UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 30, 2020 (October 27, 2020)

 

GATOS SILVER, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
001-39649
(Commission File Number)
27-2654848
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 

8400 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 600

Greenwood Village, CO
(Address of principal executive offices)

80111
(Zip Code)
       

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 784-5350

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share GATO New York Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. x

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

In connection with the initial public offering by Gatos Silver, Inc. (the “Company”) of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), described in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249224), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), the following agreements were entered into:

 

  1. Management Services Agreement dated October 30, 2020, between the Company and Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation (the “Management Services Agreement”);

 

  2. Shareholders Agreement dated October 30, 2020, by and among the Company and the stockholders that are signatories thereto (the “Shareholders Agreement”); and

 

  3. Registration Rights Agreement dated October 30, 2020, by and among the Company and the stockholders that are signatories thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

 

The Management Services Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms described in the Registration Statement.

 

Item 2.04. Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.

 

On October 30, 2020, in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, the Company’s outstanding convertible notes, including accrued but unpaid interest, became due and payable. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had issued $15,000 thousand aggregate principal amount of convertible notes and there was $187 thousand in accrued but unpaid interest. On October 27, 2020, the Company exercised its option to convert the outstanding principal amount of convertible notes plus $187 thousand in accrued but unpaid interest into an aggregate of 2,712,003 shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock were issued on October 30, 2020. The conversion of the outstanding convertible notes and accrued but unpaid interest into shares of Common Stock was deemed a repayment of such convertible notes and accrued but unpaid interest. The remaining accrued but unpaid interest is expected to be paid in cash.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information included in Item 5.03 with respect to the Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. Upon the filing of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, each one share of the Company’s common stock prior to the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was exchanged for 0.394057448219062 validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock and 0.105942551780938 shares of validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation. The Company distributed an aggregate of 31,779,512 shares of Common Stock to the Company’s existing shareholders, which include certain members of the Company’s management and board of directors. The shares were distributed in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis that the transaction did not involve a public offering.

 

The information included in Item 2.04 with respect to the conversion of the outstanding convertible notes and accrued but unpaid interest into shares of Common Stock is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. The Company issued an aggregate of 2,712,003 shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of the outstanding convertible notes and accrued but unpaid interest. The shares were issued in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis that the transaction did not involve a public offering.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On October 30, 2020, the Company filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) became effective on such date. The Certificate of Incorporation amends and restates the Company’s certificate of incorporation in its entirety to, among other things, (i) provide that each one share of the Company’s common stock prior to the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware be exchanged for 0.394057448219062 validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock and 0.105942551780938 shares of validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation and (ii) change the Company’s name to Gatos Silver, Inc. The foregoing description of the amendments made by the Certificate of Incorporation is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate of Incorporation. Each of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms previously filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

 

2

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On October 27, 2020, the Company announced the pricing of the initial public offering of 21,430,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $7.00 per share. In addition, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 3,214,500 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein in its entirety.

 

On October 30, 2020, the Company announced the closing of its initial public offering described above. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein in its entirety. The underwriters have not exercised their option to purchase additional shares of common stock as of the date hereof.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gatos Silver, Inc.
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gatos Silver, Inc.
10.1   Management Services Agreement dated October 30, 2020, between the Company and Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation
10.2   Shareholders Agreement dated October 30, 2020, by and among the Company and the stockholders that are signatories thereto
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement dated October 30, 2020, by and among the Company and the stockholders that are signatories thereto
99.1   Press Release dated October 27, 2020
99.2   Press Release dated October 30, 2020

 

3

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  GATOS SILVER, INC.
     
Date: October 30, 2020 By:

/s/ Roger Johnson

    Roger Johnson
    Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

SUNSHINE SILVER MINING & REFINING CORPORATION

 

The original name of the corporation is Sunshine Silver Mines Corporation. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 2, 2011. On October 9, 2014, the corporation changed its name to Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which both restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, was duly adopted by the stockholders in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Prompt written notice of the adoption of the amendments and the restatement of the Certificate of Incorporation herein has been given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing thereto, as provided in Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended and restated as of October 30, 2020 to read in its entirety as follows:

 

Article 1
Name

 

The name of the corporation is Gatos Silver, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

Article 2
Registered Office and Agent

 

The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

Article 3
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 as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”).

 

 

 

Article 4
Capital Stock

 

Section 1. Authorized Capital Stock. Effective on the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), each one share of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), outstanding and held of record by each stockholder of the Corporation (including treasury shares) immediately prior to the Effective Time (i) shall be exchanged in part for 0.394057448219062 validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, and (ii) the remaining shares shall be exchanged for 0.105942551780938 validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, in each case, automatically and without any action by the holder thereof upon the Effective Time (such exchange of shares, the “Recapitalization”). The par value of the Common Stock following the Recapitalization shall remain at $0.001 per share. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Recapitalization. All shares of Common Stock (including fractions thereof) issuable upon the Recapitalization to a given stockholder shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the Recapitalization would result in the issuance of a fractional share of Common Stock, and all shares of the common stock of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation (including fractions thereof) issuable upon the Recapitalization to a given stockholder shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the Recapitalization would result in the issuance of a fractional share of the common stock of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation. If, after the aforementioned aggregation, the Recapitalization would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, round up to the nearest whole number of shares in order to bring the number of shares held by such stockholder up to the next whole number of shares of Common Stock. If, after the aforementioned aggregation, the Recapitalization would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of the common stock of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, round up to the nearest whole number of shares in order to bring the number of shares held by such stockholder up to the next whole number of shares of the common stock of Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation.

 

The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 750 million shares, consisting of 700 million shares of Common Stock, and 50 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 2. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is hereby empowered, without any action or vote by the Corporation’s stockholders (except as may otherwise be provided by the terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding), to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to each such class or series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting each such class or series, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series to the extent permitted by Delaware Law.

 

Section 3. Voting Rights. Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any class or series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding classes or series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected class or series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such classes or series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any class or series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to Delaware Law.

 

Article 5
Board of Directors

 

Section 1. Power of the Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2. Number of Directors. Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock entitled to separately elect directors, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall, as of the date this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation becomes effective, consist of not less than three nor more than 12 directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time solely by resolutions adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

2

 

 

Section 3. Election of Directors.

 

(a)            All of the directors will be elected annually at the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(b)            A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise expressly required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

 

(c)            The names and mailing addresses of the persons who are to serve as directors are:

 

Name   Mailing Address
     
Stephen Orr  

4903-1128 W. Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 0A8

 

Janice Stairs (Chair)  

8 Whimsical Lake Cres

Halifax, NS, Canada B3P 2R2

 

Ali Erfan  

Roc Fleuri

1 Rue du Tenao

98000 Monaco, Monaco

 

Igor Gonzales  

Calle los Duraznos

330, La Molina, Lima

 

Karl Hanneman  

P.O. Box 10664

Fairbanks, Alaska 99710

 

Igor Levental  

400 South Steele St. # 39

Denver, CO 80209

 

David Peat  

96215 Piney Island Drive

Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

 

Charles Hansard   Gerald Lodge
2 Gerald Mews
London
SW1W9WEG
United Kingdom

 

(d)            Each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

3

 

 

(e)            There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation so provide.

 

Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

Section 5. Removal.

 

(a)            No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless approved by the Board of Directors, in which case such removal for cause requires the affirmative vote of the holders of more than 50% of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such class or series of Preferred Stock adopted by resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article 5 unless otherwise provided therein.

 

Article 6
Stockholders

 

Section 1. No Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Subject to the to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, as may be set forth in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 hereto for such class or series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only upon a vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders duly noticed and called in accordance with the Corporation’s bylaws and Delaware Law and may not be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.

 

Section 2. Annual Meeting of Stockholders. An 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, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

Section 3. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, pursuant to the terms of such class or series of Preferred Stock adopted by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 hereto, special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock.

 

4

 

 

Article 7
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification

 

Section 1. Limited Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law.

 

Section 2. Right to Indemnification.

 

(a)            Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article 7 shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware Law. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article 7 shall be a contract right.

 

(b)            The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware Law.

 

(c)            The Corporation hereby acknowledges that the directors designated by Electrum and MERS pursuant to Section 5.19 of the Shareholders Agreement may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Electrum and MERS and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Fund Indemnitors”).  The Corporation hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to such Persons are primary and any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Persons are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by such Persons and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (or any other agreement between the Corporation and such Persons), without regard to any rights such Persons may have against the Fund Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Fund Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof.  The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of such Persons with respect to any claim for which such Persons have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Persons against the Corporation. The Corporation and each such Person agree that the Fund Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 2.

 

Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Delaware Law.

 

5

 

 

Section 4. Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights and authority conferred in this Article 7 shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.

 

Section 5. Preservation of Rights. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article 7, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, any modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

Article 8
Forum selection

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Delaware Law or as to which the Delaware Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided that, the provisions of this Article 8 do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person or entity 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 8.

 

If any provision or provisions of this Article 8 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 provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article 8 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article 8 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 and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Article 9
Corporate Opportunities

 

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any of either Electrum or MERS or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, members, partners, affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (each, a “Specified Party”), even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and each such Specified Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Specified Party pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Party who is a director or officer of the Corporation and who is offered a business opportunity in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (a “Directed Opportunity”) shall be obligated to communicate such Directed Opportunity to the Corporation, provided, however, that all of the protections of this Article 9 shall otherwise apply to the Specified Parties with respect to such Directed Opportunity, including, without limitation, the ability of the Specified Parties to pursue or acquire such Directed Opportunity or to direct such Directed Opportunity to another person.

 

6

 

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article 9, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, any modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

If any provision or provisions of this Article 9 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article 9 (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article 9 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article 9 (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article 9 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

This Article 9 shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

 

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article 9.

 

Article 10
Miscellaneous

 

The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for the further definition of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

 

For so long as that certain Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2020, by and among the Corporation and the stockholders named therein, as amended from time to time (the “Shareholders Agreement”), is in effect, the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the relevant provisions hereof, and such provisions shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the terms of the Shareholders Agreement.

 

7

 

 

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

 

Electrum” means Electrum Silver US LLC, Electrum Silver US II LLC, Tigris Financial Group Ltd., GRAT Holdings LLC and Manul Capital Management LLC.

 

MERS” means the Municipal Employee’s Retirement System of Michigan.

 

Article 11
Amendments of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Section 1. Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended only by the approval of the Board of Directors and the vote of at least 66 2/3% of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 2. Amendment of Bylaws. The bylaws of the Corporation may be amended by the approval of either a majority of the Board of Directors or holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares then entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation this 30th day of October, 2020.

