Form S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2023

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Nevada   85-0302351

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

410 North 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

(602) 685-4000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Brian S. Gillman

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 North 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

(602) 685-4000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Gregory R. Hall

DLA Piper LLP (US)

2525 E. Camelback Road, Suite 1000

Phoenix, Arizona 85016-4232

Tel: (480) 606-5100

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

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 (Check one):

 

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.  ☒

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholder may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 

Preliminary Prospectus

Subject to Completion Dated March 10, 2023

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

LOGO

4,042,061 Shares of Common Stock

 

 

This prospectus relates to the proposed resale, from time to time, by the selling stockholder named in this prospectus, of up to 4,042,061 shares our common stock, no par value (“common stock”). We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to the sale of the shares of common stock. We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock.

We are registering the common stock for resale pursuant to the selling stockholder’s registration rights under certain agreements between us and the selling stockholder. Our registration of the common stock covered by this prospectus does not mean that the selling stockholder will offer or sell any of the shares of common stock. The common stock may be sold by the selling stockholder to or through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. For additional information regarding the methods of sale you should refer to the section of this prospectus entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page 12.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock and the general manner in which the selling stockholder may offer or sell the common stock. More specific terms of any common stock the selling stockholder may offer or sell may be provided in a prospectus supplement that describes, among other things, the specific amounts and prices of the common stock being offered and the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or amendment carefully before you invest in our common stock.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MESA.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 9, 2023 was $3.58 per share.

We are an “emerging growth company” under federal securities laws and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

Investing in the securities described in this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully read and consider “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus as well as the risk factors contained in documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before investing in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                 , 2023.

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     2  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     3  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     5  

RISK FACTORS

     7  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     8  

SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

     11  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     12  

LEGAL MATTERS

     14  

EXPERTS

     14  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling stockholder may, from time to time, sell the common stock in one or more offerings or resales.

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC, to the extent incorporated by reference, will automatically update and supersede this information. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” set forth below. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information about our company described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Neither we nor any agent or selling stockholder has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before you decide to invest in our securities.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made using this prospectus implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus prepared by us is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” or “registrant” refer to Mesa Air Group, Inc. and includes its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated or indicated by context, the phrase “this prospectus” refers to the prospectus.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance with these requirements, we are required to file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains our filed reports, proxy and information statements, and other information we file electronically with the SEC.

Additionally, we make our SEC filings available on our website at http://investor.mesa-air.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The information on our website, other than the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus, is not incorporated by reference into this document, and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to the Securities.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and their amendments, except information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, which is neither deemed filed nor incorporated by reference herein and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until this offering is completed:

 

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2022;

 

 

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2022;

 

 

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 29, 2022, January 20, 2023, and February 24, 2023;

 

 

The information from our definitive proxy statement filed on January  11, 2023, specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022; and

 

 

The description of our capital stock in our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 9, 2018, and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, or (ii) after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, other than exhibits to such documents that are not specifically incorporated by reference therein. You should direct any requests for documents to us at the following address or telephone number:

Investor Relations

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 North 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

Telephone: (602) 685-4000

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document which we incorporate by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on its cover.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. All statements contained herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our business strategy and plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “future,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “can,” “may,” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2022 under the heading “Risk Factors” which are incorporated herein by reference. All information presented herein is based on our fiscal calendar. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, months or periods refer to our fiscal years ended September 30 and the associated quarters, months, and periods of those fiscal years. Each of the terms the “Company,” “Mesa Airlines,” “we,” “us” and “our” as used herein refers collectively to Mesa Air Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. We cannot assure you that forward-looking statements in this prospectus or the documents incorporated herein will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us to any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

The cautionary statements made in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein are intended to be applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they may appear in this prospectus. We urge you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, especially the risks of investing in our securities discussed under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus beginning on page 7 and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as they may be amended, and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors discussed in the documents incorporated by reference herein. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 2 and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 3 of this prospectus for a further discussion on incorporation by reference.

Our Business

Mesa Air Group, Inc. is the holding company of Mesa Airlines, Inc., a regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service to 106 cities in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico as well as cargo services out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. All of our flights are operated as either American Eagle, United Express, or DHL Express flights pursuant to the terms of capacity purchase agreements (“CPAs”) entered into with American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) and United Airlines, Inc. (“United”), and a Flight Services Agreement (“FSA”) with DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. (“DHL”) (each, our “major partner). We have a significant presence in several of our major partners’ key domestic hubs and focus cities, including Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Washington-Dulles. Our principal executive offices are located at 410 North 44th Street, Suite 700, Phoenix, Arizona 85008 and our phone number is (602) 685-4000.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of relief from certain reporting requirements and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

   

reduced obligations with respect to financial data, including presenting only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of selected financial data;

 

   

an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022 under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, proxy statements, and registration statements; and

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

We may take advantage of this relief until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company or, with respect to adoption of certain new or revised accounting standards, until we irrevocably elect to opt out of using the extended transition period. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of March 31 of that fiscal year, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the previous three years; and (iv) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of common stock in our initial public offering. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced reporting burdens.

 

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The Offering

 

Issuer

 

Shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholder

  

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

 

4,042,061 shares of common stock

Common stock outstanding as of March 5, 2023    40,583,176 shares.
Market for common stock    Our common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “MESA.” On March 9, 2023 the last reported sale price of our common stock was $3.58.
Use of Proceeds    We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock covered by this prospectus. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Risk Factors    An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider all of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and, in particular, you should evaluate the risk factors identified in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in the common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” The risks and uncertainties described in the documents we incorporate by reference are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks or uncertainties actually occur, they could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects, which in turn could materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock and might cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We are registering the common stock on behalf of the selling stockholder, to be offered and sold by them from time to time. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the selling stockholder in the offering described in this prospectus.

We have agreed to bear all of the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the common stock being sold by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder will pay or assume discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers or dealer managers and similar expenses, if any, incurred for the sale of the common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Authorized Shares of Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 125,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. As of March 5, 2023, there were 40,583,176 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. The outstanding shares of our common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Listing

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MESA.”

Voting Rights

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders, including the election of directors, subject to any exclusive voting or director designation rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future. The rights, preferences and privileges that may be granted to holders of our preferred stock, were we to issue such preferred stock, could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. Our issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company or other corporate action. We have no present plan to issue any such shares of preferred stock, although our board of directors (the “Board”) has the authority to do so without any action by our shareholders, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred stock. Our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Notwithstanding the forgoing, we have additionally granted United, for so long as United holds at least 5% of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock, the right to appoint one director, subject to the reasonable approval of the Board.

Dividend Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board out of legally available funds, subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock and limitations under the RASPRO Trust 2006 and Treasury Loan (each as defined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022) and the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”).

Rights upon Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to the net assets legally available for distribution to shareholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then-outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Other Rights and Preferences

Our common stock has no sinking fund, redemption provisions, or preemptive, conversion, subscription or exchange rights. Holders of our common stock entitled to vote on a matter, other than with respect to the election of directors, may only take action at special or annual meetings of the shareholders where the number of votes cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the action, unless voting by classes or series is required for any action of the shareholders by the NRS, our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (our “Articles”) or our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (our “Bylaws”), in which case the number of votes cast in favor of the action by the voting power of each such class

 

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or series must exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the action by the voting power of each such class or series. Shareholders entitled to vote on the election of directors at a special or annual meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is present may elect directors by a plurality of the votes cast. We reserve the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in our Articles, with the exception of Article 11, in the manner, and subject to approval by shareholders as now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon holders of our common stock are granted subject to this reservation.

Further, pursuant to our Bylaws, until the earlier of (a) January 1, 2026, or (b) our entry into a definitive binding agreement for the performance of regional airline services with a major air carrier other than United, the Board is restricted from making, or making any recommendation to our stockholders with respect to several actions, including, but not limited to the following:

 

   

merging or consolidating any of our subsidiaries with or into any other entity, or sell, transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

   

entering into a purchase transaction that would result in our cash balance falling below a certain threshold;

 

   

entering into new lines of business, provided that this restriction would not apply from and after the first point in time, if any, after the satisfaction of the Performance Milestone (as defined in our capacity purchase agreement with United); or

 

   

amend or modify our Bylaws or Articles in a way that would alter, amend, or repeal any of the foregoing.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

ComputerShare is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and its telephone number is (212) 805-7100.

