Exhibit 3.1
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
P10, Inc.
(a Delaware corporation)
P10, Inc., organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the corporation is P10, Inc.
2. The original Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 20, 2021 under the name “P10, Inc.”
3. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) restates, integrates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety. This Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended, integrated and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is P10, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
ARTICLE IV
STOCK
Section 4.1 Authorized Stock.
The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 700,000,000 shares, consisting of: 510,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) and 180,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and together with Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Common Stock.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by the DGCL, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by the DGCL, each holder of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date on any matter submitted to a vote of stockholders generally, and until a Sunset (as defined below) has become effective, each holder of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to 10 votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date on any matter submitted to a vote of stockholders generally. From and after such time when the Sunset has become effective, each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 4.4(b)(iii). The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.
(b) For purposes of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation:
(i) A “Sunset” shall be triggered by the earlier of the following:
(A) The Sunset Holders (as defined below) collectively cease to maintain direct or indirect beneficial ownership of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (determined assuming all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock have been converted into Class A Common Stock);
(B) the Sunset Holders collectively cease to maintain direct or indirect beneficial ownership of at least 25% of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and
(C) upon the tenth anniversary of the Effective Time (as defined below).
(ii) In the case of clauses 4.2(b)(i)(A) and (B) above, a Sunset triggered at any time will become effective at the end of the fiscal quarter in which such trigger occurs. In the case of clause 4.2(b)(i)(C) above, such Sunset will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on such date.
(iii) The following terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this Article IV.
“Change of Control Transaction” means (i) the sale, lease or other disposition (other than liens and encumbrances created in the ordinary course of business, including liens or encumbrances to secure indebtedness for borrowed money that are approved by the Board of Directors, so long as no foreclosure occurs in respect of any such lien or encumbrance) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets (which shall for such purpose include the property and assets of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation, taken as a whole), as determined by the Board of Directors; provided that any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of property or assets exclusively between or among the Corporation and any wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation shall not be deemed a “Change of Control Transaction”; (ii) the merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction of the Corporation with or into any other entity, other than a merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction that would result in the voting securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities, as outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction, and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction owning voting securities or voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent immediately following the merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction in substantially the same proportions (vis-à-vis each other) as such stockholders owned the voting
securities immediately prior to the transaction; or (iii) a recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving the Corporation, other than a recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction that would result in the voting securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power represented by the voting securities, as outstanding immediately after such recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction, and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction owning voting securities or voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent immediately following the recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction in substantially the same proportions (vis-à-vis each other) as such stockholders owned the voting securities immediately prior to the transaction.
“Effective Time” means effectiveness of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
“Estate Planning Entities” means (i) any trust, the beneficiaries of which are primarily such individual or any member of his or her Immediate Family and (ii) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity that is primarily owned and controlled, directly or indirectly, by such individual, any member of such individual’s Immediate Family and or any of the Persons described in clause (i).
“Immediate Family” means, with respect to any person, collectively, his or her parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, former spouses, civil union partner, former civil union partners and lineal descendants (and the estates, guardians, custodians or other legal representatives of any of the foregoing).
“Permitted Transferee” means:
(a) for a Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock that is an entity, Permitted Transferees are limited to (i) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity that is a controlled affiliate of such holder, (ii) any investment funds managed and controlled by such holder and (iii) any Estate Planning Entities.
(b) for a Transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock that is an individual, Permitted Transferees are limited to Estate Planning Entities.
“Sunset Holders” means principals of 210 Capital, LLC and certain of their affiliates (the “210 Group”), principals of RCP Advisors 2, LLC and certain of their affiliates and RCP Advisors 3, LLC and certain of their affiliates (the “RCP Group”), and principals of TrueBridge Capital Partners LLC and certain of their affiliates (the “TrueBridge Group”) and their respective Permitted Transferees.
“Transfer” means any direct or indirect sale, exchange, transfer, pledge, participation or assignment (including a pledge or other grant of a security interest), whether voluntary or involuntary or whether through a derivative instrument.
(c) Unless otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock (each hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation).
(d) Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive equally, on a per share basis, dividends and distributions to the extent permitted by law when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.