 

  SUNSHINE SILVER MINING & REFINING CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Roger Johnson
    Name: Roger Johnson
    Title:   Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Certificate of Incorporation]

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

GATOS SILVER, INC.

 

Article 1
Offices

 

Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware.

 

Section 1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Section 1.03. Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article 2
Meetings of Stockholders

 

Section 2.01. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chair of the Board of Directors in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors).

 

Section 2.02. Annual Meetings. An 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, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

Section 2.03. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings; Waivers of Notice.

 

(a)            Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”), such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting (or at such other time as may be required by applicable securities laws) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), and notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, are announced at the meeting at which such adjournment is made. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

 

 

(b)            A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 2.05. Quorum. Unless otherwise provided under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws and subject to Delaware Law, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting or a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

 

Section 2.06. Voting.

 

(a)            Unless otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and subject to Delaware Law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder. Any share of capital stock of the Corporation held by the Corporation shall have no voting rights. Except as otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall not be counted as votes cast. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations for such class or series of preferred stock, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

(b)            Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, or by proxy sent by mail, delivered in-person or by any means of electronic communication permitted by law, which results in a writing from such stockholder or by his attorney, and delivered to the secretary of the meeting. No proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period.

 

Section 2.07. Action by Consent. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations for such class or series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only upon a vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders duly noticed and called in accordance with the Corporation’s Bylaws and Delaware Law and may not be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.

 

2

 

 

Section 2.08. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the Chair of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, or in the Chair’s absence or if one shall not have been elected, the director designated by the vote of the majority of the directors present at such meeting, shall act as chair of the meeting. The Secretary (or in the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

Section 2.09. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chair of the meeting.

 

Section 2.10. Nomination of Directors and Proposal of Other Business.

 

(a)            Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(i)            Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, (C) as may be provided in the certificate of designations for any class or series of preferred stock or (D) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in paragraph (ii) of this Section 2.10(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(a), and, except as otherwise required by law, any failure to comply with these procedures shall result in the nullification of such nomination or proposal.

 

(ii)           For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (D) of paragraph (i) of this Section 2.10(a), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than 70 days after such anniversary date then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation no earlier than 120 days prior to such annual meeting and no later than the later of 70 days prior to the date of the meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of any meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(iii)          A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director:

 

(1)            all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), the “Exchange Act”)) including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

 

3

 

 

(2)            a reasonably detailed description of any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding that such person has with any other person or entity other than the Corporation including the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”), as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

 

(3)            the name and address of such stockholder (as they appear on the Corporation’s books) and any such beneficial owner;

 

(4)            the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are held of record or are beneficially owned by such stockholder and by any such beneficial owner;

 

(5)            a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder and any such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such nomination or other business;

 

(6)            a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any such beneficial owner or any such nominee with respect to the Corporation’s securities;

 

(7)            a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting;

 

(8)            a representation as to whether such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (i) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee and/or (ii) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination;

 

4

 

 

(9)            any other information relating to such stockholder, beneficial owner, if any, or director nominee or proposed business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such nominee or proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and

 

(10)          such other information relating to any proposed item of business as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine whether such proposed item of business is a proper matter for stockholder action.

 

If requested by the Corporation, the information required under clauses (iii)(4), (5) and (6) of the preceding sentence of this Section 2.10(a) shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any such beneficial owner not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such information as of the record date.

 

(b)            Special Meetings of Stockholders. If the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders may be made by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.10(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(b). For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.10(b), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (A) not earlier than 150 days prior to the date of the special meeting nor (B) later than the later of 120 days prior to the date of the special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall comply with the notice requirements of Section 2.10(a)(iii).

 

(c)            General.

 

(i)            To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director, the proposed nominee must provide to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.10(a)(ii) or Section 2.10(b): (1) a completed Directors & Officers questionnaire (in the form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the nominating stockholder) containing information regarding the nominee’s background and qualifications and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or to serve as an independent director of the Corporation, (2) a written representation that, unless previously disclosed to the Corporation, the nominee is not and will not become a party to any voting agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will vote on any issue or that could interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with his/her fiduciary duties under applicable law, (3) a written representation and agreement that, unless previously disclosed to the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iii)(A)(2), the nominee is not and will not become a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement and (4) a written representation that, if elected as a director, such nominee would be in compliance and will continue to comply with the Corporation’s corporate governance guidelines as disclosed on the Corporation’s website, as amended from time to time. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation the information that is required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee.

 

5

 

 

(ii)           No person shall be eligible to be nominated by a stockholder to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10. No business proposed by a stockholder shall be conducted at a stockholder meeting except in accordance with this Section 2.10.

 

(iii)          The chair of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws or that business was not properly brought before the meeting, and if he/she should so determine, he/she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be transacted, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation and counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of this Section 2.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(iv)          Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.10; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.10, and compliance with paragraphs (a)(i)(D) and (b) of this Section 2.10 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in Section 2.10(c)(v)).

 

(v)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth herein with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if such stockholder has submitted a proposal to the Corporation in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for the meeting of stockholders.

 

Article 3
Board of Directors

 

Section 3.01. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in Delaware Law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

6

 

 

Section 3.02. Number, Election, Classes, Term of Office.

 

(a)            Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock entitled to separately elect directors, the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than 12 directors with the exact number of directors to be determined time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.

 

(b)            The directors shall be elected at the Corporation’s annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.12 herein.

 

(c)            Each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 3.03. Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise expressly required by law or by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat shall adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 3.04. Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chair of the Board of Directors in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).

 

Section 3.05. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 3.07 herein or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.

 

Section 3.06. Regular Meetings. After the place and time of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall have been determined and notice thereof shall have been once given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

 

Section 3.07. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Secretary, on the written request of three directors. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least six hours before the time of the meeting in such manner as is determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.08. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by Delaware Law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

7

 

 

Section 3.09. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions, are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 3.10. Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 3.11. Resignation. Any director may resign from the Board of Directors at any time by giving notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any such notice must be in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 3.12. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall, except as otherwise required by law, be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in accordance with Delaware Law. Unless otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of other vacancies.

 

Section 3.13. Removal.

 

(a)            No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless approved by the Board of Directors, in which such removal for cause requires the affirmative vote of the holders of more than 50% of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

8

 

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 3.13 of this Article 3 unless otherwise provided therein.

 

Section 3.14. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.15. Preferred Stock Directors. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolutions applicable thereto adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.12 and 3.13 of this Article 3 unless otherwise provided therein.

 

Article 4
Officers

 

Section 4.01. Principal Officers. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more executive Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall have the duty, among other things, to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders and directors in a book kept for that purpose. The Corporation may also have such other principal officers, including one or more Controllers, as the Board of Directors may in its discretion appoint. One person may hold the offices and perform the duties of any two or more of said offices, except that no one person shall hold the offices and perform the duties of Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.

 

Section 4.02. Appointment, Term of Office and Remuneration. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board of Directors in the manner determined by the Board of Directors. Each such officer shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

Section 4.03. Subordinate Officers. In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 4.01 herein, the Corporation may have one or more Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Controllers and such other subordinate officers, agents and employees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.

 

Section 4.04. Removal. Except as otherwise permitted with respect to subordinate officers, any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

9

 

 

Section 4.05. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice to the Board of Directors (or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated to such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer). Any such notice must be in writing. The resignation of any officer shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 4.06. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.

 

Article 5
Capital Stock

 

Section 5.01. Certificates for Stock; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares or a combination of certificated and uncertificated shares. Any such resolution that shares of a class or series will only be uncertificated shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Except as otherwise required by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

 

Section 5.02. Transfer of Shares. Shares of the stock of the Corporation may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefor properly endorsed or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, unless waived by the Corporation.

 

Section 5.03. Authority for Additional Rules Regarding Transfer. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation, as well as for the issuance of new certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed, and may require of any stockholder requesting replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, bond in such amount and in such form as they may deem expedient to indemnify the Corporation, and/or the transfer agents, and/or the registrars of its stock against any claims arising in connection therewith.

 

10

 

 

Article 6
General Provisions

 

Section 6.01. Fixing the Record Date.

 

(a)            In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing such record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may in its discretion or as required by law fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall fix the same date or an earlier date as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

(b)            In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 6.02. Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in Delaware Law and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.03. Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year.

 

Section 6.04. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

Section 6.05. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

 

Section 6.06. Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by the approval of either a majority of the Board of Directors or holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 6.07. Shareholders Agreement. For so long as that certain Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2020, by and among the Corporation and the stockholders named therein as amended from time to time (the “Shareholders Agreement”), is in effect, the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the relevant provisions hereof, and such provisions shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the terms of the Shareholders Agreement.

 

11

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of October 30, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Gatos Silver Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Service Provider”) and Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The Service Provider and the Company are sometimes referred to collectively as the “Parties” or individually as “Party.”

 

1. Term; Termination.

 

1.1. Term. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until terminated in accordance with Section 1.2 below.

 

1.2. Termination. The parties may terminate this Agreement by:

 

(a)            mutual agreement in writing;

 

(b)            upon sixty (60) days prior written notice by one Party to the other Party;

 

(c)            upon the material default by one Party in the performance of any provision of this Agreement, and the defaulting Party’s failure to cure such default within thirty (30) days from its receipt of a notice of default from the non-defaulting Party; or

 

(d)            upon the filing of a petition in bankruptcy court by a Party or upon the adjudication of bankruptcy on a Party, or upon the filing of a petition in bankruptcy against a Party and such petition is not discharged within sixty (60) days of such filing, or upon the insolvency of a Party.

 

1.3. Termination Effect.

 

(a)            Immediately upon termination of this Agreement (the “Termination Date”), Service Provider shall immediately cease provision of the services listed on Exhibit A hereto (collectively and as may be updated from time to time by mutual agreement, the “Services”). All undisputed payments owed to Service Provider by the Company shall become immediately due and payable without further demand.

 

(b)            Within fifteen (15) days after the termination of this Agreement, each Party shall return any item embodying any Confidential Information of the other Party.

 

2. Services.

 

2.1. Engagement. The Company hereby engages the Service Provider, and the Service Provider hereby accepts such engagement and agrees, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to provide or cause any of its affiliates to provide the Services to the Company.