Certain Transfer Restrictions

Our Articles impose limits on certain transfers of our stock, which limits are intended to preserve our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards. Specifically, our Articles prohibit the transfer of any shares of our capital stock that would result in (i) any person or entity owning 4.75% or more of our then-outstanding capital stock, or (ii) an increase in the percentage ownership of any person or entity owning 4.75% or more of our then-outstanding capital stock. These transfer restrictions expire upon the earliest of (i) the repeal of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute if our Board determines that such restrictions are no longer necessary to preserve our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards, (ii) the beginning of a fiscal year to which our Board determines that no net operating losses may be carried forward, or (iii) such other date as determined by our Board. These transfer restrictions apply to the beneficial owner of the shares of our capital stock. The clients of an investment advisor are treated as the beneficial owners of stock for this purpose if the clients have the right to receive dividends, if any, the power to acquire or dispose of the shares of our capital stock, and the right to proceeds from the sale of our capital stock. Certain transactions approved by our Board, such as mergers and consolidations meeting certain requirements set forth in our Articles, are exempt from the above-described transfer restrictions. Our Board also has the ability to grant waivers, in its discretion, with respect to transfers of our stock that would otherwise be prohibited. Our Board has agreed to waive the above-referenced restrictions in our Articles to those persons or entities that acquire shares of our common stock in excess of the 4.75% threshold in this offering. Any transfer of common stock in violation of these restrictions will be void and will be treated as if such transfer never occurred.

Limited Ownership and Voting by Foreign Owners

To comply with restrictions imposed by federal law on foreign ownership of U.S. airlines, our Articles restrict the ownership and voting of shares of our common stock by people and entities who are not “citizens of the United States” as that term is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 40102(a). That statute defines “citizen of the United States” as, among other things, a U.S. corporation, of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors and other managing officers are individuals who are citizens of the United States, which is under the actual control of citizens of the United States and in which at least 75% of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons who are citizens of the United States. Our Articles prohibit any non-U.S. citizen from owning or controlling more than 24.9% of the aggregate votes of all outstanding shares of our common stock or 49.0% of the total number of outstanding shares of our capital stock. The restrictions imposed by the above-described ownership caps are applied to each non-U.S. citizen in reverse chronological order based on the date of registration on our foreign stock record. At no time may shares of our capital stock held by non-U.S. citizens be voted unless such shares are reflected on the foreign stock record. The voting rights of non-U.S. citizens having voting control over any shares of our capital stock are subject to automatic suspension to the extent required to ensure that we are in compliance with applicable law. In the event any transfer or issuance of shares of our capital stock to a non-U.S. citizen would result in non-U.S. citizens owning more than the above-described cap amounts, such transfer or issuance will be void and of no effect.

 

 

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Anti-Takeover Provisions of Our Articles, Our Bylaws and the NRS

Certain provisions of the NRS deter hostile takeovers. Specifically, NRS 78.411 through 78.444 prohibit a publicly held Nevada corporation from engaging in a “combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of two years following the date the person first became an interested shareholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the “combination” or the transaction by which the person became an interested shareholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, beneficially owns or within two years prior to becoming an “interested shareholder” did own, 10% or more of a corporation’s voting power. Our Articles exclude us from the restrictions imposed by these statutes.

Nevada’s “acquisition of controlling interest” statutes, NRS 78.378 through 78.3793, contain provisions governing the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations. These “control share” laws provide generally that any person that acquires a “controlling interest” in certain Nevada corporations may be denied voting rights, unless a majority of the disinterested stockholders of the corporation elects to restore such voting rights. These statutes provide that a person acquires a “controlling interest” whenever a person acquires shares of a subject corporation that, but for the application of these provisions of the NRS, would enable that person to exercise (1) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third, (2) one-third or more, but less than a majority or (3) a majority or more, of all of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer crosses one of these thresholds, shares that it acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired or offered to acquire a controlling interest become “control shares” to which the voting restrictions described above apply. Our Articles provide that these statutes do not apply to us or to any acquisition of our common stock.

Section 78.139 of the NRS, to which we are subject, provides that directors may resist a change or potential change in control if the directors, by majority vote of a quorum, determine that the change is opposed to, or not in, the best interests of the corporation.

In order to ensure that our capacity purchase agreements are not subject to early termination, our Articles prohibit the sale, transfer or assignment of our capital stock to the extent that such transfer would result in a change of control. Our Articles also grant our Board the ability to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock), to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of each such series, and to authorize the issuance of shares of any such series, making it possible for our Board to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of the Company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of the Company.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDER

On December 27, 2022, in connection with the entry into the Third Amended and Restated Capacity Purchase Agreement with United (the “United CPA”), we agreed to issue to United shares of our common stock equal to approximately (and slightly less than) 10.0% of our issued and outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis pursuant to an equity purchase agreement and grant United customary demand registration rights with respect to those shares, subject to usual and customary exceptions and limitations, pursuant to a registration rights agreement.

On January 13, 2023, we issued 4,042,061 shares of common stock to United in consideration for the financial accommodations and other consideration provided under the terms of the United CPA and on March 6, 2023, we entered into a subscription agreement with United (the “Subscription Agreement”) to memorialize the terms and conditions of such issuance. Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, we granted United preemptive rights to purchase its pro rata portion of any equity securities that we may propose to issue or sell to any person in the future. On March 6, 2023, we additionally entered into a registration rights agreement, as contemplated by the United CPA, and agreed to prepare and file a registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, with the SEC to register the resale of the common stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.

The table below sets forth information as of March 5, 2023, with respect to the selling stockholder for whom we are registering common stock for sale to the public, the number of shares of common stock owned by the selling stockholder prior to this offering, the percentage of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder prior to this offering, the number of shares of our common stock owned by the selling stockholder upon completion of this offering, assuming all such shares are sold, and the percentage of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder after this offering, assuming all such shares are sold.

In the table below, the number of shares of common stock that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus is the number of shares of common stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. This prospectus also covers any additional shares of our common stock that may be issued by reason of a stock dividend, stock split or other similar transaction effected without our receiving any cash or other value, which results in an increase in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

As used in this prospectus, the term “selling stockholder” includes the selling stockholder listed below, and any donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest selling the common stock after the date of this prospectus from the selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, or other non-sale related transfer. The number of shares in the column “Shares Offered for Resale” represents all of the shares of common stock that the selling stockholder may offer under this prospectus. The selling stockholder may sell some, all or none of its shares of common stock. The selling stockholder may sell or transfer all or a portion of its common stock pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We do not know how long the selling stockholder will hold the shares of common stock before selling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or other understandings with the selling stockholder regarding the sale of any of the shares of common stock.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. The percentage of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering is based on 40,583,176 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 5, 2023.

 

     Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to
Resale
    Shares
Offered for
Resale
     Shares
Beneficially
Owned After
Resale
 

Selling stockholder

   Number      %      Number      %  

United Airlines, Inc.(1)

     4,042,061        9.96     4,042,061        0        0

 

(1)

The business address of United Airlines, Inc. is 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., as the holding company of United Airlines, Inc., may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by United Airlines, Inc.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the common stock to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the selling stockholder and holders of the common stock from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholder of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.

The selling stockholder, which as used herein includes any of its pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and successors, may from time to time offer and sell some or all of the common stock covered by this prospectus. To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended and supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

The selling stockholder may offer the common stock from time to time, either in increments or in a single transaction. The selling stockholder may also decide not to sell all the common stock it is allowed to sell under this prospectus. The selling stockholder will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale.

The selling stockholder and any of its pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which our common stock is traded or quoted, in the over-the-counter market or in private transactions. These sales may be at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at fixed prices or negotiated prices. The selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling the common stock:

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

   

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

to cover short sales made after the date that this registration statement becomes effective;

 

   

an agreement with broker-dealers to sell as agent for the selling stockholders a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share or otherwise at the prevailing market price;

 

   

through put or call options, including the writing of exchange-traded call options, or other hedging transactions related to ordinary shares;

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The selling stockholder may also sell its shares of our common stock under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholder may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of common stock, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440-1.

In connection with the sale of common stock covered hereby, the selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholder may also sell common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these shares. The selling stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of common stock offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus.

 

 

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The selling stockholder and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the Securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. We are requesting that the selling stockholder inform us that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute common stock. We will pay certain fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the common stock.

Because the selling stockholder may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, it may be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 172 thereunder.

We intend to keep this prospectus effective until the earliest of the date on which all of the common stock registered hereby (i) have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) has been disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 or any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as a result of which the transferee of such common stock does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (iii) shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv) such shares are freely tradeable by the holder thereof without volume, manner of sale or other limitations or requirements under Rule 144 (including the current public information requirement of Rule 144(e)) and such holder and its affiliates collectively hold less than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the selling stockholder or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholder and are informing the selling stockholder of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US).