(e) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.
Section 4.3 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article IV (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide by resolution and by causing the filing of a Preferred Stock Designation for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of each such series.
Section 4.4 Conversion of Class B Common Stock.
(a) Voluntary Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the transfer agent of the Corporation.
(b) Automatic Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the earlier of:
i. a Transfer by (x) a Sunset Holder of such share other than a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee or (y) a Permitted Transferee of such share other than a Transfer to a Sunset Holder or a Permitted Transferee of a Sunset Holder;
ii. the date or the happening of a future event specified by a written notice and certification request of the Corporation to the holder of such share of Class B Common Stock requesting a certification, in a form satisfactory to the Corporation, verifying such holder’s ownership of Class B Common Stock and confirming that a conversion to Class A Common Stock has not occurred, which date shall not be less than sixty (60) calendar days after the date such notice and certification request is sent; provided that no such automatic conversion pursuant to this subsection (ii) shall occur in the case of a holder of Class B Common Stock or its Permitted Transferee that furnishes a certification satisfactory to the Corporation prior to the specified date; and
iii. such time when the Sunset has become effective.
(c) Procedures. The Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on such conversion unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Class B Common Stock, if any such certificates have been issued, are either delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. The Corporation may, from time to time, establish such other policies and procedures relating to the conversion of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock and the general administration of this multi-class stock structure, including the issuance of stock certificates (or the establishment of book-entry positions) with respect thereto, as it may deem reasonably necessary or advisable, and may from time to time request that holders of shares of Class B Common Stock furnish certifications, affidavits or other proof to the Corporation as it deems necessary to verify the ownership of Class B Common Stock and to confirm that a conversion to Class A Common Stock has not occurred. The Secretary shall determine whether a Transfer or other event giving rise to a conversion has occurred that results in a conversion to Class A Common Stock, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding.
(d) Immediate Effect. In the event of a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article IV, Section 4.4, such conversion(s) shall be deemed to have been made at the time of the applicable Transfer or event; provided that, in the case of a share issuable or deliverable by the Corporation, upon any of the conversion of another security, the exercise of an option or warrant or similar arrangement, the occurrence or non-occurrence of a contingency, or upon vesting, the conversion of such shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Article IV, Section 4.4(b)(i) shall occur immediately following issuance or delivery. For the avoidance of doubt, if the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offering of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering Class B Common Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon
the closing with the underwriters of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the persons entitled to receive the Class A Common Stock upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Class B Common Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities. Upon any conversion of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock, all rights of the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock shall cease and the person or persons in whose name or names the certificate or certificates (or book-entry position(s)) representing the shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock. Following any such conversion, the reissuance of such shares of Class B Common Stock shall be prohibited, and such shares shall be retired in accordance with Section 243 of the DGCL and the filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware required thereby.
Section 4.5 No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
Section 4.6 No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock, solely by virtue of such holder’s status as such, shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.
Section 4.7 Reservation of Stock. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock and warrants for Class A Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to effect such conversions.
Section 4.8 Reclassifications, Mergers and Other Transactions. If the Corporation in any manner subdivides, combines or reclassifies the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, the outstanding shares of the other such class shall, concurrently therewith, be subdivided, combined, or reclassified in the same proportion and manner such that the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification is preserved, unless different treatment of the shares of each such class is approved by (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and (ii) the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B Common Stock, each of (i) and (ii) voting as separate classes.
Section 4.9 No Further Issuances of Class B Common Stock. Except for the issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock in connection with a stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or similar transaction in accordance with the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation shall not at any time after the filing and effectiveness of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock.
Section 4.10. Treatment in a Change of Control or any Merger Transaction.
(a) Subject to subsection (c) of this Section 4.10 in connection with any Change of Control Transaction, shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding immediately prior to such Change of Control Transaction shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any consideration into which such shares are converted or any consideration paid or otherwise distributed to stockholders of the Corporation, unless different treatment of the shares of each such class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class A common stock entitled to vote thereon and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, each voting separately as a class.
