As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2021
| Registration No. 333- | ||||||||||||||
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DIAMONDBACK ENERGY, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 45-4502447 | |||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
| 500 West Texas Avenue | |||||||||||
| Suite 1200 | |||||||||||
| Midland, Texas | |||||||||||
| (432) 221-7400 | 79701 | ||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip code) | ||||||||||
The 2021 Amended and Restated Diamondback Energy, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Teresa L. Dick
Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary
515 Central Park Drive, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
(Name and address of agent for service)
(405) 463-6900
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Seth R. Molay, P.C. | John Goodgame | ||||||||||
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Fled LLP | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Fled LLP | ||||||||||
| 2300 N. Field Street, Suite 1800 | 1111 Louisiana Street, 44th Floor | ||||||||||
| Dallas, TX 75201 | Houston, TX 77002 | ||||||||||
| (214) 969-2800 | (713)220-8144 | ||||||||||
| (214) 969-4343 (facsimile) | (713) 236-0822 (facsimile) | ||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | ☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Smaller Reporting Company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| Emerging Growth Company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
| CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE | ||||||||||||||
| Title of securities to be registered | Amount to be registered | Proposed maximum offering price per unit (2) | Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2) | Amount of registration fee | ||||||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 | 3,450,000 | $92.79 | $320,125,500 | $34,925.69 | ||||||||||
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable pursuant to the adjustment provisions of the 2021 Amended and Restated Diamondback Energy, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act. The price for the 3,450,000 shares of Common Stock being registered hereby is based on a price of $92.79, which is the average of the high and low trading prices per share of Common Stock of Diamondback Energy, Inc. as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 24, 2021.
REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Diamondback Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Diamondback” or “Registrant”), relating to 3,450,000 additional shares (“Additional Securities”) of Diamondback’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable under the 2021 Amended and Restated Diamondback Energy, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, which amended and restated the Diamondback Energy, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (as so amended and restated, the “Plan”). The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 11,750,000 shares, which includes an aggregate of 8,300,000 shares of Common Stock issuable under the Diamondback Energy, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, 2016 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan and 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, previously registered under Diamondback’s Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-235671) filed on December 23, 2019, (File No. 333-215798) filed on January 27, 2017 and (File No. 333-188552) filed on May 13, 2013, respectively (the “Prior Registration Statements”).
This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same class as those to which the Prior Registration Statements relate and is submitted in accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional Securities. Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, the Prior Registration Statements are incorporated by reference and made part of this Registration Statement, except as amended hereby. The prospectus referred to in Part I of this Registration Statement is a combined prospectus for purposes of Rule 429 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and relates to this Registration Statement and the Prior Registration Statements.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Diamondback will provide all participants in the Plan with the document(s) containing information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 428 of the Securities Act, Diamondback is not filing such document(s) with the SEC, but such documents (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) shall constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents:
(a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35700), filed with the SEC on February 25, 2021;
(b) The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 from the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2021;
(c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35700), filed with the SEC on May 7, 2021; and
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(d) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35700), filed with the SEC on March 4, 2021, March 17, 2021, March 18, 2021, March 24, 2021, April 1, 2021 and June 8, 2021, and on Form 8-K/A (File No. 001-35700), filed with the SEC on March 4, 2021; and
The description of the Registrant’s securities is included as Exhibit 4.6 to this Registration Statement, which updates the description of the Registrant’s securities previously filed with the SEC as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35700), filed on February 27, 2020.
In addition, the Registrant incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the audited consolidated 2020 financial statements of QEP Resources, Inc. (“QEP”), comprised of the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements, previously filed in Item 8 of QEP’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021.
Further, the Registrant incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement certain information with respect to QEP’s oil and natural gas reserves derived from the report of Ryder Scott Company L.P., independent oil and gas reserve evaluation engineering consultants, as of December 31, 2020, which report is included as Exhibit 99.1 to QEP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021.
In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless otherwise stated therein as discussed in the following paragraph) after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference into, and a part of, this Registration Statement from the dates of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document (which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the Registrant is not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. The Registrant is not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or into this Registration Statement, unless otherwise indicated on such Form 8-K.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Limitation of Liability
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), permits a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation, to limit or eliminate, subject to certain statutory limitations, the liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, except for liability:
• for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders;
• for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
• in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases; and
• for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, Section 9.1 of Diamondback’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as further amended to the date hereof (the “certificate of incorporation”), provides that that no director shall be personally liable to Diamondback or any of its stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of the certificate of incorporation is to eliminate Diamondback’s rights and those of its stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on Diamondback’s behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate Diamondback’s rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with the certificate of incorporation, the liability of Diamondback’s directors to Diamondback or its stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by Diamondback’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits Diamondback to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.