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Mesa Air Group, Inc. appearing in Mesa Air Group, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14.

OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the Securities being registered hereby, all of which will be borne by the Company (other than any underwriting discounts, commissions and transfer taxes, which will be borne by the selling stockholders). Other than the SEC registration fee, all of the amounts listed are estimates.

All of the amounts shown are estimates.

 

Registration Fee

   $ 1,579.07  

Accountants’ Fees

     7,500.00 (1) 

Legal Fees and Expenses

     30,000.00 (1) 
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 39,079.07  
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Estimated. Actual amounts to be determined from time to time.

 

ITEM 15.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Nevada law provides that our directors and officers will not be individually liable to us, our shareholders or our creditors for any damages for any act or omission of a director or officer other than in circumstances where the presumption that the director or officer acted in good faith and with a view to the interests of the Registrant has been rebutted, and it is proven that the director or officer breaches his or her fiduciary duty to us or our shareholders and such breach involves intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.

Nevada law also allows a corporation to indemnify officers and directors for actions for which a director or officer either would not be liable pursuant to the limitation of liability provisions of Nevada law or where he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests, and, in the case of an action not by or in the right of the Registrant and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. We have entered into, and expect to continue to enter into, agreements to indemnify our directors as determined by our Board of Directors. We have entered into, and in the future may enter into, indemnification agreements with each of our directors that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions under Nevada law. In addition, as permitted by Nevada law, our second amended and restated articles of incorporation include provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages resulting from certain breaches of fiduciary duties as a director or officer. The effect of these provisions is to restrict our rights and the rights of our shareholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except that a director will be personally liable for acts or omissions not in good faith or in a manner which he or she did not reasonably believe to be in or not opposed to our best interest if, subject to certain exceptions, the act or failure to act constituted a breach of fiduciary duty and such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violations of law. We are also authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance to protect our directors, officers, employees and agents against certain liabilities.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and indemnification agreements may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors or officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our shareholders. A shareholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. However, these provisions do not limit or eliminate our rights, or those of any shareholder, to seek non-monetary relief such as injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s or officer’s fiduciary duties. Moreover, the provisions do not alter the liability of directors under federal securities laws. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

 

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ITEM 16.

EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Exhibit Description

   Incorporated By Reference      Filed
Herewith
 
   Form      Date      Number  
3.1    Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant      8-K        08/14/18        3.1     
3.2    Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant       8-K        12/10/20        3.1     
3.3    Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, effective as of January 13, 2023      8-K        01/20/23        3.2     
4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate      S-1/A        08/06/18        4.1     
4.2    Subscription Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2023, by and between the Registrant and United Airlines, Inc.               X  
4.3    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2023, by and between the Registrant and United Airlines, Inc.               X  
5.1    Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)               X  
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP – Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm               X  
23.2    Consent DLA Piper LLP (US) (contained in Exhibit 5.1).               X  
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page)               X  
107    Filing Fee Table               X  

 

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ITEM 17.

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 this 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 this 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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% 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 this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) 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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of 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.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(b) The undersigned 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 of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment

 

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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 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 of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Phoenix, Arizona, on the 10th day of March, 2023.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
By  

/s/ Jonathan G. Ornstein

  Jonathan G. Ornstein
 

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jonathan G. Ornstein and Michael J. Lotz as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, and full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Jonathan G. Ornstein

Jonathan G. Ornstein

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 10, 2023

/s/ Torque Zubeck

Torque Zubeck

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

  March 10, 2023

/s/ Ellen N. Artist

Ellen N. Artist

   Director   March 10, 2023

/s/ Mitchell Gordon

Mitchell Gordon

   Director   March 10, 2023

/s/ Dana J. Lockhart

Dana J. Lockhart

   Director   March 10, 2023

/s/ Harvey W. Schiller

Harvey W. Schiller

   Director   March 10, 2023

/s/ Spyridon Skiados

Spyridon Skiados

   Director   March 10, 2023

/s/ Daniel McHugh

Daniel McHugh

   Director   March 10, 2023

 

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EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on March 6, 2023, by and between Mesa Air Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Issuer”), and United Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Subscriber”).

WHEREAS, on December 27, 2022, Issuer, Mesa Airlines, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and United entered into that certain Third Amended and Restated Capacity Purchase Agreement (“A&R CPA”), pursuant to which, among other matters, as part of the consideration of, and as a material inducement to United to execute and deliver the A&R CPA, Issuer agreed to issue to United 10.0% of the total shares outstanding, calculated on a fully diluted basis immediately after such issuance, of the Issuer’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), as contemplated by and in the terms set forth in Exhibit R to the A&R CPA;

WHEREAS, on January 13, 2023 (the “Issuance Date”), the Issuer issued to Subscriber 4,042,061 shares (the “Acquired Shares”) equal to approximately (and slightly less than) 10.0% of the Issuer’s total shares outstanding and the parties desire to memorialize the terms and conditions of the issuance of the Acquired Shares;

WHEREAS, the Issuer and Subscriber are executing and delivering this Subscription Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

NOW, THEREFORE, for good, valid and sufficient consideration, the receipt, validity and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, and in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Subscriber hereby agrees to subscribe for the Acquired Shares (such subscription and the related issuance, the “Subscription”), effective upon the Issuance Date.

 

  2.

Issuance.

 

  (a)

The Issuer represents and warrants that, on the Issuance Date, the Issuer delivered to Subscriber (1) the Acquired Shares in book entry form, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws or imposed by Subscriber), in the name of Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable, and (2) a copy of the records of the transfer agent of the Issuer (the “Transfer Agent”) showing Subscriber as the owner of the Acquired Shares on and as of the Issuance Date (the “Subscribers Deliveries”).

 

  (b)

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Subscription Agreement, Subscriber and the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to reasonably assist and cooperate with the other party hereto in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable legal requirements to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.


3. Issuer Representations and Warranties. The Issuer represents and warrants to Subscriber as of the Issuance Date and as of the date of this Agreement that:

 

  (a)

The Issuer and each of its subsidiaries is duly incorporated or formed (as applicable), validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation (as applicable), with all corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and, with respect to the Issuer, to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement. Except where such noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to constitute an Issuer Material Adverse Effect, the Issuer and each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and, to the extent applicable, in good standing, in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business required such qualification. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, an “Issuer Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to the Issuer and its subsidiaries and affiliates, taken together as a whole (on a consolidated basis), that, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken together as a whole (on a consolidated basis) or the Issuer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

  (b)

The Acquired Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable and free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other restrictions (except as otherwise stated herein) and have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Issuer’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws (each, as amended) or under the laws of the State of Nevada or otherwise.

 

  (c)

This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming that this Subscription Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Subscriber, this Subscription Agreement is enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

  (d)

The execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares by the Issuer, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) is a party or by which the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) is subject; (ii) the organizational documents of the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates); or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its properties, which would reasonably be expected to have an Issuer Material Adverse Effect.

 

2


  (e)

The Issuer is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Issuer, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, guarantee, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which, as of the date of this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) is a party or by which the properties or assets of the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) are bound or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Issuer Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (f)

The Issuer is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Acquired Shares), other than, as applicable, (i) the filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (as defined below); (ii) filings required by applicable state securities laws; (iii) those required by Nasdaq; (iv) any filing, the failure of which to obtain would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Issuer Material Adverse Effect and (v) the filing of a Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities Act.

 

  (g)

Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber as set forth in Section 4 of this Subscription Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares by the Issuer to Subscriber in the manner contemplated by this Subscription Agreement. The Acquired Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

 

  (h)

The board of directors of the Issuer has taken all necessary action, and will in the future take any necessary action, to ensure that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will be exempt from any anti-takeover or similar provisions of the Issuer’s organizational documents, and any other provisions of any applicable “moratorium”, “control share”, “fair price”, “interested stockholder” or other anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction, whether existing on the date hereof or implemented after the date hereof. The Issuer has taken all actions necessary, and will in the future take any necessary action, to render any stockholders’ rights plan of the Issuer inapplicable to this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

  (i)

Except for such matters as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Issuer Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) investigation, action, suit, claim or other proceeding, in each case by or before any governmental authority pending, or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened against the Issuer, or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental authority outstanding against the Issuer.