(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this Section 4.10, any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, which is not a Change of Control Transaction, shall require approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class A common stock entitled to vote thereon and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, each voting separately as a class, unless (i) the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation are treated
equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, including whether such shares remain outstanding and with respect to any consideration into which such shares are converted or any consideration paid or otherwise distributed to stockholders of the Corporation in respect thereof; or (ii) such shares are converted on a pro rata basis into shares of the surviving entity or its parent in such transaction having identical rights, powers and privileges to the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock in effect immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, respectively; provided that if the voting power of the Class B common stock, including the voting power of the Class B common stock relative to the voting power of the Class A common stock would be adversely affected by such merger or consolidation, the approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock shall be required.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (i) for the avoidance of doubt, consideration to be paid to or received by a holder of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock in connection with any Change of Control Transaction or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, which is not a Change of Control Transaction, pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or similar services arrangement shall be deemed not to be “paid or otherwise distributed to stockholders” or consideration in respect of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation for purposes of this Section 4.10, and (ii) to the extent all or part of the consideration into which shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock are converted or any consideration paid or otherwise distributed to stockholders of the Corporation in any Change of Control Transaction or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, which is not a Change of Control Transaction, is in the form of securities of another corporation or other entity, then the holders of shares of Class B common stock shall have their shares of Class B common stock converted into, or may otherwise be paid or distributed, such securities with a greater number of votes per share (but in no event greater than ten (10) times; provided that, unless otherwise approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, the class or series of securities received by the holders of Class B common stock shall provide for ten (10) votes per share) than such securities into which shares of Class A common stock are converted, or which are otherwise paid or distributed to the holders of shares of Class A common stock (and the provisions governing the securities payable or otherwise distributable to the holders of shares of Class B common stock may also differ from the provision governing the securities payable or otherwise distributable to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock in the same relative manner as the Class A common stock and Class B common stock differ from each other as set forth in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, mutatis mutandis, and any other related differences in designations, conversion and share distribution provisions, as applicable), without any requirement that such different treatment be approved by the holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting separately as a class.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Number. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors as shall be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office; provided, however, that the directors then in office are not less than one-third of the total number of directors then authorized.
Section 5.2 Classification. Except as may be otherwise provided with respect to directors elected by the separate vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Directors”), the directors shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, hereby designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. The initial assignment of members of the Board of Directors to each such class shall be made by the Board of Directors. The initial term of office of the Class I directors will expire at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time; the initial term of office of the Class II directors will expire at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time; and the initial term of office of the Class III directors will expire at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time. At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time, directors elected to succeed those directors of the class whose terms then expire will be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Article V, each director shall serve until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. If the number of directors divided into classes is hereafter changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable; provided that no decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors (other than Preferred Stock Directors), the number of directors in each class shall be fixed solely by the Board of Directors as determined solely by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III.
Section 5.3 Removal. Any director (other than any Preferred Stock Director) serving in Class I, Class II or Class III may be removed from office, but only for cause, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of such directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.4 Powers. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock Directors . During any period when the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock have the special right to elect additional directors pursuant to the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (a) the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (b) each such additional director shall serve until the next annual meeting for the election of such director and until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, except as otherwise provided by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to this Restated Certification of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), the terms of office of all such additional directors shall forthwith terminate, such additional directors shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, directors of the Corporation, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 5.6 Election; Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(a) Ballot Not Required. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
(b) Notice. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), advance notice of nominations for the election of directors, and of business other than nominations, to be proposed by stockholders for consideration at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in or contemplated by the Bylaws.
(c) Annual Meeting. Any annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.
ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDER ACTION
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, (a) shall be signed by holders of record on the consent record date (established as provided in the bylaws of the Corporation) of the Corporation’s then outstanding capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and (b) shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation in accordance the bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), and except as otherwise required by law, a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time only by the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED STOCKHOLDERS
(a) Opt Out. The Corporation hereby expressly elects that it shall not be governed by, or otherwise subject to, Section 203 of the DGCL.
(b) Applicable Restrictions to Business Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which any class of Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
(i) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or
(ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (A) persons who are directors and also officers and (B) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or
(iii) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of 50% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
(c) Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to:
(i) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one of more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.
(ii) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (A) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (B) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (C) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.
