2026
Exhibit 99.1
![]() |
1251
AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 6TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10020 | ||
| P 212 466-7800 | TF 800 635-6851 | |||
| Piper
Sandler & Co. Since 1885. Member SIPC and NYSE. | |||
CONSENT OF PIPER SANDLER & CO.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter, dated May 31, 2026, to the Board of Directors of NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) as an Annex to the Information Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed merger of the Company with Weatherford International plc contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and to references to such opinion and the quotation or summarization of such opinion in such Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder (the “Regulations”), nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Act or the Regulations.
| /s/ Piper Sandler & Co. | |
| New York, New York | |
| July 6, 2026 |
|
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
| Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities |
|---|
|
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Carry Forward Form Type |
Carry Forward File Number |
Carry Forward Initial Effective Date |
Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Registered Securities | |||||||||||||
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|||||
| Fees Previously Paid | |||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||
|
Total Offering Amounts: |
$
|
$
|
|||||||||||
|
Total Fees Previously Paid: |
$
|
||||||||||||
|
Total Fee Offsets: |
$
|
||||||||||||
|
Net Fee Due: |
$
|
||||||||||||
|
Offering Note |
|
1 |
|
||||||
| Amount of Securities to be Received or Cancelled | Value per Share of Securities to be Received or Cancelled | Total Value of Securities to be Received or Cancelled | Cash Consideration Received by the registrant | Cash Consideration (Paid) by the registrant | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
||||
|
|
|||||||
| Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources |
|---|
| Registrant or Filer Name | Form or Filing Type | File Number | Initial Filing Date | Filing Date | Fee Offset Claimed | Security Type Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Security Title Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Fee Paid with Fee Offset Source | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rules 457(b) and 0-11(a)(2) | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Claims | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Sources | |||||||||||||
| Rule 457(p) | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Claims | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Sources | |||||||||||||
| Table 3: Combined Prospectuses |
|---|
|
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Amount of Securities Previously Registered |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price of Securities Previously Registered |
Form Type |
File Number |
Initial Effective Date |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|