 

3


  (j)

The Issuer has not paid, and is not obligated to pay, any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with its issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

  (k)

The Issuer is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Acquired Shares, will not be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled by an investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  (l)

As of their respective filing dates, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, which shall be deemed to supersede such original filing, all reports required to be filed by the Issuer with the Commission (the “SEC Reports”) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, which shall be deemed to supersede such original filing, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date thereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received by the Issuer from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission with respect to any of the SEC Reports. The financial statements of the Issuer and its subsidiaries included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, which shall be deemed to supersede such original filing, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Issuer as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments. The Issuer has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Issuer, including its subsidiaries, that is required to be disclosed by the Issuer in the reports that it furnishes or files under the Exchange Act is reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission and that such material information is communicated to the Issuer’s management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

  (m)

As of the date hereof, the authorized share capital of the Issuer consists of 125,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 preferred shares, no par value per share (“Preferred Shares”). As of the date hereof: (i) 36,378,550 shares of Common Stock and no Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding (excluding the Acquired Shares); (ii) 4,899,497 warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $3.98 per share, were issued and outstanding (the “Warrants”); (iii) no Common Stock was subject to issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and (iv) all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights and all outstanding Warrants have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are not subject to and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights.

 

4


  (n)

The Issuer does not have any subsidiaries other than the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Issuer’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission on December 29, 2022. Except as described in the SEC Reports, the Issuer, directly or indirectly, owns of record and beneficially, free and clear of all liens, all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities (as defined below) of each of its subsidiaries.

 

  (o)

Neither the Issuer nor any Person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

  (p)

The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. The Issuer has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act.

 

  (q)

The Issuer represents and warrants that none of its officers or directors is (i) a Person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, the Executive Order 13599 List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, or the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, each of which is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or any individual European Union member state, or the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Sanctions Lists”), (ii) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a Person, that is named on a Sanctions List, (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank. The Issuer agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law, provided that the Issuer is permitted to do so under applicable law. The Issuer also represents that, to the extent required under applicable law, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with OFAC-administered sanctions programs, including for the screening of its investors against the Sanctions Lists.

 

  (r)

None of the Issuer, its subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Acquired Shares under the Securities Act, whether through integration with prior offerings pursuant to Rule 502(a) of the Securities Act or otherwise.

 

  (s)

Except where such non-compliance, default or violation could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Issuer Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Issuer is in compliance with all applicable laws, including without limitation, Requirements of Environmental Law (as herein defined), Anti-Corruption Laws (as herein defined), all applicable laws relating to U.S. federal and state taxes and Non U.S. taxes, all applicable laws relating to labor and employment, fair employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, and wages and hours, and with the terms of all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, that are maintained or sponsored by the Issuer or its subsidiaries for the benefit of their

 

5


  respective current or former employees and with respect to which the Issuer or its subsidiaries have any liability, and (ii) has not received within the past three years any written communication from a governmental entity that alleges that the Issuer is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement “Anti-Corruption Laws” means any applicable laws in any jurisdiction relating to corruption and bribery, including the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and any similar law that prohibits bribery or corruption and “Requirements of Environmental Law” means all requirements imposed by any law rule, regulation, or order of any governmental authority which relate to (i) the environment, (ii) the preservation or reclamation of natural resources or (iii) the generation, management, recycling, reclamation, release, threatened release, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation of any waste, substance, product or material defined or regulated as “hazardous” or “toxic” by any applicable law, rule, regulation or order, including petroleum and any fraction thereof, and any radioactive materials and waste..

4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants to the Issuer as of the Issuance Date and as of the date of this Agreement that:

 

  (a)

Subscriber has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (b)

This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Subscriber and, assuming that this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, this Subscription Agreement is the valid and binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

  (c)

The execution, delivery and performance by Subscriber of this Subscription Agreement, including the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action. Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber shall be responsible for any of Subscriber’s tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, and that neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates, have provided any tax advice or any other representation or guarantee, whether written or oral, regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (d)

The execution, delivery and performance by Subscriber of this Subscription Agreement, including the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject; (ii) Subscriber’s organizational documents or under any law, rule, regulation, agreement or other obligation by which Subscriber is bound; and (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of their respective properties, that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Subscriber to enter into and timely perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement (a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect”).

 

6


  (e)

Subscriber (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Schedule A, (ii) is acquiring the Acquired Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” or an “accredited investor” and is subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” or an “accredited investor” and Subscriber has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (iii) is not acquiring the Acquired Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any other securities laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction (and shall provide the requested information on Schedule A following the signature page hereto). Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Acquired Shares, unless such newly formed entity is an entity in which all of the equity owners are “accredited investors” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act).

 

  (f)

Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Acquired Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction. Subscriber understands that it is acquiring its entire beneficial ownership interest in the Acquired Shares for Subscriber’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any distribution of the Acquired Shares in any manner that would violate the securities laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction. Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares may not be resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) pursuant to offers and sales that occur in an “offshore transaction” within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), provided that all of the applicable conditions thereof (including those set out in Rule 144(i) which are applicable to the Issuer) have been met, or (iv) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including pursuant to a private sale effected under Section 4(a)(7) of the Securities Act or applicable formal or informal Commission interpretation or guidance, such as a so-called “4(a)(112)” sale, and that any certificates or book-entry records representing the Acquired Shares shall contain a legend to such effect. Subscriber understands and agrees that the Acquired Shares will be subject to the foregoing restrictions and, as a result, Subscriber may not be able to readily resell the Acquired Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Acquired Shares for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Acquired Shares. By making the representations herein, Subscriber does not agree to hold any of the Acquired Shares for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Acquired Shares at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the Securities Act.

 

7


  (g)

Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the book-entry position representing the Acquired Shares will bear or reflect, as applicable, a legend substantially similar to the following:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, RESOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT EXCEPT (I) TO THE ISSUER OR A SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (II) TO NON-U.S. PERSONS PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RSTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORTION OF MESA AIR GROUP, INC., OR (III) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, AND IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE APPLICABLE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.”

 

  (h)

Subscriber understands and agrees that Subscriber is purchasing the Acquired Shares directly from the Issuer. Subscriber further acknowledges that there have been no, and in purchasing the Acquired Shares, Subscriber is not relying on any, representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made to Subscriber by the Issuer, its subsidiaries or any of their affiliates or any control Persons, officers, directors, partners, agents or representatives, or any other Person, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements expressly stated in Section 3 of this Subscription Agreement and Section 9.1 of the A&R CPA.

 

  (i)

To the extent applicable to it, Subscriber represents and warrants that its acquisition and holding of the Acquired Shares will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of ERISA, section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any applicable similar law.

 

  (j)

In making its decision to purchase the Acquired Shares, Subscriber represents that it has conducted and completed its own independent due diligence, to the extent deemed appropriate by Subscriber, and has independently made its own analysis and decision with respect to the Subscription. Subscriber further represents that, except for the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by the Issuer herein, it is relying exclusively on its own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence, to the extent deemed appropriate by Subscriber (including professional advice Subscriber deems appropriate) with respect to the Subscription, the Acquired Shares and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of the Issuer, including but not limited to all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it has received,

 

8


  reviewed and understood the offering materials made available to it in connection with the Subscription and such other information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares. Subscriber represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information from the Issuer directly as Subscriber and such Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares. However, neither any such inquiries, nor any due diligence investigation conducted by Subscriber or any of Subscriber’s professional advisors nor anything else contained herein, shall modify, limit or otherwise affect Subscriber’s right to rely on the Issuer’s representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (k)

Subscriber acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any Person (including, without limitation, the Issuer or any of its affiliates or any control Persons, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing), other than the representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in Section 3 of this Subscription Agreement and Section 9.1 of the A&R CPA, in making its investment or decision to invest in the Issuer.

 

  (l)

Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer, and the Acquired Shares were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares, nor were the Acquired Shares offered to Subscriber, by any other means.

 

  (m)

Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Acquired Shares. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial, business and private equity matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment, both in general and with regard to transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, including Subscriber’s investment in the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.

 

  (n)

Subscriber represents and acknowledges that, alone, or together with any professional advisor(s), Subscriber has analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Acquired Shares and determined that the Acquired Shares are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in the Issuer. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.

 

  (o)

Subscriber understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Acquired Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.

 

  5.

Preemptive Rights.