(iii) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (1) with the interested stockholder, or (2) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation this Article VIII is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;
(C) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (1) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (2) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (3) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (4) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (5) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (3) through (5) of this subsection (C) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);
(D) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or
(E) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (A) through (D) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.
(iv) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (A) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (B) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term “interested stockholder” shall not include (1) any Principal Holder, Principal Holder Direct Transferee or Principal Holder Indirect Transferee, (2) a stockholder that
becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (x) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that such stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder and (y) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership or (3) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided, however, that such person specified in this clause (3) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(v) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:
(A) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or
(B) has (1) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (2) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or
(C) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in clause (2) of subsection (B) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.
(vi) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.
(vii) “Principal Holder Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering), directly from one or more of the Principal Holders, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.
(viii) “Principal Holders” means the Sunset Holders, affiliates of the Sunset Holders and their respective successors; provided, however, that the term “Principal Holders” shall not include the Corporation or any of the Corporation’s direct or indirect subsidiaries.
(ix) “Principal Holder Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Principal Holder Direct Transferee or any other Principal Holder Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.
(x) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.
(xi) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference in this Article VIII to a percentage or proportion of voting stock shall refer to such percentage or other proportion of the votes of such voting stock.
ARTICLE IX
PROTECTION OF TAX BENEFITS
Section 9.1 Definitions. As used in this Article IX, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters (and any references to any portions of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T shall include any successor provisions):
(a) “4.99-percent Transaction” means any Transfer described in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 9.2 of this Article IX.
(b) “4.99-percent Stockholder” means a Person or group of Persons that is a “5-percent stockholder” of the Corporation pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(g), as applied by replacing “5-percent” with “4.99-percent” and “five percent” with “4.99 percent,” where applicable, which includes, without limitation, a Person who owns 4.99% or more of the Corporation’s then-outstanding Common Stock, whether directly or indirectly.
(c) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(d) “Company Security” or “Company Securities” means (i) any Common Stock, (ii) shares
of preferred stock issued by the Corporation (other than preferred stock described in§ 1504(a)(4) of the
Code), and (iii) warrants, rights, or options (including options within the meaning of Treas. Reg.§ 1.382-
2T(h)(4)(v) or Treas. Reg.§ 1.382-4(d)(9)) to purchase securities of the Corporation.
(e) “Effective Date” means the date of effectiveness of the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
(f) “Expiration Date” means the earliest of (i) the close of business on the date that is the third anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if the Board of Directors determines that this Article IX is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, (iii) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Corporation as to which the Board of Directors determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward or (iv) such date as the Board of Directors shall fix in accordance with Section 9.12 of this Article IX.
(g) “Percentage Stock Ownership” means the percentage Stock Ownership interest of any Person or group (as the context may require) for purposes of Section 382 of the Code as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k) and Treas. Reg. § 1.382-4, or any successor provisions and other pertinent Internal Revenue Service guidance.
(h) “Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association or organization, trust or other entity or any group of such “Persons” having a formal or informal understanding among themselves to make a “coordinated acquisition” of shares within the meaning of Treas. Reg.§ 1.382-3(a)(1) or who are otherwise treated as an “entity” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-3(a)(1), and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such entity or group.
(i) “Prohibited Distributions” means any and all dividends or other distributions paid by the Corporation with respect to any Excess Securities received by a Purported Transferee.
(j) “Prohibited Transfer” means any Transfer or purported Transfer of Company Securities to the extent that such Transfer is prohibited and/or void under this Article IX.
(k) “Public Group” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(f)(l3).
(l) “Stock” means any interest that would be treated as “stock” of the Corporation pursuant to
Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(f)(l8).
(m) “Stock Ownership” means any direct or indirect ownership of Stock, including any ownership by virtue of application of constructive ownership rules, with such direct, indirect and constructive ownership determined under the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any ownership whereby a Person owns Stock pursuant to a “coordinated acquisition” treated as a single “entity” as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.382-3(a)(l), or such Stock is otherwise aggregated with Stock owned by such Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(n) “Tax Benefits” means the net operating loss carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards, general business credit carryforwards, alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards and foreign tax credit carryforwards, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized built-in loss” of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code.