Indemnification
Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation, under specified circumstances, to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties by reason of the fact that they were or are directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation, if such directors, officers, employees or agents acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors, officers, employees or agents are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
The certificate of incorporation provides that Diamondback will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify its current and former directors and officers, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of Diamondback, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or
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other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to the certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by Diamondback in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the Diamondback’s board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses.
The right to indemnification conferred by the certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by Diamondback the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by Diamondback’s officer or director will be made only upon delivery to Diamondback of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under the certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by the certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, the certificate of incorporation, Diamondback’s second amended and restated bylaws, as may be amended or restated from time to time (the “bylaws”), an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by Diamondback’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits Diamondback to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. The certificate of incorporation also permits Diamondback, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than those specifically covered by the certificate of incorporation.
The bylaws include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those set forth in the certificate of incorporation. In addition, the bylaws provide for a right of indemnitee to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by Diamondback within a specified period of time. The bylaws also permit Diamondback to purchase and maintain insurance, at Diamondback’s expense, to protect Diamondback and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of Diamondback or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not Diamondback would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by the Diamondback’s board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits Diamondback to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
Diamondback has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These agreements require Diamondback to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to Diamondback, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Diamondback also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and executive officers.
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Indemnification and Insurance under the Merger Agreement with QEP
Diamondback and the surviving corporation in the merger with QEP completed on March 17, 2021 (the “merger”) have agreed to, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless certain officers, directors and employees of QEP and its subsidiaries (the “indemnified persons”) against costs and liabilities (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses), arising, in whole or in part, out of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or employee of QEP or any of its subsidiaries, a fiduciary under any QEP plan or any employee benefit plan of QEP’s its subsidiaries or is or was serving at the request of QEP or any of its subsidiaries as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity or by reason of anything done or not done by such person in any such capacity, whether pertaining to any act or omission occurring or existing prior to or at, but not after, the effective time of the merger (such liabilities, the “indemnified liabilities”), including all indemnified liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, in each case to the fullest extent such person is entitled to indemnification (including an advance of expenses) by QEP as of December 20, 2020 (whether pursuant to QEP’s organizational documents, pursuant to contract or under applicable law).
Diamondback and the surviving corporation in the merger have agreed that any amendment, repeal or other modification of any provision in the organizational documents of the surviving corporation or any of its subsidiaries in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any indemnified person to indemnification, exculpation and advancement in respect of the indemnified liabilities shall not be enforceable against the indemnified persons except to the extent required by applicable law, and then only to the minimum extent required by law, shall be prospective only, shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any claim or action involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, repeal or modification, and shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the rights of indemnified persons in respect of indemnified liabilities. Diamondback has agreed to, and will cause the surviving corporation to, fulfill and honor any indemnification, expense advancement or exculpation agreements between QEP or any of its subsidiaries and any of its directors, officers, employees or agents existing and in effect prior to December 20, 2020.
Diamondback and the surviving corporation in the merger have put in place customary “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six years and in an amount and scope at least as favorable as QEP’s then existing policies with respect to matters, acts or omissions existing or occurring at or prior to, but not after, the effective time of the merger.
Other Indemnification Provisions
Diamondback may enter into an underwriting agreement in connection with a specific offering under which the underwriters will be obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify Diamondback’s directors and officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Registrant with the SEC, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description of Exhibit | ||||
| 4.1 | |||||
| 4.2 | |||||
| 4.3 | |||||
| 4.4 | |||||
| 4.5 | |||||
| 4.6* | |||||
| 4.7 | |||||
| 4.8 | |||||
| 4.9+ | |||||
| 4.10+ | |||||
| 4.11+ | |||||
| 4.12+ | |||||
| 4.13+ | |||||
| 4.14+ | |||||
| 4.15+ | |||||
| 4.16+ | |||||
| 5.1* | |||||
| 23.1* | |||||
| 23.2* | |||||
| 23.3* | |||||
| 23.4* | |||||
| 23.5* | |||||
| 23.6* | |||||
| 24.1* | |||||
*Filed herewith.
+Compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
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Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Midland, Texas on June 30, 2021.