 

  1  

 

 

2.2. Fiduciary; Authority. This Agreement shall permit the Service Provider to act in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the handling of funds and other assets of the Company, subject to applicable law. The Service Provider shall have full authority to manage any and all aspects of the Company’s business and shall make, from time to time, and as reasonably requested by the Company, periodic status reports to the Company concerning operations, financial results, legal compliance and any other matter within the scope of the Service Provider’s broad range of duties, rights and obligations. If requested by the Service Provider, the Company will execute documentation confirming the Service Provider’s authority for use with third parties.

 

3. Management Fee; Service Provider Expenses.

 

3.1. Compensation. For the Services provided by Service Provider to the Company, the Company shall compensate Service Provider according to the terms set forth in Exhibit B, as amended by the Company and Service Provider from time to time, as deemed appropriate. It is both Parties’ understanding that the compensation may require to be updated annually in order to adapt it to the market circumstances and to meet the arm’s-length standard.

 

3.2. Payment Terms. All payment for the Services and any other charges under this Agreement shall be made in U.S. Dollars, free of any taxes and without any other deductions of any type, other than required by local law. Payment of compensation shall be made monthly using latest available information, with more accurate quarterly payments that correct for any estimation since the prior more accurate compensation determination.

 

3.3. Corrections. Adjustments or corrections to compensation calculations shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the month in which the adjustment or correction is determined and agreed by the Parties.

 

3.4. Taxes. All compensation under this Agreement is exclusive of taxes. Service Provider shall pay any federal, state, county, local or other governmental taxes, fees or duties now or hereinafter imposed on the Services hereunder, or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, as well as any penalties or interest thereon.

 

3.5. Disputed Invoices. If Company disputes any portion of an invoice, it will notify Service Provider in writing and if the Parties are not able to resolve the dispute within sixty (6o) days it shall be resolved in accordance with Section 8 below. Service Provider’s obligations to provide the Services shall not be affected by any payment disputes.

 

4. Standards of PerformanceThe Service Provider will use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the Services and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and laws. The Service Provider’s performance of the Services in accordance with the aforementioned standards is contingent upon the Company’s full and timely performance of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

  2  

 

 

5. Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of the Service ProviderThe Service Provider represents, warrants, and covenants to the Company, with the understanding the Company is relying upon such representations, warranties, and covenants that:

 

5.1. Cooperation. The Service Provider will fully cooperate with the Company in all aspects of the provision of Services.

 

5.2. Authority. The Service Provider has the full right, power, and authority to enter into this Agreement and be bound by the terms of this Agreement without the consent of any other person or entity.

 

5.3. No Breach. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement do not and will not constitute a breach of or a default under any other agreement or obligation applicable to the Service Provider.

 

5.4. Binding Obligation. Upon execution and delivery of this Agreement, this Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Service Provider.

 

6. Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of the CompanyThe Company represents, warrants, and covenants to the Service Provider, with the understanding the Service Provider is relying upon such representations, warranties, and covenants that the following is true and shall and must remain true for the duration of this Agreement:

 

6.1. Cooperation. The Company will fully cooperate with the Service Provider in all aspects of the provision of the Services, including, but not limited to, the completion of all tasks which need to be assigned to the Company by the Service Provider.

 

6.2. Authority. The Company has the full right, power, and authority to enter into this Agreement and be bound by the terms of this Agreement without the consent of any other person or entity.

 

6.3. No Breach. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement do not and will not constitute a breach of or a default under any other agreement or obligation applicable to the Company.

 

6.4. Binding Obligation. Upon execution and delivery of this Agreement, this Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company.

 

6.5. No Third-Party Beneficiary. The Company is the sole intended beneficiary of the Services and is entering into this Agreement on behalf of itself and not for the benefit of any other person or entity.

 

  3  

 

 

7. Confidential InformationPursuant to this Agreement, the Parties hereto may be entrusted with Confidential Information belonging to the other Party. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all proprietary, confidential information concerning the Services and the business of each of the Parties hereto and that of their affiliates, parents and subsidiaries, including strategic and development plans, mineral resources and reserves information, financial condition, data, business records, project records, employee lists and business manuals, policies and procedures, information relating to processes or theory, business information on the costs and mechanics of the Services, which is not generally available to the public. The Parties must: (a) maintain all Confidential Information of the other Party in a confidential manner; (b) not disclose any Confidential Information to any person or entity not authorized in writing by the other Party to receive or use such Confidential Information; and (c) not use, permit, or aid others in the use of any Confidential Information for any purpose other than the purposes contemplated by this Agreement. Any Confidential Information required to be disclosed by either Party pursuant to a valid order by a court or other governmental body having proper jurisdiction over the Company will not be disclosed by the Company until and unless the Company provides written notice to the other Party of such order sufficiently in advance of the disclosure to allow the other Party the reasonable opportunity to defend against such disclosure.

 

8. Dispute Resolution.

 

8.1. Mediation. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement (a “Dispute”) that cannot be settled through negotiation shall be mediated by the parties before a single mediator in the State of New York. Any Party to this Agreement may invoke the right to mediation set forth in this Section 8.1 by sending written notice to the other Party or parties of such invocation and setting forth in adequate detail the nature of the matter to be mediated. The parties to the mediation jointly shall appoint the mediator within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the written notice. The mediation proceedings shall commence and be diligently pursued by the parties to this Agreement within 15 calendar days of the appointment of the mediator. Each party to the mediation shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred with respect to the mediation. The cost of the mediator and the mediation procedure shall be borne equally by the parties to the mediation.

 

8.2. Arbitration. Any Dispute that cannot be settled or resolved by negotiation or through mediation to the satisfaction of all parties to the mediation within 90 days of the notice of the invocation of mediation pursuant to Section 8.1 above shall be resolved through binding arbitration. Any Party may invoke the right to arbitration set forth in this Section 8.2 by sending written notice to the other Party or parties of such invocation. The parties shall name a single arbitrator within 20 calendar days after such written notice. The arbitrator shall render a decision within 60 calendar days after his or her appointment and shall conduct all proceedings pursuant to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) governing commercial transactions, to the extent such rules are not inconsistent with Delaware law and this Agreement. Judgment upon the award rendered pursuant to the arbitration may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The cost of the arbitration procedure shall be borne by the losing party or, if the decision is not clearly in favor of one party or the other, then such costs shall be borne as determined by the arbitrator. The arbitration procedure provided for in this Agreement shall be binding arbitration and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any applicable Dispute. This Section 8.2 does not prohibit or limit any Party’s right to seek relief in court as permitted in accord with the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules.

 

  4  

 

 

9. Miscellaneous.

 

9.1. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

9.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter contained in this. Agreement. All prior and/or contemporaneous agreements, representations, and understandings of the parties, oral or written, pertaining to the subject matter contained in this Agreement are superseded by and merged in this Agreement. No supplement, modification, or amendment of this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and executed by the parties. All recitals are incorporated in this Agreement by reference and made an integral part hereof.

 

9.3. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section).

 

If to the Company:
Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation
1660 Lincoln Street 

Suite 2750 

Denver, CO 80264 

Attention:     Peter Cheesebrough

 

If to the Service Provider:
Gatos Silver, Inc.
8400 E. Crescent Pkwy 

Suite 600 

Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Attention:
     Roger Johnson
                      Adam Dubas

 

9.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the Parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

  5  

 

 

9.5. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

9.6. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each Party hereto.

 

9.7. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

9.8. Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, execute and deliver such additional documents, instruments, conveyances and assurances and take such further actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

9.9. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and will not limit or define the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

 

9.10. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify the Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be effectuated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

9.11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

  6  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

  COMPANY
 
  Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation
 
By: /s/ Peter Cheesbrough
    Name: Peter Cheesbrough
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

  SERVICE PROVIDER
 
  Gatos Silver, Inc.
 
By: /s/ Roger Johnson
    Name: Roger Johnson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Management Services Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

 

The descriptions below describe the type of services that are being performed and charged by Service Provider. As part of this Agreement, there may be additional services performed that benefit Company that will be charged using the same methodologies as described in Exhibit B.

 

Services – All areas of management / operational services related to the day to day management of the Company’s business, including (but not limited to) the following:

 

· Executive Services – Includes strategic management and other activities undertaken to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Company.

 

· Other Services – Includes corporate / back-office services such as IT coordination, accounting and planning software access, accounting, human resources, finance, coordination with service providers, preparation of financial statements, and negotiations with insurance providers, etc.

 

· IT Services – Includes information technology activities such access to, maintenance, and repair of Company network systems and periodic systems updates coordination.

 

[Signature Page to Management Services Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

COMPENSATION

 

The Company shall pay an amount of compensation to the Service Provider for the provision of the Services in an amount equal to the Service Provider’s direct and indirect bona fide costs incurred to provide such Services plus a 10% markup.

 

[Signature Page to Management Services Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

GATOS SILVER, INC.

 

and

 

THE STOCKHOLDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

 

Dated as of October 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

    Page
 
ARTICLE 1
Definitions
 
Section 1.01. Definitions 1
Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions 4
 
ARTICLE 2
Representations and Warranties
 
Section 2.01. Existence; Authority; Enforceability 4
Section 2.02. Absence of Conflicts 5
Section 2.03. Consents 5
 
ARTICLE 3
Governance
 
Section 3.01. Board of Directors 5
Section 3.02. Actions that Require Electrum Approval 6
Section 3.03. Information; Duties 7
 
ARTICLE 4
Transfers of Shares
 
Section 4.01. Rights and Obligations of Affiliate Stockholders 8
     
ARTICLE 5
General Provisions
Section 5.01. Further Assurances 8
Section 5.02. Assignment; Benefit 8
Section 5.03. Freedom to Pursue Opportunities 9
Section 5.04. Termination 10
Section 5.05. Subsequent Acquisition of Shares; Other Activities 10
Section 5.06. Severability 10
Section 5.07. Entire Agreement 10
Section 5.08. Amendment 10
Section 5.09. Waiver 10
Section 5.10. Counterparts 10
Section 5.11. Notices 11
Section 5.12. Governing Law 11
Section 5.13. Jurisdiction 12
Section 5.14. Waiver of Jury Trial 12
Section 5.15. Specific Performance 12
Section 5.16. Marketing Materials 12
Section 5.17. Adjustments 12
Section 5.18. No Third Party Beneficiaries 12
Section 5.19. Indemnification 13

 

i

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

THIS SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of October 30, 2020, is made by and among Gatos Silver, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the stockholders that are or become signatories hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively, the “Stockholders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholders beneficially own greater than a majority of the outstanding Company Shares (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, the Company is proposing to sell Company Shares to the public in an initial public offering (the “IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Stockholders and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain rights and obligations of the Stockholders and the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the Parties, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

Article 1
Definitions

 

Section 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affected Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

 

Affiliate” means (a) with respect to any Electrum Party, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, (b) with respect to the MERS Party, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person and (c) with respect to any other Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. It being understood and agreed that, for purposes hereof, (i) each Electrum Party shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of every other Electrum Party and each MERS Party shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of every other MERS Party, (ii) neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Stockholder, and, (iii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, no Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any other Stockholder.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

 

 

Change of Control” mean any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of the Company Shares or assets (including stock of its subsidiaries), or otherwise) as a result of which a Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is not one of the Sponsors (or any Affiliate of such Sponsor, or any officer, director, or employee of such Sponsor or its Affiliates) obtains beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, (i) of Company Shares which represent more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company or (ii) by lease, license, sale or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Company Shares” means common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever of the Company that may be issued by the Company after the date hereof in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, Company Shares, pursuant to any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations, reorganizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

 

Cure Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(e).