(o) “Transfer” means any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge or other disposition, event or occurrence or other action taken by a Person, other than the Corporation, that alters the Percentage Stock Ownership of any Person or group. A Transfer also shall include the creation or grant of an option (including an option within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-4 (d)). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer shall not include the creation or grant of an option by the Corporation, nor shall a Transfer include the issuance of Stock by the Corporation.
(p) “Transferee” means any Person to whom Company Securities are transferred.
(q) “Treasury Regulations” or “Treas. Reg.” means the regulations, including temporary regulations or any successor regulations, promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time.
Section 9.2 Transfer and Ownership Restrictions. In order to preserve the Tax Benefits, any attempted Transfer of Company Securities prior to the Expiration Date and any attempted Transfer of Company Securities pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to the Expiration Date shall be prohibited and void ab initio to the extent that, as a result of such Transfer (or any series of Transfers of which such Transfer is a part), either (i) any Person or Persons would become a 4.99-percent Stockholder or (ii) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Corporation of any 4.99-percent Stockholder would be increased. The prior sentence is not intended to prevent Company Securities from being DTC-eligible and shall not preclude the settlement of any transaction in Company Securities entered into through the facilities of a national securities exchange or trading on an over-the-counter market; provided, however, that the Company Securities and parties involved in any such transaction shall remain subject to the provisions of this Article IX in respect of such transaction.
Section 9.3 Exceptions.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Transfers to a Public Group (including a new Public Group created under Treas. Reg. § l .382-2T(j)(3)(i)) shall be permitted.
(b) The restrictions set forth in Section 9.2 of this Article IX shall not apply to an attempted Transfer that is a 4.99-percent Transaction if the transferor or the Transferee obtains the written approval of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. As a condition to granting its approval pursuant to this Section 9.3 of this Article IX, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require (at the expense of the transferor and/or Transferee) an opinion of counsel selected by the Board of Directors that the Transfer shall not result in a limitation on the use of the Tax Benefits as a result of the application of Section 382 of the Code; provided that the Board of Directors may grant such approval notwithstanding the effect of such approval on the Tax Benefits if it determines that the approval is in the best interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may grant its approval in whole or in part with respect to such Transfer and may impose any conditions that it deems reasonable and appropriate in connection with such approval, including, without limitation, restrictions on the ability of any Transferee to Transfer Stock acquired through a Transfer. Approvals of the Board of Directors hereunder may be given prospectively or retroactively. The Board of Directors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the authority granted by this Article IX through duly authorized officers or agents of the Corporation. Nothing in this Section 9.3 of this Article IX shall be construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in the exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Section 9.4 Excess Securities.
(a) No employee or agent of the Corporation shall record any Prohibited Transfer, and the purported transferee of such a Prohibited Transfer (the “Purported Transferee”) shall not be recognized as a stockholder of the Corporation for any purpose whatsoever in respect of the Company Securities which are the subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the “Excess Securities”). The Purported Transferee shall not be entitled, with respect to such Excess Securities, to any rights of stockholders of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any, and the Excess Securities shall be deemed to remain with the transferor unless and until the Excess Securities are transferred to the Agent pursuant to Section 9.5 of this Article IX or until an approval is obtained under Section 9.3 of this Article IX. After the Excess Securities have been acquired in a Transfer that is not a Prohibited Transfer, the Company Securities shall cease to be Excess Securities. For this purpose, any Transfer of Excess Securities not in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.4 or Section 9.5 of this Article IX shall also be a Prohibited Transfer.
(b) The Corporation may require as a condition to the registration of the Transfer of any Company Securities or the payment of any distribution on any Company Securities that the proposed Transferee or payee furnish to the Corporation all information reasonably requested by the Corporation with respect to its direct or indirect ownership interests in such Company Securities. The Corporation may make such arrangements or issue such instructions to its stock transfer agent as may be determined by the Board of Directors to be necessary or advisable to implement this Article IX, including, without limitation, authorizing such transfer agent to require an affidavit from a Purported Transferee regarding such Person’s actual and constructive ownership of Stock and other evidence that a Transfer will not be prohibited by this Article IX as a condition to registering any transfer.