 

  (a)

To the extent permitted under Nasdaq rules, the Issuer hereby grants to Subscriber the right to purchase its Pro Rata Portion of any Equity Securities (other than any Excluded Securities) that the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries) may from time to time propose to issue or sell to any Person. To the extent stockholder approval is required under the Nasdaq rules

 

9


  for the issuance or sale of Equity Securities as provided in this Section 5 the Issuer may issue or sell Equity Securities to such other Persons prior to obtaining such stockholder approval; provided that the Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such approval; and provided further that, after receipt of such stockholder approval, the Issuer shall issue or sell the Equity Securities (if any) that Subscriber has irrevocably elected to purchase to Subscriber, on the terms set forth in the relevant Issuance Notice. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, (A) “Equity Securities” means (i) any common stock issued by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any preferred stock of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, and (iii) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or options, warrants or other rights to acquire, common or preferred stock issued by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (B) “Excluded Securities” means Equity Securities issued in connection with: (i) a grant to any existing or prospective consultants, employees, officers or directors pursuant to any stock option, employee stock purchase or similar equity-based plans or other compensation agreement; (ii) any acquisition by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of the stock, assets, properties or business of any Person; (iii) a stock split, stock dividend or any similar recapitalization; or (iv) any issuance of warrants or other similar rights to purchase Issuer Common Stock to lenders or other institutional investors in any arm’s length transaction providing debt financing to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, and (C) “Pro Rata Portion” means, with respect to Subscriber, on any issuance date for Equity Securities, the number of Equity Securities equal to the product of (i) the total number of Equity Securities to be issued by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries on such date and (ii) the fraction determined by dividing (x) the number of shares of Common Stock of the Issuer owned by Subscriber immediately prior to such issuance by (y) the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding on such date immediately prior to such issuance.

 

  (b)

The Issuer shall give written notice (an “Issuance Notice”) of any proposed issuance or sale described in Section 5(a) to Subscriber within five (5) business days following any meeting of the Issuer’s Board of Directors (or similar governing body of the applicable subsidiary) at which any such issuance or sale is approved or, if the approval of the Issuer’s Board of Directors (or similar governing body of the applicable subsidiary) is not required in connection with such issuance or sale, no less than ten (10) business days prior to the date of the proposed issuance or sale. The Issuance Notice shall, if applicable, be accompanied by a written offer from any prospective purchaser seeking to purchase Equity Securities (subject to any obligations of confidentiality with such prospective purchaser that would prevent disclosure of such written offer; provided that the Issuer shall provide to United a redacted copy of such offer to the extent permissible under the terms of such confidentiality agreement and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek a waiver and consent from the applicable person to share such offer with United) and shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed issuance, including:

(i) the number and class of the Equity Securities to be issued and the percentage of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Issuer such issuance would represent;

(ii) the proposed issuance date, which shall be at least ten (10) business days from the date of the Issuance Notice; and

(iii) the proposed purchase price per Equity Security.

 

10


  (c)

Subscriber shall for a period of ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of an Issuance Notice have the right to elect irrevocably to purchase its Pro Rata Portion of the Equity Securities at the purchase price set forth in the Issuance Notice by delivering a written notice to the Issuer. If, at the termination of such ten (10) business day period, Subscriber shall not have delivered such notice to the Issuer, Subscriber shall be deemed to have waived all of its rights under this Section 5 with respect to the purchase of such Equity Securities. The closing of any purchase by Subscriber shall be consummated concurrently with the consummation of the issuance or sale described in the Issuance Notice; provided, however, that the closing of any purchase by Subscriber may be extended beyond the closing of the transaction in the Issuance Notice to the extent necessary to obtain any required approval or consent of a governmental authority or any other third party (and the Issuer and Subscriber shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain such approvals).

 

  (d)

Upon the expiration of the ten (10) business day period described in Section 5(c), the Issuer (or its subsidiary) shall be free, for a period of ninety (90) days, to sell such Equity Securities that Subscriber has not elected irrevocably to purchase on terms and conditions no more favorable to the purchasers thereof than those offered to Subscriber in the Issuance Notice delivered in accordance with Section 5(c). If the proposed sale is not so consummated within such ninety (90) days period, the Equity Securities proposed to be sold may not be sold unless the Issuer again complies with this Section 5.

 

  6.

Miscellaneous.

 

  (a)

Each party hereto acknowledges that the other party hereto and others will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (b)

Each of the Issuer and Subscriber is entitled to rely upon this Subscription Agreement and is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

  (c)

This Subscription Agreement may not be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, and any such attempted transfer or assignment shall be void; provided that Subscriber has the right assign or otherwise transfer its rights, benefits and obligations under this agreement to any its affiliates without the prior consent of Issuer; provided, however, that no assignment of this Subscription Agreement shall relieve the assigning party of any liability or obligation under this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (d)

All of the representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the date of this Agreement. All of the covenants and agreements made by each party in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the date of this Agreement until the applicable statute of limitations or in accordance with their respective terms, if a shorter period.

 

  (e)

The Issuer may request from Subscriber such additional information as the Issuer may deem reasonably necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber shall provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided, that the Issuer agrees to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential.

 

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  (f)

This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

  (g)

This Subscription Agreement (including the schedule hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

  (h)

Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

  (i)

If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

  (j)

This Subscription Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts (including by electronic means), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

  (k)

Each party shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.

 

  (l)

Except as otherwise provided in this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer shall be solely responsible for the fees of the Transfer Agent and stamp taxes associated with the issuance of the Acquired Shares.

 

  (m)

Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or telecopied, sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be given and received (i) when so delivered personally, (ii) upon receipt of an appropriate electronic answerback or confirmation when so delivered by telecopy (to such number specified below or another number or numbers as such party may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder), (iii) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email, or (iv) five (5) business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as such party may hereafter designate by notice given hereunder:

 

   

if to Subscriber, to such address or addresses set forth on the signature page hereto;

if to the Issuer, to:

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 N. 44th Street

Suite 700

Phoenix, AZ 85008

 

12


Attention: President (with a copy to General Counsel)

Facsimile No.: (602) 685-4350

E-mail: michael.lotz@mesa-air.com, brad.rich@mesa-air.com,

brian.gillman@mesa-air.com

if to Subscriber, to:

United Airlines Inc.

233 S. Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention:          Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Email:                bob.rivkin@united.com

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:            Kevin P. Lewis

                             Atman Shukla

Email:                  klewis@sidley.com

                             ashukla@sidley.com

 

  (n)

The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise.

 

  (o)

This Subscription Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Subscription Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Subscription Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving regard to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.

THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (OR TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE), OR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE

 

13


THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY SUCH A DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 6(m) OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6(o).

 

  (p)

The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Subscription Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Subscription Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Unless the context otherwise requires; (i) all references to Sections, Schedules or Exhibits are to Sections, Schedules or Exhibits contained in or attached to this Subscription Agreement; (ii) each accounting term not otherwise defined in this Subscription Agreement has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural and pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter; (iv) the use of the word “including” in this Subscription Agreement shall be by way of example rather than limitation, (v) the word “or” shall not be exclusive, (vi) “business day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks in New York, New York, are open for the general transaction of business and “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or governmental or other entity.”

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

14


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Issuer and Subscriber has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.

 

Mesa Air Group, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Mike Lotz

Name:   Mike Lotz
Title:   President

Date: March 6, 2023

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]


United Airlines, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Ireland

Name:   Jonathan Ireland
Title:   SVP, Finance

 

Subscriber’s EIN:   74-2099724
Address:   233 S. Wacker D
  Chicago, IL 60606
 

Attn: Senior Vice President –

United Express

Date: March 6, 2023

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF SUBSCRIBER

 

A.

QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS

(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):

 

  1.

☐ We are a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”)).

 

  2.

☐ We are subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, and each owner of such account is a QIB.

*** OR ***

 

B.

ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS

(Please check each of the following subparagraphs):

 

  1.

☐ We are an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and have marked and initialed the appropriate box on the following page indicating the provision under which we qualify as an “accredited investor”.

 

  2.

☐ We are not a natural person.

*** AND ***

 

C.

AFFILIATE STATUS

(Please check the applicable box)

SUBSCRIBER:

 

 

is:

 

 

is not:

an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Issuer or acting on behalf of an affiliate of the Issuer.

Rule 501(a), in relevant part, states that an “accredited investor” shall mean any person who comes within any of the below listed categories, or who the Issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the below listed categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person. Subscriber has indicated, by marking and initialing the appropriate box below, the provision(s) below that apply to Subscriber and under which Subscriber accordingly qualifies as an “accredited investor.”