| DIAMONDBACK ENERGY, INC. | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Teresa L. Dick | ||||||||||
| Teresa L. Dick | |||||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary | |||||||||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Travis D. Stice, Kaes Van’t Hof, Teresa L. Dick and Matthew Zmigrosky, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, from such person and in each person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC and to sign and file any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together shall constitute one instrument.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Travis D. Stice | Chief Executive Officer, Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Travis D. Stice | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ Kaes Van’t Hof | Chief Financial Officer | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Kaes Van’t Hof | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ Teresa L. Dick | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Teresa L. Dick | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ Steven E. West | Chairman of the Board (Director) | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Steven E. West | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Vincent K. Brooks | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Vincent K. Brooks | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Michael P. Cross | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Michael P. Cross | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ David L. Houston | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| David L. Houston | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Stephanie K. Mains | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Stephanie K. Mains | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Mark L. Plaumann | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Mark L. Plaumann | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Melanie M. Trent | Director | June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Melanie M. Trent | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit 4.6
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following is a summary of common stock of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”), which is the only class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The following summary is not complete. You should refer to the applicable provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment No. 1 and the Certificate of Amendment No. 2, and any subsequent amendments thereto (collectively, “our certificate of incorporation”), our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws and any subsequent amendments thereto (collectively, “our bylaws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) for a complete statement of the terms and rights of our common stock. Copies of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amendment No. 1 thereto and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws are listed as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, respectively, on the exhibit list to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2021, and Amendment No. 2 to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is listed as Exhibit 3.1 on the exhibit list to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2021.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Common Stock
Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Shares of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of the board of directors can elect all the directors to be elected at that time, and, in such event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any directors to be elected at that time. Our certificate of incorporation denies stockholders any preemptive rights to acquire or subscribe for any stock, obligation, warrant or other securities of ours. Holders of shares of our common stock have no redemption or conversion rights nor are they entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund provisions.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of shares of common stock shall be entitled to receive, pro rata, all the remaining assets of our company available for distribution to our stockholders after payment of our debts and after there shall have been paid to or set aside for the holders of capital stock ranking senior to common stock in respect of rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled.
Holders of record of shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the board of directors out of any assets legally available for such dividends, subject to both the rights of all outstanding shares of capital stock ranking senior to the common stock in respect of dividends and to any dividend restrictions contained in debt agreements. All outstanding shares of common stock and any shares sold and issued in this offering will be fully paid and nonassessable by us. As of June 30, 2021, there were 181,048,651 shares of our common stock outstanding.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The board of directors may fix for each series:
•the distinctive serial designation and number of shares of the series;
•the voting powers and the right, if any, to elect a director or directors;
•the terms of office of any directors the holders of preferred shares are entitled to elect;
•the dividend rights, if any;
•the terms of redemption, and the amount of and provisions regarding any sinking fund for the purchase or redemption thereof;
•the liquidation preferences and the amounts payable on dissolution or liquidation;
•the terms and conditions under which shares of the series may or shall be converted into any other series or class of stock or debt of the corporation; and
•any other terms or provisions which the board of directors is legally authorized to fix or alter.
We do not need stockholder approval to issue or fix the terms of the preferred stock. The actual effect of the authorization of the preferred stock upon your rights as holders of common stock is unknown until our board of directors determines the specific rights of owners of any series of preferred stock. Depending upon the rights granted to any series of preferred stock, your voting power, liquidation preference or other rights could be adversely affected. Preferred stock may be issued in acquisitions or for other corporate purposes. Issuance in connection with a stockholder rights plan or other takeover defense could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, control of our company. We currently have no outstanding preferred stock and have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Related Party Transactions and Corporate Opportunities
Subject to the limitations of applicable law, our certificate of incorporation, among other things:
•permits us to enter into transactions with entities in which one or more of our officers or directors are financially or otherwise interested so long as it has been approved by our board of directors;
•permits certain of our stockholders, officers and directors, including our non-employee directors, to conduct business that competes with us and to make investments in any kind of property in which we may make investments; and
•provides that if certain of our officers or directors, including our non-employee directors, becomes aware of a potential business opportunity, transaction or other matter (other than one expressly offered to that director or officer solely in his or her capacity as our director or officer), that director or officer will have no duty to communicate or offer that opportunity to us, and will be permitted to communicate or offer that opportunity to any other entity or individual and that director or officer will not be deemed to have (i) acted in a manner inconsistent with his or her fiduciary duty to us or our stockholders regarding the opportunity or (ii) acted in bad faith or in a manner inconsistent with our best interests.
Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws
Some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Undesignated preferred stock. The ability to authorize and issue undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to change control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in our best interest, the board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group.
Stockholder meetings. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors, assuming there are no vacancies.
Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors.
Stockholder action by written consent. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, except as may otherwise be provided with respect to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, no action that is required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at any annual or special meeting may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting of stockholders, unless the action to be effected by written consent of stockholders and the taking of such action by such written consent have expressly been approved in advance by our board. This provision, which may not be amended except by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, makes it difficult for stockholders to initiate or effect an action by written consent that is opposed by our board.
Amendment of the bylaws. Under Delaware law, the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the stockholders. A corporation may, however, in its certificate of incorporation also confer upon the board of directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal its bylaws. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws grant our board the power to adopt, amend and repeal our bylaws at any regular or special meeting of the board on the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors, assuming there are no vacancies. Our stockholders may adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws but only at any regular or special meeting of stockholders by an affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Removal of Director. Our certificate of incorporation provide that members of our board of directors may only be removed by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, in addition to any other vote that may be required by law or any preferred stock designation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to amend, alter or repeal, or adopt any provision as
part of our certificate of incorporation inconsistent with the provisions of our certificate of incorporation dealing with distributions on our common stock, related party transactions, our board of directors, our bylaws, meetings of our stockholders or amendment of our certificate of incorporation.