Section 9.5 Transfer to Agent. If the Board of Directors determines that a Transfer of Company Securities constitutes a Prohibited Transfer, then, upon written demand by the Corporation sent within thirty days of the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the attempted Transfer would result in Excess Securities, the Purported Transferee shall transfer or cause to be transferred any certificate or other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities within the Purported Transferee’s possession or control, together with any Prohibited Distributions, to an agent designated by the Board of Directors (the “Agent”). The Agent shall thereupon sell to a buyer or buyers, which may include the Corporation, the Excess Securities transferred to it in one or more arm’s-length transactions (on the public securities market on which such Excess Securities are traded, if possible, or otherwise privately); provided , however , that any such sale must not constitute a Prohibited Transfer and provided, further, that the Agent shall effect such sale or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not be required to effect any such sale within any specific time frame if, in the Agent’s discretion, such sale or sales would disrupt the market for the Company Securities or otherwise would adversely affect the value of the Company Securities. If the Purported Transferee has resold the Excess Securities before receiving the Corporation’s demand to surrender Excess Securities to the Agent, the Purported Transferee shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for the Agent, and shall be required to transfer to the Agent any Prohibited Distributions and proceeds of such sale, except to the extent that the Corporation grants written permission to the Purported Transferee to retain a portion of such sale proceeds not exceeding the amount that the Purported Transferee would have received from the Agent pursuant to Section 9.6 of this Article IX if the Agent rather than the Purported Transferee had resold the Excess Securities.
Section 9.6 Application of Proceeds and Prohibited Distributions. The Agent shall apply any proceeds of a sale by it of Excess Securities and, if the Purported Transferee has previously resold the Excess Securities, any amounts received by it from a Purported Transferee, together, in either case, with any Prohibited Distributions, as follows: (i) first, such amounts shall be paid to the Agent to the extent necessary to cover its costs and expenses incurred in connection with its duties hereunder; (ii) second, any remaining amounts shall be paid to the Purported Transferee, up to the amount paid by the Purported Transferee for the Excess Securities (or the fair market value at the time of the Transfer, in the event the purported Transfer of the Excess Securities was, in whole or in part, a gift, inheritance or similar Transfer) which amount (or fair market value) shall be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors; and (iii) third, any remaining amounts shall be paid to one or more organizations selected by the Board of Directors which is described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any comparable successor provision) and contributions to which are eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(l)(A), 2055 and 2552 of the Code. The Purported Transferee of Excess Securities shall have no claim, cause of action or any other recourse
whatsoever against any transferor of Excess Securities. The Purported Transferee’s sole right with respect to such shares shall be limited to the amount payable to the Purported Transferee pursuant to this Section 9.6 of this Article IX. In no event shall the proceeds of any sale of Excess Securities pursuant to this Section 9.6 of this Article IX inure to the benefit of the Corporation or the Agent, except to the extent used to cover costs and expenses incurred by Agent in performing its duties hereunder.
Section 9.7 Modification of Remedies for Certain Indirect Transfers. In the event of any Transfer which does not involve a transfer of Company Securities within the meaning of Delaware law but which would cause a 4.99-percent Stockholder to violate a restriction on Transfers provided for in this Article IX, the application of Sections 9.5 and 9.6 of this Article IX shall be modified as described in this Section 9.7 of this Article IX. In such case, no such 4.99-percent Stockholder shall be required to dispose of any interest that is not a Company Security, but such 4.99- percent Stockholder and/or any Person whose ownership of Company Securities is attributed to such 4.99-percent Stockholder (such 4.99-percent Stockholder or other Person, a “Remedial Holder”) shall be deemed to have disposed of and shall be required to dispose of sufficient Company Securities (which Company Securities shall be disposed of in the inverse order in which they were acquired) to cause such 4.99-percent Stockholder, following such disposition, not to be in violation of this Article IX. Such disposition shall be deemed to occur simultaneously with the Transfer giving rise to the application of this provision, and such number of Company Securities that are deemed to be disposed of shall be considered Excess Securities and shall be disposed of through the Agent as provided in Sections 9.5 and 9.6 of this Article IX, except that the maximum aggregate amount payable to a Remedial Holder in connection with such sale shall be the fair market value of such Excess Securities at the time of the purported Transfer. A Remedial Holder shall not be entitled, with respect to such Excess Securities, to any rights of stockholders of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any, following the time of the purported Transfer. All expenses incurred by the Agent in disposing of such Excess Stock shall be paid out of any amounts due such 4.99-percent Stockholder or such other Person. The purpose of this Section 9.7 of this Article IX is to extend the restrictions in Sections 9.2 and 9.5 of this Article IX to situations in which there is a 4.99-percent Transaction without a direct Transfer of Company Securities, and this Section 9.7 of this Article IX, along with the other provisions of this Article IX, shall be interpreted to produce the same results, with differences as the context requires, as a direct Transfer of Company Securities.