☐ Any bank as defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or any savings and loan association or other institution as defined in section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity;

☐ Any broker or dealer registered pursuant to section 15 of the Exchange Act;

☐ An investment adviser registered pursuant to section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or registered pursuant to the laws of a state;

 

[Schedule A to Subscription Agreement]


☐ An investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 203(l) or (m) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

☐ Any insurance company as defined in section 2(a)(13) of the Securities Act;

☐ Any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in section 2(a)(48) of the Securities Act;

☐ Any Small Business Investment Company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958;

☐ A Rural Business Investment Company as defined in section 384A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act;

☐ Any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

☐ Any employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of such Act, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or registered investment adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors;

☐ Any private business development company as defined in section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

☐ Any organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, partnership or limited liability company, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

☐ Any trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) of the Securities Act;

☐ An entity, of a type not listed in any of the foregoing paragraphs, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, owning investments in excess of $5,000,000;

☐ A “family office,” as defined in rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (17 CFR 275.202(a)(11)(G)-1): (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that is not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, and (iii) whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment;

☐ A “family client,” as defined in rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (17 CFR 275.202(a)(11)(G)-1), of a family office meeting the requirements in the foregoing paragraph and whose prospective investment in the issuer is directed by such family office pursuant to clause (iii) in the foregoing paragraph;

 

[Schedule A to Subscription Agreement]


☐ Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person’s spouse, at the time of his purchase exceeds $1,000,000. For purposes of calculating a natural person’s net worth: (a) the person’s primary residence must not be included as an asset; (b) indebtedness secured by the person’s primary residence up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence must not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of calculation exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess must be included as a liability); and (c) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the residence must be included as a liability;

☐ Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; or

☐ Any entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors meeting one or more of the above tests.

 

[Schedule A to Subscription Agreement]

EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 6, 2023, is by and among Mesa Air Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), United Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Investor”), and the other Holders (as defined below) from time to time parties hereto.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, on December 27, 2022, the Company, Mesa Airlines, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and Investor entered into that certain Third Amended and Restated Capacity Purchase Agreement (“A&R CPA”), pursuant to which, among other matters, as part of the consideration of, and as a material inducement to the Investor to execute and deliver the A&R CPA, Issuer agreed to issue to the Investor 4,042,061 shares (the “Issued Shares”) of the Issuer’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and to grant certain registration rights to the Investor, in each case as contemplated by the terms set forth in Exhibit R to the A&R CPA; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the A&R CPA, the Company is granting to the Investor and the other Holders from time to time parties hereto, certain registration rights with respect to the Issued Shares, as set forth in this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

A&R CPA” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Adoption Agreement” means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Affiliate” means (a) as to any Person, other than an individual Holder, any other Person who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and (b) as to any individual, (i) any Relative of such individual, (ii) any trust whose primary beneficiaries are one or more of such individual and such individual’s Relatives, (iii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual or any of such individual’s Relatives if one has been appointed and (iv) any Person controlled by one or more of such individual or any Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above. As used in this Agreement, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates.


Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal holiday or any other day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas or the State of New York are authorized or required to be closed by law or governmental action.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.

Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Company Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c)(i).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Holder” means any record holder of Registrable Securities.

Holders Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c)(i).

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Investor” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Issued Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Majority Holders” shall mean, at any time, the Holder or Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities at such time.

Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the lead book-running manager(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

Opt-Out Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

2


Permitted Transferee” of a Holder means (i) any Affiliate of the Holder or (ii) any direct or indirect partner, shareholder or member of the Holder or any trust, family partnership or family limited liability company, the sole direct or indirect beneficiaries, partners or members of which are the Holder or Relatives of the Holder.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association, trust, government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

Piggyback Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Piggybacking Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Proceeding” shall mean an action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Registrable Securities” or “Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Issued Shares and (b) any securities issued or issuable with respect to the Issued Shares by way of distribution, dividend, stock split or in connection with any reorganization or other recapitalization, merger, exchange, consolidation or otherwise; provided, however, that a Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) such share has been disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, (ii) such share has been disposed of under Rule 144 or any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as a result of which the Transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) such shares are freely tradeable by the Holder thereof without volume, manner of sale or other limitations or requirements under Rule 144 (including the current public information requirement of Rule 144(e)) and such Holder and its Affiliates collectively hold less than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

Registration Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Article II, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, road show expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one special legal counsel to represent the Investor in an applicable Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering not to exceed $25,000 per Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering, but excluding any Selling Expenses.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed or to be filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Relative” means, with respect to any natural person: (a) such natural person’s spouse, (b) any lineal descendant, parent, grandparent, great grandparent or sibling or any lineal descendant of such sibling (in each case whether by blood or legal adoption), and (c) the spouse of a natural person described in clause (b) of this definition.

 

3


Requesting Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Required Shelf Filing Date” means the 10th Business Day after the date of this Agreement.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.

Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. References to any rule under the Securities Act shall be deemed to refer to any similar or successor rule or regulation.

Selling Expenses” means all (a) underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (b) transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities and (c) costs or expenses related to any roadshows conducted in connection with the marketing of any Shelf Underwritten Offering.

Selling Holder” means a Holder selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

Shelf Piggybacking Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Shelf Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Shelf Underwritten Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

Transfer” means any offer, sale, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, entry into any contract to sell, grant of an option to purchase, short sale, assignment, transfer, exchange, gift, bequest or other disposition, direct or indirect, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise. “Transfer,” when used as a verb, and “Transferee” and “Transferor” have correlative meanings.

Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which shares of Common Stock are sold to an underwriter for reoffer.

Underwritten Offering Filing” means (a) with respect to a Shelf Underwritten Offering, a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus

 

4


supplement is used) to the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and (b) with respect to a Piggyback Underwritten Offering, (i) a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) to an effective Shelf Registration Statement (other than the Shelf Registration Statement) or (ii) a Registration Statement, in each case relating to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 2.1 Shelf Registration.

(a) As soon as practicable, and in any event on or prior to the Required Shelf Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file a “shelf” registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become or be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof and, in any event, within 45 days after the date of this Agreement in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 or 90 days after the date of this Agreement in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-1. Following the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.

(b) The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of such Registrable Securities and shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar rule adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. The Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the distribution or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to the Holders.

(c) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended as promptly as practicable to the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available (which Registration Statement shall also be referred to herein as the Shelf Registration Statement), for the resale of all the Registrable Securities until all of the Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities or the earlier termination of this Agreement (as to all Holders).

(d) When effective, the Shelf Registration Statement (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements are made).

 

5


Section 2.2 Underwritten Shelf Offering Requests.

(a) In the event that any Holder or group of Holders elects to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and reasonably expects gross proceeds of at least $2,000,000 from such Underwritten Offering (including proceeds attributable to any Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Offering by any Shelf Piggybacking Holders), the Company shall, at the request (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering Request”) of such Holder or Holders (in such capacity, a “Requesting Holder”), enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company with the underwriter or underwriters selected by the Requesting Holders holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock expected to be sold in such Underwritten Offering (and reasonably acceptable to the Company) and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering and/or the Requesting Holders in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and, subject to Section 2.2(c), the Registrable Securities requested to be included by any Shelf Piggybacking Holder (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”); provided, however, that in the event any Holder or group of Holders elects to dispose of an amount of Registrable Securities equal to or greater than 25% of the number of Issued Shares under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, then such Underwritten Offering shall not be subject to any restriction on expected gross proceeds set forth in this Section 2.2(a).

(b) If the Company receives a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request, it will give written notice of such proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering to each Holder (other than the Requesting Holder), which notice shall include the anticipated filing date of the related Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and of such Holders’ rights under this Section 2.2(b). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days following receipt of the Shelf Underwritten Offering Request); provided, that if the Shelf Underwritten Offering is a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company and the Requesting Holder that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) would adversely affect the offering, no such notice shall be required (and such Holders shall have no right to include Registrable Securities in such bought or overnight Underwritten Offering); and provided further, that the Company shall not so notify any such other Holder that has notified the Company (and not revoked such notice) requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering. If such notice is delivered pursuant to this Section 2.2(b), each such Holder shall then have four Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received notice pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Shelf Underwritten Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities) (any such Holder making such request, a “Shelf Piggybacking Holder”). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Shelf Underwritten Offering.

 

6


(c) If the Managing Underwriter of the Shelf Underwritten Offering shall inform the Requesting Holder of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering by the Holders (and any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering) would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in the applicable Underwritten Offering Filing, to the extent of the total number of Registrable Securities that the Company is so advised can be sold in such Shelf Underwritten Offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares”), Registrable Securities in the following priority:

(i) First, all Registrable Securities that the Holders requested to be included therein (the “Holders Securities”) (pro rata among the Holders based on the number of Registrable Securities each requested to be included), and

(ii) Second, to the extent that the number of Holders Securities is less than the Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering, pro rata among such other Persons based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included.

(d) The Requesting Holders shall determine the pricing of the Registrable Securities offered pursuant to any Shelf Underwritten Offering and the applicable underwriting discounts and commissions and determine the timing of any such Shelf Underwritten Offering, subject to Section 2.3.

(e) Each Holder shall have the right to withdraw their Registrable Securities from the Shelf Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw.