 

Defaulting Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(e).

 

Directed Opportunity” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(a).

 

Director” means a member of the Board of Directors.

 

Electrum Designee” means The Electrum Group LLC or its successors or assigns who is an Electrum Party or is an assignee of Electrum pursuant to Section 5.02.

 

Electrum Parties” means, collectively, Electrum Silver US LLC, Electrum Silver US II LLC, Tigris Financial Group Ltd., GRAT Holdings LLC and Manul Capital Management LLC and any Affiliates of the foregoing to whom Company Shares are Transferred by a Stockholder after the IPO Date in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Governing Documents” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended or modified from time to time, and the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.19.

 

Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.19.

 

independent director” means a Director who qualifies, as of the date of such Director’s election or appointment to the Board of Directors and as of any other date on which the determination is being made, as an “independent director” pursuant to SEC rules and applicable listing standards, as amended from time to time, as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

IPO Date” means the date on which the IPO is consummated.

 

MERS Party” means the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan and any Affiliates of the foregoing to whom Company Shares are Transferred by a Stockholder after the IPO Date in accordance with this Agreement.

 

2

 

 

Necessary Action” means, with respect to a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by law and by the Governing Documents) necessary to cause such result, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the Company Shares, (ii) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the Governing Documents, (iii) causing Directors (to the extent such Directors were nominated or designated by the Person obligated to undertake the Necessary Action, and subject to any fiduciary duties that such Directors may have as Directors) to act in a certain manner or causing them to be removed in the event they do not act in such a manner, (iv) executing agreements and instruments, and (v) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

Party” means the Company and the Stockholders party to this Agreement, including any Permitted Transferee who becomes a Party pursuant to Section 4.01.

 

Permitted Transferee” means in the case of any Stockholder, an Affiliate of such Stockholder.

 

Person” means an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, other entity, association, estate, unincorporated organization or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Proxy Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(e).

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and among the Company, the Stockholders and the other parties that are signatories thereto, as such agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance therewith.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed with, or to be filed with, the SEC under the Securities Act, including any related prospectus, amendments and supplement to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement other than a registration statement (and related prospectus) filed on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

 

Specified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(a).

 

Sponsor Director” means any Director designated by a Sponsor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Sponsors” means Electrum Silver US LLC and the MERS Party.

 

Stockholder” and “Stockholders” have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Stockholder Majority” means the consent or approval of the Stockholders (including, if applicable, the Stockholder(s) requesting a consent or approval) then owning a majority of the Company Shares then owned by all of the Stockholders.

 

3

 

 

Transfer” means (a) a direct or indirect transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of Company Shares, or any legal or beneficial interest therein, including the grant of an option or other right or the grant of any interest that would result in a Stockholder no longer having the power to vote, or cause to be voted, such Stockholder’s Company Shares, whether directly or indirectly, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law or (b) any agreement to take or commit to any of the foregoing actions; and “Transferred,” “Transferee,” “Transferor,” and “Transferability” shall each have a correlative meaning. For the avoidance of doubt, a transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of an interest in any Stockholder, or direct or indirect parent thereof, all or substantially all of whose assets are, directly or indirectly, Company Shares shall constitute a “Transfer” of Company Shares for purposes of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of an interest in any Stockholder, or direct or indirect parent thereof, which has substantial assets in addition to Company Shares shall not constitute a “Transfer” of Company Shares for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions.

 

(a)            The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

(b)            The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and any subsection and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(c)            The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”

 

(d)            The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(e)            Whenever the context requires, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms.

 

Article 2
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parties hereby represents and warrants, solely with respect to itself, to each other Party that:

 

Section 2.01. Existence; Authority; Enforceability. Such Party has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. Such Party is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and the execution of this Agreement, and the performance of its obligations hereunder, have been authorized by all necessary action, and no other act or proceeding on its part is necessary to authorize the execution of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as the same may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws, or by legal or equitable principles relating to or limiting the rights of contracting parties generally.

 

4

 

 

Section 2.02. Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by such Party of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder does not (a) conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of the constitutive documents of such Party; (b) result in any violation, breach, conflict, default or event of default (or an event which with notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default or event of default), or give rise to any right of acceleration or termination or any additional payment obligation, under the terms of any contract, agreement or permit to which such Party is a party or by which such Party’s assets or operations are bound or affected; or (c) violate any law applicable to such Party, except, in the case of clause (b), as would not have a material adverse effect on such Party’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 2.03. Consents. Other than as has already been obtained, no consent, waiver, approval, authorization, exemption, registration, license or declaration is required to be made or obtained by such Party in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, except in each case, as would not have a material adverse effect on such Party’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

Article 3
Governance

 

Section 3.01. Board of Directors.

 

(a)            From and after the date of this Agreement, the Electrum Parties, acting through the Electrum Designee, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate (a) a number of designees to the Board of Directors that is one fewer than a majority of the Board of Directors following all nominations pursuant to this Section 3.01 so long as the Electrum Parties beneficially own in the aggregate a number of Company Shares equal to at least 35% of the then outstanding Company Shares and (b) one designee to the Board of Directors so long as the Electrum Parties beneficially own in the aggregate a number of Company Shares equal to (x) less than 35% of the then outstanding Company Shares and (y) at least 5% of the then outstanding Company Shares. If the Electrum Parties beneficially own in the aggregate a number of Company Shares equal to less than 5% of the then outstanding Company Shares, the Electrum Parties shall not have the right pursuant to this Section 3.01(a) to nominate any designees to be elected to the Board of Directors. In the event that the Electrum Parties have not nominated the designees that the Electrum Parties are entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 3.01(b), the Electrum Parties, acting through the Electrum Designee, shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional designees to which they are entitled, in which case, the Stockholders shall take, or cause to be taken, all Necessary Action to (A) increase the size of the Board of Directors as required to enable the Electrum Parties to so nominate such additional designees and (B) appoint such additional designees nominated by the Electrum Parties to such newly created directorships.

 

(b)            From and after the date of this Agreement, the MERS Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate one designee to the Board of Directors so long as the MERS Party beneficially owns in the aggregate a number of Company Shares equal to at least 5% of the then outstanding Company Shares. If the MERS Party beneficially owns in the aggregate a number of Company Shares equal to less than 5% of the then outstanding Company Shares, the MERS Party shall not have the right pursuant to this Section 3.01(a) to nominate any designees to be elected to the Board of Directors. In the event that the MERS Party has not nominated the designee that the MERS Party is entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 3.01(b), the MERS Party shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such designee, in which case, the Stockholders shall take, or cause to be taken, all Necessary Action to (A) increase the size of the Board of Directors as required to enable the MERS Party to so nominate such designee and (B) appoint such designee nominated by the MERS Party to such newly created directorship.

 

5

 

 

(c)            Each of the Stockholders shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Board of Directors to be constituted as set forth in this Section 3.01 (including appointing or removing Sponsor designees and filling any vacancies created by reason of death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of a Sponsor’s designees with a new designee of such Sponsor) and shall vote all of such Stockholder’s Company Shares in favor of the election of the persons designated pursuant to this Section 3.01 to the Board of Directors. The Company agrees to use its best efforts to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board of Directors those persons designated pursuant to this Section 3.01 and to use its best efforts to cause the election or appointment of each such designee to the Board of Directors, including nominating such designees to be elected as Directors.

 

(d)            The Company shall reimburse the Sponsor Directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees thereof.

 

(e)            Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01, and in order to secure the performance of each Stockholder’s obligations under this Section 3.01, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints each other Stockholder that qualifies as a Proxy Holder (as defined below) the attorney-in-fact and proxy of such Stockholder (with full power of substitution) to vote or provide a written consent with respect to its Company Shares as described in this paragraph if, and only in the event that, such Stockholder fails to vote or provide a written consent with respect to its Company Shares in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.01 (each such Stockholder, a “Defaulting Stockholder”). Each Defaulting Stockholder shall have five Business Days from the date of a request for such vote or written consent (the “Cure Period”) to cure such failure. If after the Cure Period the Defaulting Stockholder has not cured such failure, any Stockholder whose designees to the Board of Directors were required to be approved or removed by the Defaulting Stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.01 but were not approved or removed by the Defaulting Stockholder, shall have, and is hereby irrevocably granted, a proxy to vote or provide a written consent with respect to each such Defaulting Stockholder’s Company Shares for the purposes of taking the actions required by this Section 3.01 (such Stockholder, a “Proxy Holder”), and of removing from office any Directors elected to the Board of Directors in lieu of the designees of the Proxy Holder who should have been elected pursuant to this Section 3.01. Each Stockholder intends this proxy to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and each Stockholder will take such further action and execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by it with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 3.01 with respect to the Company Shares owned by such Stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the power of attorney and proxy granted by this Section 3.01 shall be deemed to be revoked upon the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

(f)            To the extent that the number of Directors that the Electrum Parties or the MERS Party are entitled to designate pursuant to this Section 3.01 is reduced, the Electrum Parties or the MERS Party, as the case may be, shall cause the required number of Directors to promptly resign from the Board of Directors and any vacancies resulting from such resignation shall be filled by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Governing Documents and SEC rules and applicable listing standards then in effect.

 

Section 3.02. Actions that Require Electrum Approval. In addition to any other approval required by the Governing Documents or by applicable Law, and until such time as the Electrum Parties no longer own at least 35% of the then outstanding Company Shares, approval of the Electrum Designee shall be required for the Company or any of its subsidiaries to take any of the following actions, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall not take any of the following actions without approval of the Electrum Designee:

 

(a)            Change of Control. Enter into or effect a Change of Control.