Section 9.8 Legal Proceedings; Prompt Enforcement. If the Purported Transferee fails to surrender the Excess Securities or the proceeds of a sale thereof to the Agent within thirty days from the date on which the Corporation makes a written demand pursuant to Section 9.5 of this Article IX (whether or not made within the time specified in Section 9.5 of this Article IX), then the Corporation may take such actions as it deems appropriate to enforce the provisions hereof, including the institution of legal proceedings to compel the surrender. Nothing in this Section 9.8 of this Article IX shall (i) be deemed inconsistent with any Transfer of the Excess Securities provided in this Article IX being void ab initio, (ii) preclude the Corporation in its discretion from immediately bringing legal proceedings without a prior demand or (iii) cause any failure of the Corporation to act within the time periods set forth in Section 9.5 of this Article IX to constitute a waiver or loss of any right of the Corporation under this Article IX. The Board of Directors may authorize such additional actions as it deems advisable to give effect to the provisions of this Article IX.
Section 9.9 Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any stockholder subject to the provisions of this Article IX who knowingly violates the provisions of this Article IX and any Persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with such stockholder shall be jointly and severally liable to the Corporation for, and shall indemnify and hold the Corporation harmless against, any and all damages suffered as a result of such violation, including but not limited to damages resulting from a reduction in, or elimination of, the Corporation’s ability to utilize its Tax Benefits, and attorneys’ and auditors’ fees incurred in connection with such violation.
Section 9.10 Obligation to Provide Information. As a condition to the registration of the Transfer of any Stock, any Person who is a beneficial, legal or record holder of Stock, and any proposed Transferee and any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the proposed Transferee, shall provide such information as the Corporation may request from time to time in order to determine compliance with this Article IX or the status of the Tax Benefits of the Corporation.
Section 9.11 Legends. The Board of Directors may require that any certificates issued by the Corporation evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to the restrictions on transfer and ownership contained in this Article IX bear the following legend:
“THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (THE “CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION”) CONTAINS RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING THE TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION) OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION (INCLUDING THE CREATION OR GRANT OF CERTAIN OPTIONS, RIGHTS AND WARRANTS) WITHOUT THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION (THE “BOARD OF DIRECTORS”) IF SUCH TRANSFER AFFECTS THE PERCENTAGE OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 382 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) AND THE TREASURY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER) THAT IS TREATED AS OWNED BY A 4.99-PERCENT STOCKHOLDER (AS DEFINED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION). IF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS ARE VIOLATED, THEN THE TRANSFER WILL BE VOID AB INITIO AND THE PURPORTED TRANSFEREE OF THE STOCK WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER EXCESS SECURITIES (AS DEFINED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION) TO THE CORPORATION’S AGENT. IN THE EVENT OF A TRANSFER WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (“SECURITIES”) BUT WHICH WOULD VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, THE PURPORTED TRANSFEREE (OR THE RECORD OWNER) OF THE SECURITIES THAT VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER SUFFICIENT SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE TERMS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CAUSE THE 4.99-PERCENT STOCKHOLDER TO NO LONGER BE IN VIOLATION OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION CONTAINING THE ABOVE-REFERENCED TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.”
The Board of Directors may also require that any certificates issued by the Corporation evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to conditions imposed by the Board of Directors under Section 9.3 of this Article IX also bear a conspicuous legend referencing the applicable restrictions.
Section 9.12 Authority of Board of Directors.