Section 2.3 Delay and Suspension Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may (i) delay effecting a Shelf Underwritten Offering or (ii) suspend the Holders’ use of any prospectus that is a part of a Shelf Registration Statement upon written notice to each Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Shelf Registration Statement (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material non-public information regarding the Company without the written consent of such Holder) (in which event such Holder shall discontinue sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement but may settle any then-contracted sales of Registrable Securities), in each case for a period of up to 60 consecutive days, if the Board determines in good faith (A) that such delay or suspension is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders generally due to a pending material financing or other material transaction involving the Company, (B) that such registration or offering would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws or (C) that such registration or offering would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential (any such period, a “Suspension Period”); provided, however, that in no event shall any Suspension Periods collectively exceed an aggregate of 60 days in any 180-day period or exceed an aggregate of 120 days in any 12-month period. The Company shall promptly notify each Holder in writing of the date on which any Suspension Period ends.

 

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Section 2.4 Piggyback Registration Rights.

(a) Subject to Section 2.4(c), if the Company at any time proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing for an Underwritten Offering of shares of Common Stock for its own account or for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, other than the Holders (a “Piggyback Underwritten Offering”), it will give written notice of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering to each Holder, which notice shall include the anticipated filing date of the Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, and of such Holders’ rights under this Section 2.4(a). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event at least five Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing or two Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing in connection with a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering). If such notice is delivered pursuant to this Section 2.4(a), each such Holder shall then have four Business Days (or two Business Days in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received notice pursuant to this Section 2.4(a) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities) (any such Holder making such request, a “Piggybacking Holder”). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering. Subject to Section 2.4(c), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to include by the Piggybacking Holders; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of a proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.4(a) and prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto, the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable, shall determine for any reason not to proceed with or to delay such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to the Piggybacking Holders and (i) in the case of a determination not to proceed, shall be relieved of its obligation to include any Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (but not from any obligation of the Company to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay, shall be permitted to delay inclusion of any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in including the shares of Common Stock to be sold for the Company’s account or for the account of such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable.

(b) Each Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Company requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not, and shall not be required to, deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.4 and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

 

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(c) If the Managing Underwriter of the Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be offered by the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (and any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights on parity with the Piggybacking Holders with respect to such offering), would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering, shares of Common Stock in the following priority:

(i) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of the Company, first, all shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to include for its own account (the “Company Securities”), second, the shares of Common Stock that the Piggybacking Holders propose to include (pro rata among the Piggybacking Holders based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included), and third, the shares of Common Stock that other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights propose to include (pro rata among such other Persons based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included); or

(ii) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, first, the shares of Common Stock that such other Persons propose to include (pro rata among such other Persons based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included), second, all shares of Common Stock that the Piggybacking Holders propose to include (pro rata among the Piggybacking Holders based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included), and third, the Company Securities.

Section 2.5 Participation in Underwritten Offerings.

(a) In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, the underwriting agreement into which each Selling Holder and the Company shall enter into shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Article III) and other rights and obligations as are customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company, and the Company shall be entitled to designate counsel for the underwriters. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder’s authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law.

(b) Any participation by the Piggybacking Holders in a Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be in accordance with the plan of distribution of the Company or the other Persons who have registration rights, as applicable.

 

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(c) In connection with any Piggyback Underwritten Offering in which any Piggybacking Holder includes Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.4, such Piggybacking Holder agrees (A) to supply any information reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and/or any other documents relating to such registered offering and (B) to execute and deliver any agreements and instruments being executed by all holders on substantially the same terms reasonably requested by the Company or the Managing Underwriter, as applicable, to effectuate such registered offering, including, without limitation, underwriting agreements (subject to Section 2.5(a)), custody agreements, powers of attorney, questionnaires, and lock-ups or “hold back” agreements pursuant to which such Piggybacking Holder agrees with the Managing Underwriter not to sell or purchase any securities of the Company for the shorter of (i) the same period of time following the registered offering as is agreed to by the Company and the other participating holders (not to exceed the shortest number of days that any director of the Company, “executive officer” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the Company or any stockholder of the Company (other than a Holder or director or employee of, or consultant to, the Company) who owns 10% or more of the outstanding shares contractually agrees with the underwriters of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering not to sell any securities of the Company following such Piggyback Underwritten Offering) and (ii) 60 days from the date of the execution of the underwriting agreement with respect to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

Section 2.6 Registration Procedures.

(a) In connection with its obligations under this Article II, the Company will take all reasonably necessary action to facilitate and effect the transactions contemplated thereby, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Selling Holder or Selling Holder thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

(ii) furnish to each Selling Holder, without charge, such number of conformed copies of such Registration Statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including, without limitation, all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement (including without limitation each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as such Selling Holder may reasonably request;

(iii) if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each Selling Holder thereof shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and to take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Holder to

 

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consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Selling Holder, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (iii) be obligated to be so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(iv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Selling Holder and any underwriters a copy of any customary auditor “comfort” letters or legal opinions;

(v) promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and at the request of any such Selling Holder promptly prepare and file or furnish to such Selling Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;

(vi) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, and shall furnish to each such Selling Holder at least the Business Day prior to the filing thereof a copy of any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or prospectus;

(vii) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(viii) in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement or any sale of Registrable Securities in connection therewith, the Company will give the Holders offering and selling thereunder, any underwriters and their respective counsels a reasonable opportunity (no less than two Business Days) to review and provide comments on such Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto (other than amendments or supplements that do not make any material change in the information related to the Company) (provided that the Company shall not file any such Registration Statement including Registrable Securities or an amendment thereto or any related prospectus or any supplement thereto to which such Holders or any underwriter shall reasonably object in writing), and give each of them, together with any underwriter, broker,

 

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dealer or sales agent involved therewith, such access to its books and records and such opportunities to discuss the business of the Company and its subsidiaries with its officers, its counsel, and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements as shall be necessary, in the opinion of the Holder’s and such underwriters’ (or broker’s, dealer’s or sales agent’s, as the case may be) respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable due diligence investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act;

(ix) use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and, if any such order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement is issued, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment;

(x) promptly notify the Holders (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose, (ii) of any delisting or pending delisting of the Common Stock by any national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock are then listed or quoted, and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose;

(xi) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be listed on any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

(xii) enter into such customary agreements, including but not limited to lock-up agreements by the Company (and, if reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriter(s), the Company’s directors and “executive officers” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act)) that extend through 60 days following the entrance into the corresponding underwriting agreement, and to take such other actions as the Holder or Holders shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

(xiii) cause its officers to use their commercially reasonable efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in electronic or telephonic “road shows”).

(b) Each Holder agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.6(a)(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.6(a)(v) as filed with the Commission or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of such Registration Statement may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 2.6(b).

 

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Section 2.7 Cooperation by Holders. The Company shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities that the Company determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for any registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

Section 2.8 Expenses. The Company shall be responsible for all Registration Expenses incident to its performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Article II. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder.

Section 2.9 Additional Rights. The Company is not currently a party to any agreement with respect to its securities that in any way violates or subordinates rights granted to the Holders by this Agreement. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Majority Holders, enter into or amend any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such current or future holder to require the Company to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Company for such holders on a basis other than expressly subordinate to, the piggyback rights of the Holders hereunder; provided, that in no event shall the Company enter into any agreement that would permit another holder of securities of the Company to participate on a pari passu basis (in terms of priority of cut-back based on advice of underwriters) with a Requesting Holder in a Shelf Underwritten Offering.

ARTICLE III

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 3.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including costs of preparation and attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such Person in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (“Losses”) as incurred, caused by, arising out of or based upon, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, any filing made in connection with the qualifications of the offering under the securities or other blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered, or any other offering document (including any related notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus, in the light

 

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of the circumstances under which such statement is made), or any violation by the Company of this Agreement, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and shall reimburse each Holder, its directors and officers, and each controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with any investigation or defending such claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 3.1 shall not apply to that portion of such Losses caused by, or arising out of, any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement or any such omission or alleged omission, to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein.

Section 3.2 Indemnification by the Holders. Each Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all Losses caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made), only to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with any investigation or defending such claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 3.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each selling Holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and several and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling Holder, except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.

Section 3.3 Indemnification Procedures. In case any Proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, such Person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing (provided that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Indemnified Party a conflict of interest between the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party may exist in respect of such claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party that it so chooses, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such

 

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Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that (i) if the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (ii) if such Indemnified Party who is a defendant in any action or Proceeding that is also brought against the Indemnifying Party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such Indemnified Party that are not available to the Indemnifying Party or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct then, in any such case, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any Indemnified Party or Parties reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to such party or parties that are not available to the other Indemnified Parties or to the extent representation of all Indemnified Parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct) and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any expenses therefor. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

Section 3.4 Contribution.