 

(b)            Certain Dispositions. Directly or indirectly, enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions, involving the sale, lease, license, exchange or other disposal (including by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale of stock or sale of assets) by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries of any assets (including equity interests in any Person and any licenses) having a fair market value or for consideration having a fair market value (in each case as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors) in excess of $100,000,000, other than transactions solely between and among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

6

 

 

(c)            Certain Acquisitions and Joint Ventures. Enter into or effect (i) any transaction or series of related transactions involving the purchase, rent, lease, license, exchange or other acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or acquisition of assets) by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries of any assets and equity securities of any Person for consideration or (ii) any joint venture or similar business alliance involving investment, contribution or disposition by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries of assets (including stock of subsidiaries), in the case of each of (i) and (ii), having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors) in excess of $100,000,000, other than transactions solely between and among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

(d)            Certain Indebtedness. Other than borrowings under any debt agreement which previously received the approval of the Electrum Designee, authorize or permit the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries to (i) incur (or extend, supplement or otherwise modify any of the material terms of) any indebtedness (other than intercompany indebtedness among the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries), assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the indebtedness of any other Person (provided that the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries may provide cross-guarantees for any indebtedness that has been approved under this Section 3.02(d)), issue any debt securities, enter into any agreement under which it may incur indebtedness or issue debt securities in the future, in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000,000 for all such matters or (ii) make any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person (other than the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries), in each case outstanding at any time, in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000,000 for all such matters.

 

(e)            Equity Issuances. Authorize, create or issue any equity securities of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries (except as may be issued to the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries), issue any options or rights to acquire any equity securities of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or grant any registration rights in respect of any such securities, options or rights, except for (i) equity securities, options or rights to acquire equity securities and piggyback registration rights issued or granted pursuant to management and employee incentive plans approved by the Board of Directors or (ii) other issuances (other than to current or former employees, consultants or directors) of equity securities or options or rights to acquire equity securities with a value (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors) not in excess of $100,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

(f)            Dissolution; Liquidation; Reorganization; Bankruptcy. Dissolve, liquidate or engage in any recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary (which such subsidiary individually or in the aggregate is material to the Company) or initiate a voluntary liquidation, dissolution, receivership, bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding involving the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary (which such subsidiary individually or in the aggregate is material to the Company).

 

Section 3.03. Actions Requiring Consultation with Electrum. In addition to any other approval required by the Governing Documents or by applicable Law, and until such time as the Electrum Parties no longer own at least 35% of the then outstanding Company Shares, the Company, its officers or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, must consult with the Electrum Designee for the Company or any of its subsidiaries to take any of the following actions, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall not take any of the following actions without prior consultation with the Electrum Designee and providing the opportunity for the Electrum Designee to comment; provided that the Company, its officers or the Board of Directors, as the case may be shall consider any comments provided but shall not be required to accept any such comments:

 

7

 

 

(a)            Key Officers. Hire or remove, with or without cause, or enter into, renew, retain, materially modify (including a change in responsibilities) or terminate any employment contract with the executive chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief operating officer of the Company from time to time.

 

(b)            Annual Capital Expenditure Budget. Approve the capital expenditure budget for any fiscal year of the Company.

 

Section 3.04. Information; Duties.

 

(a)            The Company and the Stockholders agree that the Directors designated by the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party may share confidential, non-public information about the Company with the Electrum Parties, the MERS Party and their respective Affiliates, provided that such Parties agree to keep such information confidential (except as may be required by law or applicable listing standards then in effect) and agree to comply with all applicable securities laws in connection therewith.

 

(b)            The Company and the Stockholders agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement or at law or in equity, when any of the Stockholders (in their capacity as Stockholders) takes any action under this Agreement to give or withhold its consent, such Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to consider the interests of the Company or the other Stockholders or any other stockholders of the Company and may act exclusively in its and its Affiliates’ own interests; provided, however, that the foregoing shall in no way affect the obligations of the Parties to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Article 4
Transfers of Shares

 

Section 4.01. Rights and Obligations of Affiliate Stockholders. Any Transfer of Company Shares to any Affiliate of a Stockholder shall be permitted hereunder only if such Affiliate agrees in writing that it shall, upon such Transfer, assume with respect to such Company Shares the Transferor’s obligations under this Agreement and become a Party for such purpose and be treated as a Stockholder for all purposes of this Agreement, and become a party to any other applicable agreement or instrument executed and delivered by such Transferor in respect of the Company Shares.

 

Article 5
General Provisions

 

Section 5.01. Further Assurances. The Parties shall take all Necessary Action in order to give full effect to this Agreement and every provision hereof. Each of the Company and the Stockholders shall take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary to ensure at all times that the Company’s Governing Documents are not at any time inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, each Party shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other Party reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.02. Assignment; Benefit. The rights and obligations hereunder shall not be assigned without the prior written consent of the Company and the Stockholder Majority, except in connection with a Transfer of Company Shares to an Affiliate in compliance with Article 4 or in connection with the Transfer of all Company Shares held by the Electrum Parties or the MERS Party to a third party. Any assignment of rights or obligations in violation of this Section 5.02 shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

8

 

 

Section 5.03. Freedom to Pursue Opportunities.

 

(a)            To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest, duty or expectancy of the Company and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any of either the Electrum Parties or MERS Party or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, members, partners, Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Company and its subsidiaries) (each, a “Specified Party”), even if the opportunity is one that the Company or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and each such Specified Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Company and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a Director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Specified Party pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another Person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Company or its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Party who is a Director or officer of the Company and who is offered a business opportunity in his or her capacity as a Director or officer of the Company (a “Directed Opportunity”) shall be obligated to communicate such Directed Opportunity to the Company, provided, however, that all of the protections of this Section 5.03 shall otherwise apply to the Specified Parties with respect to such Directed Opportunity, including, without limitation, the ability of the Specified Parties to pursue or acquire such Directed Opportunity or to direct such Directed Opportunity to another Person.

 

(b)            Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 5.03, nor the adoption of any provision of the Governing Documents, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

(c)            If any provision or provisions of this Section 5.03 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 5.03 (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Section 5.03 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Section 5.03 (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Section 5.03 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Company to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(d)            This Section 5.03 shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification rights of, any director or officer of the Company under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

 

9

 

 

Section 5.04. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the first day that none of the Stockholders has the right to nominate a Director pursuant to Section 3.01; provided that termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party for liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

Section 5.05. Subsequent Acquisition of Shares; Other Activities. Any Company Shares acquired subsequent to the date hereof by a Stockholder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.06. Severability. Except as set forth with greater specificity in Section 5.03(c), in the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be construed by limiting it so as to be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent provided by law and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 5.07. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Governing Documents, the Registration Rights Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to the matters referred to herein.

 

Section 5.08. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or terminated (other than pursuant to Section 5.04) except with the written consent of the Stockholder Majority; provided that, any amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or termination that (a) materially and adversely affects the rights of any Stockholder under this Agreement disproportionately vis-à-vis any other Stockholder (each an “Affected Stockholder”) will require both (i) the written consent of the Stockholder Majority and (ii) the written consent of Affected Stockholders holding a majority of the then outstanding Company Shares then held by all Affected Stockholders and (b) adversely affects the rights of the Company under this Agreement, imposes additional obligations on the Company, or amends or modifies Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Article 5, and any corresponding definitions in Article 1, will require both (i) the written consent of the Stockholder Majority and (ii) the written consent of the Company with the approval of a majority of the independent directors of the Company.

 

Section 5.09. Waiver. Except as set forth in Section 5.08, no waiver of any breach of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless such waiver is expressly made in writing and executed and delivered by the Party against whom such waiver is claimed. Waiver by any Party of any breach or default by any other Party of any of the terms of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach or default, whether similar to or different from the breach or default waived. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be implied from any course of dealing between the Parties or from any failure by any Party to assert its or his or her rights hereunder on any occasion or series of occasions.

 

Section 5.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

10

 

 

Section 5.11. Notices. Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices, consents, approvals, reports, designations, requests, waivers, elections and other communications authorized or required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given, made or delivered (and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made or delivered upon receipt) by personal hand-delivery, by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail, by mailing the same in a sealed envelope, registered first-class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, addressed to the Company, the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party at the address set forth below:

 

(a)           if to the Company, to:

 

Gatos Silver, Inc.
8400 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 600
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Attention: Roger Johnson
Fax: (303) 784-5351
E-mail: roger.johnson@ssmines.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Richard D. Truesdell, Jr.
Facsimile No.:      (212) 701-5674
E-mail:      richard.truesdell@davispolk.com

 

with a copy to the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party at the address listed below.

 

If to the Electrum Parties, to:

 

The Electrum Group LLC
535 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor 

New York, NY 10022
Attention: Andrew M. Shapiro
Fax: (646) 365-1637
Email: ashapiro@tigris.com

 

If to the MERS Party, to:

 

Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan
1134 Municipal Way

Lansing, MI 48917
Attention: Brian LaVictoire
Fax: (517) 703-9722
Email: blavictoire@mersofmich.com

 

Section 5.12. Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflict-of-laws rule or principle (whether of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that might refer the governance or the construction of this Agreement to the law of another jurisdiction.

 

11

 

 

Section 5.13. Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. Each Party hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the respective addresses set forth in Section 5.11 shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement.

 

Section 5.14. Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF. The Company or any Stockholder may file an original counterpart or a copy of this Section 5.14 with any court as written evidence of the consent of any of the Parties to the waiver of their rights to trial by jury.

 

Section 5.15. Specific Performance. It is hereby agreed and acknowledged that it will be impossible to measure the money damages that would be suffered if the Parties fail to comply with any of the obligations imposed on them by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved party will be irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law. Each party shall, therefore, be entitled (in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be entitled at law or in equity) to seek injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such obligations, without the posting of any bond, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.

 

Section 5.16. Marketing Materials. The Company grants each of the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates permission to use the Company’s name and logo in marketing materials of such Stockholder or any of its Affiliates. The Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, as applicable, shall include a trademark attribution notice giving notice of the Company’s ownership of its trademarks in the marketing materials in which the Company’s name and logo appear.