(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power to determine all matters necessary for assessing compliance with this Article IX, including, without limitation, (i) the identification of 4.99-percent Stockholders, (ii) whether a Transfer is a 4.99-percent Transaction or a Prohibited Transfer, (iii) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Corporation of any 4.99-percent Stockholder, (iv) whether an instrument constitutes a Company Security, (v) the amount (or fair market value) due to a Purported Transferee pursuant to Section 9.6 of this Article IX, and (vi) any other matters which the Board of Directors determines to be relevant; and the good faith determination of the Board of Directors on such matters shall be conclusive and binding for all the purposes of this Article IX. In addition, the Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind by- laws, regulations and procedures of the Corporation not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IX for purposes of determining whether any Transfer of Company Securities would jeopardize or endanger the Corporation’s ability to preserve and use the Tax Benefits and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of this Article IX.
(b) Nothing contained in this Article IX shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action to the extent permitted by law as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and its stockholders in preserving the Tax Benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in law making one or more of the following actions necessary or desirable, the Board of Directors may, by adopting a written resolution, (i) accelerate the Expiration Date, (ii) modify the ownership interest percentage in the Corporation or the Persons or groups covered by this Article IX, (iii) modify the definitions of any terms set forth in this Article IX or (iv) modify the terms of this Article IX as appropriate, in each case, in order to prevent an
ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code as a result of any changes in applicable Treasury Regulations or otherwise; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall not cause there to be such acceleration or modification unless it determines, by adopting a written resolution, that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the Tax Benefits or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary for the preservation of the Tax Benefits. Stockholders of the Corporation shall be notified of such determination through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other method of notice as the Secretary of the Corporation shall deem appropriate.
(c) In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article IX, including any definition used herein, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of such provisions with respect to any situation based on its reasonable belief, understanding or knowledge of the circumstances. In the event this Article IX requires an action by the Board of Directors but fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Article IX. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation, the Agent, and all other parties for all other purposes of this Article IX. The Board of Directors may delegate all or any portion of its duties and powers under this Article IX to a committee of the Board of Directors as it deems necessary or advisable and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the authority granted by this Article IX through duly authorized officers or agents of the Corporation. Nothing in this Article IX shall be construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in its exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Section 9.13 Reliance. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation and the members of the Board of Directors shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the information, opinions, reports or statements of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer or the corporate controller of the Corporation and the Corporation’s legal counsel, independent auditors, transfer agent, investment bankers or other employees and agents in making the determinations and findings contemplated by this Article IX. The members of the Board of Directors shall not be responsible for any good faith errors made in connection therewith. For purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of any Company Securities owned by, any stockholder, to the extent permitted by Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(k) (and any successor provision) the Corporation is entitled to rely on the existence and absence of filings, if any, of Schedule 13D or 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or similar filings), as of any date.
Section 9.14 Benefits of this Article IX. Nothing in this Article IX shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Corporation or the Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Article IX. This Article IX shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation and the Agent.
Section 9.15 Severability. The purpose of this Article IX is to facilitate the Corporation’s ability to maintain or preserve its Tax Benefits. If any provision of this Article IX or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Article IX.
Section 9.16 Waiver. With regard to any power, remedy or right provided herein or otherwise available to the Corporation or the Agent under this Article IX, (i) no waiver will be effective unless expressly contained in a writing signed by the waiving party and (ii) no alteration, modification or impairment will be implied by reason of any previous waiver, extension of time, delay or omission in exercise or other indulgence.
ARTICLE X
EXISTENCE
The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT
Section 11.1 Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all powers, preferences and rights of any nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to this reservation.
Section 11.2 Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. Subject to any greater or additional vote required by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, and in addition to any requirements of applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XII
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
Section 12.1 No Personal Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Section 12.2 Amendment or Repeal. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article XII that adversely affects any right of a director shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.
ARTICLE XIII
FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES
Section 13.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation, in writing, selects or consents to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting any internal corporate claims (as defined below), to the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to applicable jurisdictional requirements, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have, or declines to accept, jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware) and (ii) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the federal district courts of the United States of America. For purposes of this Article XIII, the phrase “internal corporate claims” means claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation, that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder in such capacity, or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII. As used herein, “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, joint-stock company, governmental entity, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or organization (whether or not formed or incorporated), or any other entity.
Section 13.2 Enforceability. If any provision of this Article XIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this [●] day of October, 2021.
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION