Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
5E ADVANCED MATERIALS, INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME OF THE CORPORATION
The name of the corporation is 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
BUSINESS PURPOSE
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by 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
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 4.01 Authorized Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of stock of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 200,000,000, of which 180,000,000 shares shall be shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), and 20,000,000 shares shall be shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.02 Common Stock. Except as otherwise required by law, as provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or as provided in the resolution or resolutions, if any, adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) with respect to any series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall have equal rights of participation in the dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall have equal rights to receive the assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors. The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include determination of the following:
(a) the designation of the series;
(b) the number of shares of the series;
(c) the dividend rate or rates on the shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series;
(d) whether the series will have voting rights in addition to the voting rights provided by law and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;
(e) whether the series will have conversion privileges and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
(f) whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof and, if made subject to such redemption, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemptions, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption rates;
(g) the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series;
(h) the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series;
(i) the restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of any additional Preferred Stock; and
(j) any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.02 Number. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors of the Corporation which shall constitute the entire Board of Directors shall be the number of directors as fixed from time to time in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).
Section 5.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors, and any vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors, shall be filled solely by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. A director so elected shall be elected to hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified, or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.
Section 5.04 Written Ballot. Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.
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ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.01 Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to or modification or repeal of this Section 6.01 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment.
Section 6.02 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors. Any amendment to or modification or repeal of this Section 6.02 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
STOCKHOLDER ACTION
Section 7.01 Stockholder Consent Prohibition. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent by such stockholders.
Section 7.02 Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be called only by (a) the Board of Directors or (b) the Secretary of the Corporation, following receipt of one or more written demands to call a special meeting of the stockholders from stockholders of record who own, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation then entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting that complies with the procedures for calling a special meeting of the stockholders as may be set forth in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
BYLAWS
Section 8.01 Board of Directors. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws without any action on the part of the stockholders.
Section 8.02 Stockholders. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; provided that, in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, such adoption, amendment, alteration or repeal shall be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided that notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law that might permit a lesser vote or no vote and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article IX or Articles VI, VII or VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, has executed this Certificate of Incorporation this 23rd day of September 2021.
/s/ Carol L. Helfrich |
Carol L. Helfrich |
Sole Incorporator |