 

Section 5.17. Adjustments. All references in this Agreement to Company Shares shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations, reorganizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

 

Section 5.18. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as specifically provided in Section 5.02 and as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Person, except for the parties, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

12

 

 

Section 5.19. Indemnification. The Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold the Stockholders and each of their respective partners, stockholders, members, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees and agents of each of the partners, stockholders, members, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees and agents of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) free and harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, liabilities, losses, damages and costs and other out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnified Parties or any of them before or after the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), arising out of any actual or threatened action, cause of action, suit, or claim arising directly or indirectly out of such Stockholder’s or its other Indemnified Party’s actual, alleged or deemed control or ability to influence the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the actual or alleged act or omission of such Stockholder’s Director nominee(s) including for any alleged act or omission arising out of or in connection with the IPO (other than any such Indemnified Liabilities that arise out of any breach of this Agreement by such Indemnified Party or other related Persons); provided that if and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unavailable or unenforceable for any reason, the Company hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The rights of any Indemnified Party to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights any such Person may have under any other agreement or instruction to which such Indemnified Party is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under law or regulation or under the Governing Documents of the Company or constitutive documents of any of its subsidiaries and shall extend to such Indemnified Party’s successors and assigns. Each of the Indemnified Parties shall be a third party beneficiary of the rights conferred to such Indemnified Party in this Section 5.19.

 

* * *

 

13

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties set forth below have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

  GATOS SILVER, INC.
       
     
  By: /s/ Roger Johnson
    Name: Roger Johnson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]

 

 

 

ELECTRUM SILVER US LLC    
     
     
By: /s/ Andrew Shapiro    
  Name: Andrew Shapiro    
  Title: Managing Director    
     
     
ELECTRUM SILVER US II LLC    
     
     
By: /s/ Andrew Shapiro    
  Name: Andrew Shapiro    
  Title: Managing Director    
     
     
TIGRIS FINANCIAL GROUP LTD.    
     
     
By: /s/ Andrew Shapiro    
  Name: Andrew Shapiro    
  Title: President    
     
     
GRAT HOLDINGS LLC    
     
     
By: /s/ Andrew Shapiro    
  Name: Andrew Shapiro    
  Title: President    
     
     
MANUL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC    
     
     
By: /s/ Andrew Shapiro    
  Name: Andrew Shapiro    
  Title: President    
     
     
THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF MICHIGAN    
     
     
By: /s/ Brian LaVictoire    
  Name: Brian LaVictoire    
  Title: Deputy General Counsel for Investments & Compliance    

 

[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]

 

 

  

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 30, 2020
among

 

GATOS SILVER, INC.

 


and

 

THE STOCKHOLDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  

 

 

  Page
   
Article 1
Definitions
   
Section 1.01. Definitions 1
   
Section 1.02. Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions 4
   
Article 2
Registration Rights
   
Section 2.01. Demand Registration 5
   
Section 2.02. Piggyback Registration 6
   
Section 2.03. Lock-Up Agreements 7
   
Section 2.04. Registration Procedures 7
   
Section 2.05. Indemnification by the Company 10
   
Section 2.06. Indemnification by Participating Stockholders 11
   
Section 2.07. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings 11
   
Section 2.08. Contribution 12
   
Section 2.09. Participation in Public Offering 13
   
Section 2.10. Other Indemnification 13
   
Section 2.11. Cooperation by the Company 13
   
Section 2.12. No Transfer of Registration Rights 13
   
Article 3
Miscellaneous
   
Section 3.01. Binding Effect; Assignability; Benefit 13
   
Section 3.02. Notices 13
   
Section 3.03. Waiver; Amendment; Termination 14
   
Section 3.04. Governing Law 15
   
Section 3.05. Jurisdiction 15
   
Section 3.06. Waiver of Jury Trial 15
   
Section 3.07. Specific Performance 15
   
Section 3.08. Counterparts; Effectiveness 15
   
Section 3.09. Entire Agreement 15
   
Section 3.10. Severability 16

  

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of October 30, 2020, is made by and among Gatos Silver, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the stockholders that are or become signatories hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively, the “Stockholders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is proposing to sell Shares to the public in an initial public offering (the “IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Stockholders and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain rights and obligations of the Stockholders and the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article 1
Definitions

 

Section 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” means (a) with respect to any Electrum Party, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, (b) with respect to the MERS Party, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person and (c) with respect to any other Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. It being understood and agreed that, for purposes hereof, (i) each Electrum Party shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of every other Electrum Party, (ii) neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Stockholder, and, (iii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, no Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any other Stockholder.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Common Equivalents” means (i) with respect to Common Stock, the number of Shares and (ii) with respect to any Company Securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, the number of Shares issuable in respect of the conversion or exchange of such securities into Common Stock.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever of the Company that may be issued by the Company after the date hereof in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, Common Stock, pursuant to any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations, reorganizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

 

 

 

 

Company Securities” means (i) the Common Stock, (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock and (iii) any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Common Stock.

 

Electrum Parties” means, collectively, Electrum Silver US LLC, Electrum Silver US II LLC, Tigris Financial Group Ltd., GRAT Holdings LLC and Manul Capital Management LLC and any Affiliates of the foregoing to whom Common Stock is Transferred by a Stockholder (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) after the IPO Date in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Fully-Diluted” means all outstanding Shares, all Shares issuable in respect of all outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock and all Shares issuable in respect of all outstanding options, warrants and other rights to acquire Common Stock; provided that, if any of the foregoing Company Securities are subject to vesting, such Company Securities subject to vesting shall be included in the definition of “Fully-Diluted” only upon and to the extent of such vesting.

 

IPO Date” means the date on which the IPO is consummated.

 

MERS Party” means Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan and any Affiliates of the foregoing to whom Common Stock is Transferred by a Stockholder (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) after the IPO Date in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement.

 

Other Stockholders” means all Stockholders other than the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party.

 

Person” means an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, other entity, association, estate, unincorporated organization or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Public Offering” means an underwritten public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or successor form.

 

Registrable Securities” means, at any time, any Shares until (i) a registration statement covering such Shares has been declared effective by the SEC and such Shares have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (ii) such Shares are sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met or (iii) such Shares are otherwise Transferred, the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such Shares not bearing a restricted legend and such Shares may be resold without subsequent registration under the Securities Act.

 

2 

 

 

Registration Expenses” means any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with any registration or marketing of Company Securities, including all (i) registration and filing fees, and all other fees and expenses payable in connection with the listing of securities on any securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with any securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the securities registered), (iii) expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, mailing and delivery of any registration statements, prospectuses and other documents in connection therewith and any amendments or supplements thereto, (iv) security engraving and printing expenses, (v) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses relating to any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent certified public accountants of any comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 2.04(h)), (vii) reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company (including independent mining consultants) in connection with such registration, (viii) reasonable fees, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Stockholders, including one counsel for all of the Stockholders participating in the offering selected (A) by the Electrum Parties, in the case of any offering in which any of the Electrum Parties participates, or (B) if no Electrum Parties participate and if the MERS Party participates, then the MERS Party, (ix) fees and expenses in connection with any review by FINRA of the underwriting arrangements or other terms of the offering, and all fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” including the fees and expenses of any counsel thereto, (x) fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (xi) costs of printing and producing any agreements among underwriters, underwriting agreements, any “blue sky” or legal investment memoranda and any selling agreements and other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of the Registrable Securities, (xii) transfer agents’ and registrars’ fees and expenses and the fees and expenses of any other agent or trustee appointed in connection with such offering, (xiii) expenses relating to any analyst or investor presentations or any “road shows” undertaken in connection with the registration, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities, (xiv) fees and expenses payable in connection with any ratings of the Registrable Securities, including expenses relating to any presentations to rating agencies and (xv) all out-of pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or its appropriate officers in connection with their compliance with Section 2.04(m).

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 (or any successor provisions) under the Securities Act.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

 

Shareholders Agreement” means the shareholders agreement entered into among the Company, the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party dated as October 30, 2020.

 

Transfer” means (a) a direct or indirect transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of Common Stock, or any legal or beneficial interest therein, including the grant of an option or other right or the grant of any interest that would result in a Stockholder no longer having the power to vote, or cause to be voted, such Stockholder’s Common Stock, whether directly or indirectly, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law or (b) any agreement to take or commit to any of the foregoing actions; and “Transferred,” “Transferee,” “Transferor,” and “Transferability” shall each have a correlative meaning. For the avoidance of doubt, a transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of an interest in any Stockholder, or direct or indirect parent thereof, all or substantially all of whose assets are, directly or indirectly, Company Shares shall constitute a “Transfer” of Common Stock for purposes of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of an interest in any Stockholder, or direct or indirect parent thereof, which has substantial assets in addition to Common Stock shall not constitute a “Transfer” of Common Stock for purposes of this Agreement.

 

3 

 

 

(a)            Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:

 

Term   Section  
Company   Preamble  
Damages   2.05  
Demand Registration   2.01(a)
Indemnified Party   2.07  
Indemnifying Party   2.07  
Inspectors   2.04(g)
IPO   Preamble  
Maximum Offering Size   2.01(c)
Piggyback Registration   2.02(a)
Records   2.04(g)
Registering Stockholders   2.01(a)
Requesting Stockholder   2.01(a)
Shelf Registration   2.01(f)
Stockholder   Preamble  

 

Section 1.02. Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions.

 

(a)            The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

(b)            The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and any subsection and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(c)            The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”

 

(d)            The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(e)            Whenever the context requires, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms.

 

4 

 

 

Article 2
Registration Rights

 

Section 2.01. Demand Registration.

 

(a)      If at any time following the expiration of the period during which the managing underwriters for the IPO shall prohibit the Company from effecting any other public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities, the Company shall receive a request from either the Electrum Parties or the MERS Party (that party shall be referred to herein as the “Requesting Stockholder”) that the Company effected the registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of such Requesting Stockholder’s Registrable Securities, and specifying the intended method of disposition thereof, then the Company shall promptly give notice of such requested registration (each such request shall be referred to herein as a “Demand Registration”) at least 2 Business Days prior to the anticipated pricing date of the offering relating to such Demand Registration to the other Stockholders and thereupon shall use its best efforts to effect, as expeditiously as possible, the registration under the Securities Act of:

 

(i)            all Registrable Securities for which the Requesting Stockholders have requested registration under this Section 2.01; and

 

(ii)            subject to the restrictions set forth in Sections 2.01(d) and 2.02, all other Registrable Securities of the same class as those requested to be registered by the Requesting Stockholders that any Stockholders with rights to request registration under Section 2.01 (all such Stockholders, together with the Requesting Stockholders, and any Stockholders participating in a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.02, the “Registering Stockholders”) have requested the Company to register by request received by the Company within 1 Business Day after such Stockholders receive the Company’s notice of the Demand Registration;

 

all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be registered; provided that, subject to Section 2.01(c), the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than three Demand Registrations within a 12-month period.