Additionally, an increase in the number of authorized shares of our common stock, could be used to make it more difficult to, or discourage an attempt to, obtain control of our company by means of a takeover bid that our board of directors determines is not in our best interests or the best interests of our stockholders. However, our board of directors does not intend or view the proposed increase in authorized common stock as an anti-takeover measure and did not propose the increase in response to any attempt or plan to obtain control of the company.
The provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Choice of Forum
Our certificate of incorporation provides that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders; (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us pertaining to internal affairs of our corporation. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this choice of forum provision. It is possible that a court of law could rule that the choice of forum provision contained in our certificate of incorporation is inapplicable or unenforceable if it is challenged in a proceeding or otherwise.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FANG.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.
Exhibit 5.1
June 30, 2021
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
500 West Texas, Suite 1200
Midland, Texas 79701
500 West Texas, Suite 1200
Midland, Texas 79701
Re: Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Diamondback Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Company (the “Registration Statement”), being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the proposed issuance of up to an additional 3,450,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”). The Shares were authorized for issuance under the 2021 Amended and Restated Diamondback Energy, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, which amended and restated the Company’s 2019 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (as so amended and restated, the “Plan”). The Plan was approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on April 6, 2021 and by its stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders held on June 3, 2021. This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, certified or reproduced copies. We have also assumed that (i) the certificates for the Shares will conform to the specimen thereof filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and upon issuance will have been duly countersigned by the transfer agent and duly registered by the registrar for the Common Stock or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of the Shares in uncertificated form will have been duly made in the share register of the Company, (ii) each award agreement setting forth the terms of each award granted pursuant to the Plan is consistent with the Plan and has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (iii) at the time of each issuance of Shares, there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Company’s certificate of incorporation that have not otherwise been issued or reserved or committed for issuance, and (iv) the price per share paid for Shares issued pursuant to the Plan is not less than the par value of the Shares. As to various questions of fact relevant to this letter, we have relied,
2300 N. Field Street, Suite 1800 | Dallas, Texas 75201-4675 | 214.969.2800 | fax: 214.969.4343 | akingump.com
Page 2
June 30, 2021
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
without independent investigation, upon certificates of public officials and certificates of officers of the Company, all of which we assume to be true, correct and complete.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that when the Shares have been issued and delivered upon payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time, and the applicable award agreement, the Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:
A. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
B. This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | ||||||||
| /s/ Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | ||||||||
| AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP | ||||||||
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our reports dated February 25, 2021 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of Diamondback Energy, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned reports in this Registration Statement.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 30, 2021
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 24, 2021 relating to the financial statements of QEP Resources, Inc., incorporated by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of QEP Resources, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2020.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Denver, Colorado
June 30, 2021
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
We have issued our report dated January 7, 2021 (the “Report”) on estimates of proved reserves, future production and income attributable to certain leasehold interests of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (“Diamondback”) as of December 31, 2020 included in Diamondback’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Annual Report”). As independent oil and gas consultants, we hereby consent to (i) the incorporation by reference of the Report in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Diamondback (this “Registration Statement”), (ii) the use in this Registration Statement of the information contained in the Report and in our prior reserve reports referenced in the Annual Report, which information is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, and (iii) all references to our firm in this Registration Statement.
| /s/ Ryder Scott Company, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
| RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
| TBPE Firm Registration No. F-1580 | ||||||||||||||
Houston, Texas
June 30, 2021
Exhibit 23.5
CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
We have issued our report dated January 7, 2021 (the “Report”) on estimates of proved reserves, future production and income attributable to certain royalty interests of Viper Energy Partners LP, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (“Diamondback”), as of December 31, 2020 included in Diamondback’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Diamondback Annual Report”). As independent oil and gas consultants, we hereby consent to (i) the incorporation by reference of the Report in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Diamondback (this “Registration Statement”), (ii) the use in this Registration Statement of the information contained in the Report and in our prior reserve reports referenced in the Diamondback Annual Report, which information is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, and (iii) all references to our firm in this Registration Statement.
| /s/ Ryder Scott Company, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
| RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
| TBPE Firm Registration No. F-1580 | ||||||||||||||
Houston, Texas
June 30, 2021
Exhibit 23.6
CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Diamondback Energy, Inc. of our appraisal report relating to the proved gas and oil reserves of QEP Energy Company included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of QEP Resources, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
| /s/ Ryder Scott Company, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
| RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. | ||||||||||||||
Denver, Colorado
June 30, 2021