(a) If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses in respect of which indemnity is to be provided hereunder, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of such party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company (on the one hand) and a Holder (on the other hand) shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(b) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article III were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 3.4(a). The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 3.4(a) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article III, no Holder shall be liable for indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Article III for any amount in excess of the net proceeds of the offering received by such Holder, less the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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ARTICLE IV

RULE 144; ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSFERS.

Section 4.1 Rule 144.

(a) With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the resale of the Registrable Securities without registration, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

(i) make and keep public information regarding the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

(ii) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

(iii) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commission’s EDGAR filing system, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

Section 4.2 Assistance with Transfers. In connection with any sale or transfer of Registrable Securities by any Holder, including any sale or transfer pursuant to Rule 144 and other rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit a Holder of Registrable Securities to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company shall, to the extent allowed by law, take any and all action necessary or reasonably requested by such Holder in order to permit or facilitate such sale or transfer, including, without limitation, at the sole expense of the Company, by (i) issuing such directions to any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, as applicable, (ii) delivering such opinions to the transfer agent, registrar or depositary as are customary for the transaction of this type and are reasonably requested by the same, and (iii) taking or causing to be taken such other actions as are reasonably necessary (in each case on a timely basis) in order to cause any legends, notations or similar designations restricting transferability of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder to be removed and to rescind any transfer restrictions with respect to such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that such Holder shall deliver to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, representation letters regarding such Holder’s compliance with such rules and regulations, as may be applicable. In addition, the Company, at its sole expense, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any restrictive legend on any shares of Common Stock

 

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that are Registrable Securities upon request by the Holder if (A) such shares of Common Stock are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement or (B) a registration statement covering the resale of such shares of Common Stock is effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Holder delivers to the Company a representation letter agreeing that such shares of Common Stock will be sold under such effective registration statement.

ARTICLE V

TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS

The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities under Article II of this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by each Holder to one or more Transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities if such Transferee is (i) a Permitted Transferee or (ii) acquiring at least $500,000 of Registrable Securities as determined by reference to the volume weighted average price for such Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock are then listed or quoted for the five trading days immediately preceding the applicable determination date and such Transferee has delivered to the Company a duly executed Adoption Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as to any Holder, when such Holder no longer owns any shares of Common Stock that constitute Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Article III shall survive any termination hereof.

Section 6.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal and unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Section 6.3 Remedies. In the event of actual or potential breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

Section 6.4 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

(b) THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER IN ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN RELATION TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. FURTHER, NOTHING HEREIN SHALL DIVEST A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION OF THE RIGHT AND POWER TO GRANT A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, TO GRANT TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, OR TO COMPEL SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF ANY DECISION OF AN ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL MADE PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION.

 

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Section 6.5 Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all shares of capital stock of the Company or any successor or assignee of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution for the Registrable Securities, by reason of any stock dividend, split, reverse split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise in such a manner and with such appropriate adjustments as to reflect the intent and meaning of the provisions hereof and so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the capital stock of the Company as so changed.

Section 6.6 Binding Effects; Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and each Holder and its successors and assigns. Except as provided in Article V, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by any Holder without the prior written consent of the Company.

Section 6.7 Notices. All notices or other communications that are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (i) personally delivered, (ii) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, (iii) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (iv) email, addressed as follows:

 

  (a)

If to the Company, to:

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 N. 44th Street

Suite 700

Phoenix, AZ 85008

Attention: President (with a copy to General Counsel)

Facsimile No.: (602) 685-4350

Email: michael.lotz@mesa-air.com, brad.rich@mesa-air.com, brian.gillman@mesa-air.com

 

  (b)

If to the Investor, to:

United Airlines, Inc.

233 S. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention:     Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Email:          bob.rivkin@united.com

 

18


with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:      Kevin P. Lewis

Atman Shukla

Jon W. Daly

Email:           klewis@sidley.com

ashukla@sidley.com

jdaly@sidley.com

(c) If to any other Holders, to their respective addresses set forth on the applicable Adoption Agreement;

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, (ii) on the date sent if delivered by e-mail on a Business Day, or if not sent on a Business Day, on the first Business Day thereafter, (iii) the next Business Day after delivery, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, and (iv) on the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted, if sent by first-class mail.

Section 6.8 Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the Majority Holders. No course of dealing between the Company and the Holders (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 6.9 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection therewith.

Section 6.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute but one agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed by its undersigned duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Mike Lotz

 

Name: Mike Lotz

Title: President

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


UNITED AIRLINES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Ireland

  Name: Jonathan Ireland
  Title: SVP, Finance

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption Agreement”) is executed by the undersigned transferee (“Transferee”) pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2023, among Mesa Air Group, Inc. (the “Company”), United Airlines, Inc. and the Holders party thereto (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Terms used and not otherwise defined in this Adoption Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

1.

Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of Registration Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto.

 

2.

Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock of the Company acquired by Transferee shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he, she or it were originally a party thereto.

 

3.

Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Registration Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

4.

Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption Agreement to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Registration Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Signature:

 

 

 

Address:

Contact Person:

Telephone No:

Email:

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

   

DLA Piper LLP (US)

2525 East Camelback Road, Suite 1000

Phoenix, Arizona 85016

www.dlapiper.com

 

T 480.606.5100

F 480.606.5101

March 10, 2023

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 North 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Mesa Air Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Form S-3 Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”), being filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the resale by United Airlines, Inc. (the “Selling Stockholder”) of up to 4,042,061 shares of our common stock, no par value (the “Selling Stockholder Shares”), issued to the Selling Stockholder in connection with a subscription Agreement, dated March 6, 2023 (the “Subscription Agreement”).

We have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated August 8, 2018 (the “Articles of Incorporation”), the Company’s Seconded Amended and Restated Bylaws (as amended, the “Bylaws”), dated December 8, 2020 and amended by that certain Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated January 13, 2023, the Subscription Agreement, the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company relating to the Registration Statement, the Subscription Agreement and the issuance of the Selling Stockholder Shares by the Company, and such other documents, corporate records, and instruments and have examined such laws and regulations as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein. We have also relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials and officers of the Company.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (a) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (b) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (c) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents; (d) each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so; (e) each party (if not a natural person) signing any document reviewed by us was duly organized or formed, as the case may be, and was at all relevant times and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as the case may be, and had at all relevant times and has full right, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under such document and such document has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and was at all relevant times and is a valid, binding and enforceable agreement or obligation, as the case may be, of, each party thereto; (f) the Registration Statement, and any further amendments thereto will become effective and comply with all applicable laws; and (g) the Selling Stockholder Shares have been, or will be, issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement.


LOGO

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

March 10, 2023

Page Two

 

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing and the other qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion and so advise you that the Selling Stockholder Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The above opinions are limited in all respects to the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada. We do not express any opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws, or as to the municipal laws or the laws, rules or regulations of any local agencies or governmental authorities.

The foregoing opinions are qualified to the extent that the enforceability of any document, instrument or the Selling Stockholder Shares may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable or public policy principles, including principles that may limit enforceability of indemnification, contribution or similar provisions, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

We express no opinion as to any provision of any instrument, agreement or other document (a) regarding severability of the provisions thereof; or (b) providing that the assertion or employment of any right or remedy shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy, or that every right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy, or that any delay or omission to exercise any right or remedy shall not impair any right or remedy or constitute a waiver thereof.

Our opinions are expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Selling Stockholder Shares or the Registration Statement. Our opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to advise you of any change in any matter set forth herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ DLA Piper LLP (US)
DLA Piper LLP (US)
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Mesa Air Group, Inc. for the registration of its common stock by the selling stockholder and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated December 29, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Mesa Air Group, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Phoenix, Arizona

March 10, 2023

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107

EX-FILING FEES

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-3

(Form Type)

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

                 
     Security
Type
  Security
Class Title
  Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount
Registered(1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
  Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
  Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration
Fee
                 
Fees to Be Paid   Equity   Common Stock, no par value   457(c)   4,042,061   $3.545(2)   $14,329,106.245   $0.0001102   $1,579.07
           
    Total Offering Amounts         $1,579.07
           
    Total Fees Previously Paid        
           
    Total Fee Offsets        
           
    Total Fee Due               $1,579.07

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from share splits, share dividends or similar transactions.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act. Based on the average of the high and low reported trading prices of the Registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 7, 2023.