 

(b)            The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Demand Registration, regardless of whether such Registration is effected.

 

(c)            A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have occurred:

 

(i)            unless the registration statement relating thereto (A) has become effective under the Securities Act and (B) has remained effective for a period of at least 180 days (or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities of the Registering Shareholders included in such registration have actually been sold thereunder); provided that such registration statement shall not be considered a Demand Registration if, after such registration statement becomes effective, (1) such registration statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court and (2) less than 75% of the Registrable Securities included in such registration statement have been sold thereunder; or

 

(ii)            if the Maximum Offering Size is reduced in accordance with Section 2.01(d) such that less than 66 2/3% of the Registrable Securities of the Requesting Shareholders sought to be included in such registration are included.

 

5 

 

 

(d)            If a Demand Registration involves an underwritten Public Offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company and the Requesting Stockholders that, in its view, the number of shares of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration (including any securities that the Company proposes to be included that are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the largest number of shares that can be sold without having an adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such shares can be sold (the “Maximum Offering Size”), the Company shall include in such registration, in the priority listed below, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

 

(i)            first, all Registrable Securities of a party with rights under Section 2.01 (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such entities on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities so requested to be included in such registration by each such Stockholder); and

 

(ii)            second, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Registering Stockholder or Person, including the Company (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such other Stockholders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities so requested to be included in such registration by each such Stockholder).

 

(e)            Upon notice to each Requesting Stockholder, the Company may postpone effecting a registration pursuant to this Section 2.01 on one occasion during any period of six consecutive months for a reasonable time specified in the notice but not exceeding 90 days (which period may not be extended or renewed), if (i) an investment banking firm of recognized national standing shall advise the Company and the Requesting Stockholders in writing that effecting the registration would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities of such Company the preparation of which had then been commenced or (ii) the Company is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which during the period specified in such notice the Company reasonably believes would not be in the best interests of the Company.

 

(f)            At any time following the consummation of the IPO, upon the request of the Electrum Parties, the Company shall use its best efforts to file a “shelf” registration statement (the “Shelf Registration”) with respect to the Registrable Securities on an appropriate form pursuant to Rule 415 (or any similar provision that may be adopted by the SEC) under the Securities Act and to cause such Shelf Registration to become effective and to keep such Shelf Registration in effect until the Stockholders no longer hold any Registrable Securities. Any offer or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration in any underwritten Public Offering shall be deemed to be a Demand Registration subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(a).

 

Section 2.02. Piggyback Registration

 

(a)      If the Company proposes to register any Company Securities under the Securities Act (other than a registration on Form S-8, S-4 or F-4, or any successor forms, relating to Shares issuable upon exercise of employee stock options or in connection with any employee benefit or similar plan of the Company or in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition by the Company of another Person), whether or not for sale for its own account, the Company shall each such time give prompt notice at least 2 Business Days prior to the anticipated pricing date of the offering relating to such registration to each Stockholder, which notice shall set forth such Stockholder’s rights under this Section 2.02 and shall offer such Stockholder the opportunity to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities of the same class or series as those proposed to be registered as each such Stockholder may request (a “Piggyback Registration”), subject to the provisions of Section 2.02(b). Upon the request of any such Stockholder made within 1 Business Day after the receipt of notice from the Company (which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be registered by such Stockholder), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to register by all such Stockholders, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered; provided that (i) if such registration involves an underwritten Public Offering, all such Stockholders requesting to be included in the Company’s registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section 2.04(f) on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company or the Requesting Stockholders, as applicable, and (ii) if, at any time after giving notice of its intention to register any Company Securities pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such securities, the Company shall give notice to all such Stockholders and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration. No registration effected under this Section 2.02 shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect a Demand Registration to the extent required by Section 2.01. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each Piggyback Registration.

 

6 

 

 

(b)            If a Piggyback Registration involves an underwritten Public Offering (other than any Demand Registration, in which case the provisions with respect to priority of inclusion in such offering set forth in Section 2.01(d) shall apply) and the managing underwriter advises the Company that, in its view, the number of Registrable Securities that the Company and such Stockholders intend to include in such registration exceeds the Maximum Offering Size, the Company shall include in such registration, in the following priority, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

 

(i)            first, so much of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered for the account of the Company as would not cause the offering to exceed the Maximum Offering Size;

 

(ii)            second, all Registrable Securities of a party with rights under Section 2.01 (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Stockholders on the basis of the relative number of shares of Registrable Securities so requested to be included in such registration by each); and

 

(iii)           third, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any Stockholders who do not have Demand Registration rights pursuant to Section 2.01 (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Stockholders on the basis of the relative number of shares of Registrable Securities so requested to be included in such registration by each such Stockholder).

 

Section 2.03. Lock-Up Agreements. If any registration of Registrable Securities shall be effected in connection with a Public Offering, neither the Company nor any Stockholder who is a director or executive officer of the Company shall effect any public sale or distribution, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, of Registrable Securities during the period beginning 14 days prior to the anticipated pricing of the offering until 180 days following the pricing of the offering (subject to customary exceptions to be agreed upon with the lead-managing underwriter for the Public Offering).

 

Section 2.04. Registration Procedures. Whenever Stockholders request that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.02, subject to the provisions of such Sections, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof as quickly as practicable, and, in connection with any such request:

 

(a)            The Company shall as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or that counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such filed registration statement to become and remain effective for a period of not less than 180 days, or in the case of a shelf registration statement, one year (or such shorter period in which all of the Registrable Securities of the Stockholders included in such registration statement shall have actually been sold thereunder).

 

7 

 

 

(b)            Prior to filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall, if requested, furnish to each participating Stockholder and each underwriter, if any, of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of such registration statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter the Company shall furnish to such Stockholder and underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424, Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act and such other documents as such Stockholder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Stockholder. Each Stockholder shall have the right to request that the Company modify any information contained in such registration statement, amendment and supplement thereto pertaining to such Stockholder and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to comply with such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not have any obligation so to modify any information if the Company reasonably expects that so doing would cause the prospectus to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)            After the filing of the registration statement, the Company shall (i) cause the related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, (ii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Securities covered by such registration statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Stockholders thereof set forth in such registration statement or supplement to such prospectus and (iii) promptly notify each Stockholder holding Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC or any state securities commission and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.

 

(d)            The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Registering Stockholder holding such Registrable Securities reasonably (in light of such Stockholder’s intended plan of distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Stockholder to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Stockholder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 2.04(d), (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

8 

 

 

(e)            The Company shall immediately notify each Registering Stockholder holding such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and promptly prepare and make available to each such Stockholder and file with the SEC any such supplement or amendment.

 

(f)            The Electrum Parties shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to select an underwriter or underwriters in connection with any Public Offering resulting from the exercise by the Electrum Parties of a Demand Registration. The Company shall select an underwriter or underwriters in connection with any other Public Offering. In connection with any Public Offering, the Company shall enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such all other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in any such Public Offering, including the engagement of a “qualified independent underwriter” in connection with the qualification of the underwriting arrangements with FINRA.

 

(g)            Upon execution of confidentiality agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall make available for inspection by any Stockholder and any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a registration statement being filed by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.04 and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such Stockholder or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records (including technical information), pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary or desirable to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such registration statement. Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such registration statement or (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Each Stockholder agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it or its Affiliates as the basis for any market transactions in the Registrable Securities unless and until such information is made generally available to the public. Each Stockholder further agrees that, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

 

(h)            The Company shall furnish to each Registering Stockholder and to each such underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such Registering Stockholder or underwriter, of (i) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters of the kind customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as a majority of such Stockholders or the managing underwriter therefor reasonably requests.

 

(i)            The Company shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement or such other document that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the requirements of Rule 158 thereunder.

 

9 

 

 

(j)            The Company may require each Stockholder promptly to furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request and such other information as may be legally required in connection with such registration.

 

(k)            Each Stockholder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.04(e), such Stockholder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Stockholder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.04(e), and, if so directed by the Company, such Stockholder shall deliver to the Company all copies, other than any permanent file copies then in such Stockholder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give such notice, the Company shall extend the period during which such registration statement shall be maintained effective (including the period referred to in Section 2.04(a)) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of notice pursuant to Section 2.04(e) to the date when the Company shall make available to such Stockholder a prospectus supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section 2.04(e).

 

(l)            The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement on any securities exchange or quotation system on which any of the Registrable Securities are then listed or traded.

 

(m)            The Company shall have appropriate officers of the Company (i) prepare and make presentations at any “road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, (ii) take other actions to obtain ratings for any Registrable Securities and (iii) otherwise use their reasonable best efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.

 

Section 2.05. Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Stockholder beneficially owning any Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement, its officers, directors, employees, partners and agents, and each Person, if any, who controls such Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (“Damages”) caused by or relating 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 or free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), or caused by or relating to 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, except insofar as such Damages are caused by or related to any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission so made based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by such Stockholder or on such Stockholder’s behalf expressly for use therein. The Company also agrees to indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Stockholders provided in this Section 2.05.

 

10 

 

 

Section 2.06. Indemnification by Participating Stockholders. Each Stockholder holding Registrable Securities included in any registration statement agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Stockholder, but only with respect to information furnished in writing by such Stockholder or on such Stockholder’s behalf expressly for use in any registration statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus. Each such Stockholder also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Company provided in this Section 2.06. As a condition to including Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with Article 2, the Company may require that it shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from any underwriter to indemnify and hold it harmless to the extent customarily provided by underwriters with respect to similar securities. No Stockholder shall be liable under this Section 2.06 for any Damages in excess of the net proceeds realized by such Stockholder in the sale of Registrable Securities of such Stockholder to which such Damages relate.

 

Section 2.07. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Article 2, such Person (an “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure to notify. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnified Party representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Indemnified Parties, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Parties from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason of such settlement or judgment. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, no Indemnifying Party shall effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such proceeding.

 

11 

 

 

Section 2.08. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article 2 is unavailable to the Indemnified Parties in respect of any Damages, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Damages (i) as between the Company and the Stockholders holding Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement on the one hand and the underwriters on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and such Stockholders on the one hand and the underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Registrable Securities, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and such Stockholders on the one hand and of such underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations and (ii) as between the Company on the one hand and each such Stockholder on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and of each such Stockholder in connection with such statements or omissions, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and such Stockholders on the one hand and such underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company and such Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and such Stockholders on the one hand and of such underwriters on the other 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 the Company and such Stockholders or by such underwriters. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of each such Stockholder on the other 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.

 

The Company and the Stockholders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.08 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Damages referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph 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 Section 2.08, no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any Damages that such underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and no Stockholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities of such Stockholder were offered to the public (less underwriters’ discounts and commissions) exceeds the amount of any Damages that such Stockholder 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. Each Stockholder’s obligation to contribute pursuant to this Section 2.08 is several in the proportion that the proceeds of the offering received by such Stockholder bears to the total proceeds of the offering received by all such Stockholders and not joint.

 

12 

 

 

Section 2.09. Participation in Public Offering. No Stockholder may participate in any Public Offering hereunder unless such Stockholder (i) agrees to sell such Stockholder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and the provisions of this Agreement in respect of registration rights.

 

Section 2.10. Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified herein (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Stockholder participating therein with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any federal or state law or regulation or governmental authority other than the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.11. Cooperation by the Company. If any Stockholder shall transfer any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall cooperate, to the extent commercially reasonable, with such Stockholder and shall provide to such Stockholder such information as such Stockholder shall reasonably request.

 

Section 2.12. No Transfer of Registration Rights. None of the rights of Stockholders under this Article 2 shall be assignable by any Stockholder to any Person acquiring Securities in any Public Offering or pursuant to Rule 144, except a transfer to an Affiliate of an Electrum Party or the MERS Party in accordance with Article 4 of the Shareholders Agreement or in connection with the transfer of all Common Stock held by the Electrum Parties or the MERS Party to a third party.

 

Article 3
Miscellaneous

 

Section 3.01. Binding Effect; Assignability; Benefit.

 

(a)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. Any Stockholder that ceases to own beneficially any Company Securities shall cease to be bound by the terms hereof (other than (i) the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08 and 2.10 applicable to such Stockholder with respect to any offering of Registrable Securities completed before the date such Stockholder ceased to own any Company Securities and (ii) Sections 3.02, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06 and 3.07).

 

(b)      Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.02. Notices. Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices, consents, approvals, reports, designations, requests, waivers, elections and other communications authorized or required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given, made or delivered (and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made or delivered upon receipt) by personal hand-delivery, by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail, by mailing the same in a sealed envelope, registered first-class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, addressed to the Company, the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party at the address set forth below or to the applicable Stockholder at the address indicated on Annex A hereto (or at such other address for a Stockholder as shall be specified by like notice):

 

13 

 

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Gatos Silver, Inc.
8400 E. Crescent Pkwy 

Suite 600
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Attention: Roger Johnson
Fax: (303) 784-5351
E-mail: roger.johnson@ssmines.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Richard D. Truesdell, Jr.
Facsimile No.: (212) 701-5674
E-mail:      richard.truesdell@davispolk.com

 

with a copy to the Electrum Parties and the MERS Party at the address listed below.

 

If to the Electrum Parties, to:

 

Tigris Financial Group Ltd.
535 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor 

New York, NY 10022
Attention: Andrew M. Shapiro
Fax: (646) 365-1637
Email: ashapiro@tigris.com

 

If to the MERS Party, to:

 

Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan
1134 Municipal Way 

Lansing, MI 48917
Attention: Brian LaVictoire
Fax: (517) 703-9722
Email: blavictoire@mersofmich.com

 

Any Person that becomes a Stockholder shall provide its address and fax number to the Company, which shall promptly provide such information to each other Stockholder.

 

Section 3.03. Waiver; Amendment; Termination.

 

(a)      Subject to Section 3.03(b), no provision of this Agreement may be amended, waived or otherwise modified except by an instrument in writing executed by the Company with approval of the Board of Directors and Stockholders holding at least a majority of all Shares (as determined on a Common Equivalents and Fully-Diluted basis), held by the parties hereto at the time of such proposed amendment or modification. In addition, any party may waive any provision of this Agreement with respect to itself by an instrument in writing executed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

14 

 

 

(b)            In addition, any amendment, waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement that would materially and adversely affect any Stockholder in a manner that is disparate from the manner in which it affects other Stockholders may be effected only with the consent of the Stockholder so affected.

 

Section 3.04. Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflict-of-laws rule or principle (whether of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that might refer the governance or the construction of this Agreement to the law of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 3.05. Jurisdiction. Each of the parties (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. Each Party hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the respective addresses set forth in Section 3.02 shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement.

 

Section 3.06. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF. The Company or any Stockholder may file an original counterpart or a copy of this Section 3.06 with any court as written evidence of the consent of any of the Parties to the waiver of their rights to trial by jury.

 

Section 3.07. Specific Performance. It is hereby agreed and acknowledged that it will be impossible to measure the money damages that would be suffered if the parties fail to comply with any of the obligations imposed on them by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved party will be irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law. Each party shall, therefore, be entitled (in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be entitled at law or in equity) to seek injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such obligations, without the posting of any bond, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.

 

Section 3.08. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original.

 

Section 3.09. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Stockholder Agreement and the Subscription Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, both oral and written, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

15 

 

 

Section 3.10. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be construed by limiting it so as to be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent provided by law and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

 

16 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

  

  THE COMPANY:
   
   
  GATOS SILVER, INC.
   
   
By: /s/ Roger Johnson
  Name: Roger Johnson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

  

  THE ELECTRUM PARTIES:
   
ELECTRUM SILVER US LLC
   
   
By: /s/ Andrew M. Shapiro
  Name: Andrew M. Shapiro
  Title: Managing Director

 

 

  ELECTRUM SILVER US II LLC
   
   
By: /s/ Andrew M. Shapiro
  Name: Andrew M. Shapiro
  Title: Managing Director

 

  TIGRIS FINANCIAL GROUP LTD.
   
   
By: /s/ Andrew M. Shapiro
  Name: Andrew M. Shapiro
  Title: President

 

  GRAT HOLDINGS LLC
   
   
By: /s/ Andrew M. Shapiro
  Name: Andrew M. Shapiro
  Title: President

 

  MANUL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
   
   
By: /s/ Andrew M. Shapiro
  Name: Andrew M. Shapiro
  Title: President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  THE MERS PARTY:
   
   
  THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF MICHIGAN
   
   
By: /s/ Brian LaVictoire
  Name:  Brian LaVictoire
  Title:    Deputy General Counsel for Investments & Compliance

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Annex A

 

Other Stockholder Addresses

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Gatos Silver Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

 

Denver, CO — October 27, 2020 — Gatos Silver, Inc. (“Gatos Silver”), a U.S.-based precious metals production, development and exploration company that is expected to own 70% of a new silver and zinc mineral district (“Los Gatos District”) in Chihuahua state, Mexico, following the consummation of its initial public offering, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 21,430,000 shares of its common stock at a price of US$7.00 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately US$150 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by Gatos Silver. In addition, Gatos Silver has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,214,500 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 28, 2020 on an if, as and when issued basis under the ticker symbol “GATO”. The offering is expected to close on October 30, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

Gatos Silver intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to:

 

· increase Gatos Silver’s ownership in the Los Gatos District to 70%;

· explore and define further mineral resources within the 103,000 hectares of mineral concessions in the Los Gatos District;

· fund a future production expansion study at Cerro Los Gatos;

· fund near-term debt service needs;

· retire high-cost debt; and

· fund general corporate purposes.

 

BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint lead bookrunners and as representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Canaccord Genuity Corp. and CIBC Capital Markets are acting as co-managers for the offering.

 

The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036, by telephone at (800) 414-3627 or by email at bmoprospectus@bmo.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Gatos Silver has also obtained a receipt for a final base PREP prospectus filed with the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada (except Québec) on the date hereof. A copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus containing pricing information and other important information relating to the shares of common stock may, when available, be obtained from the underwriters at the addresses set out above and will be available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com under Gatos Silver’s profile.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

 

 

 

About Gatos Silver

 

Gatos Silver is a U.S.-based precious metals production, development and exploration company that recently commissioned its first mine, Cerro Los Gatos, at the Los Gatos District in Chihuahua state, Mexico. Upon achieving full production, Cerro Los Gatos is expected to produce silver, zinc, lead and gold averaging 12.2 million silver equivalent ounces annually.

 

Investors and Media Contact

 

Adam Dubas

Chief Administrative Officer
investors@gatossilver.com
(303) 784-5350

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding the expected closing date of the offering, the use of proceeds from the offering and the expected average annual production are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including those relating to the fact that mineral reserve and mineral resource calculations at the Cerro Los Gatos Mine and the Los Gatos District are only estimates, actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those we have anticipated, changes in the prices of silver, zinc or lead, significant risk and hazards associated with mining operations, extensive regulation by the Mexican government as well as local governments; our Mexican operations are subject to additional political, economic and other uncertainties not generally associated with domestic operations and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts to the availability of our workforce, government orders that may require temporary suspension of operations, and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities commissions. Gatos Silver expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, qualifications and procedures which are set out only in the technical report entitled “Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico,” dated July, 2020 with an effective date of July 1, 2020 (the “Los Gatos Technical Report”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities commissions. The scientific and technical disclosure in this press release was approved by Philip Pyle, Vice President of Exploration and Chief Geologist of Gatos Silver who is a “Qualified Person,” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. For a complete description of assumptions, qualifications and procedures associated with such information, reference should be made to the full text of the Los Gatos Technical Report.

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

8400 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 600

Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

(303) 784-5350

www.gatossilver.com

 

Gatos Silver Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

 

Denver, CO — October 30, 2020 — Gatos Silver, Inc. (“Gatos Silver”), a U.S.-based precious metals production, development and exploration company, announced today the closing of its initial public offering of 21,430,000 shares of its common stock at a price of US$7.00 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately US$150 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by Gatos Silver. In addition, Gatos Silver has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,214,500 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

The shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 28, 2020 under the ticker symbol “GATO.”

 

BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets acted as joint lead bookrunners and as representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Canaccord Genuity Corp. and CIBC Capital Markets acted as co-managers for the offering.

 

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036, by telephone at (800) 414-3627 or by email at bmoprospectus@bmo.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective on October 27, 2020 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Gatos Silver has also obtained a receipt for a final base PREP prospectus filed with the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada (except Québec) on October 27, 2020. A copy of the final U.S. prospectus and supplemented PREP prospectus filed on October 29, 2020 containing pricing information and other important information relating to the shares of common stock may be obtained from the underwriters at the addresses set out above and, in the case of the supplemented PREP prospectus, is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com under Gatos Silver’s profile.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

Investors and Media Contact

 

Adam Dubas
Chief Administrative Officer
investors@gatossilver.com
(303) 784-5350