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): January 29, 2021
AppHarvest, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-39288 | 82-5042965 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
401 W. Main Street, Suite 321
Lexington, KY |
40507 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (606) 653-6100
Novus Capital Corporation, 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 |
(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 obligations 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, $0.0001 par value per share |
APPH | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | APPHW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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. ¨
Introductory Note
On January 29, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), AppHarvest, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“Legacy AppHarvest”), Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Novus”) and ORGA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Novus (“Merger Sub”), consummated the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated September 28, 2020, by and among Novus, Legacy AppHarvest and Merger Sub (the “Business Combination Agreement”), following the approval at a special meeting of the stockholders of Novus held on January 29, 2021 (the “Special Meeting”). Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, a business combination of Legacy AppHarvest and Novus was effected through the merger of Legacy AppHarvest with and into Merger Sub, with Legacy AppHarvest surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Novus (the “Merger” and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Business Combination Agreement, the “Business Combination”). On the Closing Date, Legacy AppHarvest changed its name to AppHarvest Operations, Inc. and Novus changed its name from Novus Capital Corporation to AppHarvest, Inc. (the “Company”).
In connection with Special Meeting and the Business Combination, holders of 31,510 shares of Novus common stock, par value $.0001 per share (“Novus Common Stock”), or 0.3% of the shares with redemption rights, exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.00 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $315,100.
Immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of Legacy AppHarvest preferred stock (“Legacy AppHarvest Preferred Stock”) that was then issued and outstanding was automatically converted into a share of Legacy AppHarvest common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock”), such that each converted share of Legacy AppHarvest Preferred Stock was no longer outstanding and ceased to exist, and each holder of Legacy AppHarvest Preferred Stock thereafter ceased to have any rights with respect to such shares of Legacy AppHarvest Preferred Stock.
Also immediately prior to the Effective Time, Novus assumed an outstanding convertible note issued by Legacy AppHarvest after the date of the Business Combination Agreement and before the Effective Time (“Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note”).
At the Effective Time, each share of Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock was converted into and exchanged for 2.1504 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”). No fractional shares of Common Stock were issued upon the exchange of Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock. Any fractional shares were rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock. No cash settlements were made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by such rounding.
At the Effective Time, the outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest due on the Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note were converted into an aggregate of 3,242,336 shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of such Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note, and such converted Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note was no longer outstanding and ceased to exist, and any liens securing obligations under the Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note were released.
At the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock.
Each option to purchase Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, was converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (such option, an “Exchanged Option”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (i) the number of shares of Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock subject to such Legacy AppHarvest option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of such Legacy AppHarvest option immediately prior to the Effective Time, divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio. Except as specifically provided in the Business Combination Agreement, following the Effective Time, each Exchanged Option will continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Legacy AppHarvest option immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Each restricted stock unit awarded by Legacy AppHarvest that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into an award of restricted stock units to acquire a number shares of Common Stock (each, a “Converted RSU Award”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (1) the number of shares of Legacy AppHarvest Common Stock subject to the Legacy AppHarvest RSU award immediately prior to the Effective Time and (2) the Exchange Ratio; provided, that, except as specifically provided above, following the Effective Time, each Converted RSU Award will continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Legacy AppHarvest RSU award immediately prior to the Effective Time.
A description of the Business Combination and the terms of the Business Combination Agreement are included in the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated January 11, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 89 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
On the Closing Date, a number of purchasers (each, a “Subscriber”) purchased from the Company an aggregate of 37,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “PIPE Shares”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $375.0 million, pursuant to separate subscription agreements (each, a “Subscription Agreement”) entered into effective as of September 28, 2020. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, the Company gave certain registration rights to the Subscribers with respect to the PIPE Shares. The sale of the PIPE Shares was consummated concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”). A description of the Subscription Agreements is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Certain Agreements Related to the Business Combination—Subscription Agreements” beginning on page 117 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Form of Subscription Agreement, a copy of the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Lock-Up Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company, certain stockholders of Novus and certain stockholders, officers and directors of Legacy AppHarvest entered into a Lock-Up Agreement (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”). The terms of the Lock-up Agreement are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Certain Agreements Related to the Business Combination—Lock-Up Agreements” beginning on page 116 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Holders of 44,563,917 shares of Common Stock are subject to a Lock-Up Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Lock-Up Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 19, 2020, was amended and restated, and certain persons and entities receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and certain persons and entities holding securities of Novus prior to the Closing entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”). The terms of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Certain Agreements Related to the Business Combination—Registration Rights Agreement” beginning on page 116 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Following the Closing, holders of approximately 45.3 million shares of Common Stock (including up to 3,250,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase Common Stock) will be entitled to certain registration rights.
The foregoing description of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of A&R Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
Indemnification Agreements
On the Closing Date, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These indemnification agreements require the Company to indemnify its directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of the Company’s directors or executive officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at the Company’s request.
The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of indemnification agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.
Stockholder Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, certain stockholders of Legacy AppHarvest and certain persons and entities holding securities of Novus prior to the Closing entered into the Stockholder Rights Agreement (the “Stockholder Rights Agreement”). The terms of the Stockholder Rights Agreement are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Certain Agreements Related to the Business Combination—Stockholder Rights Agreement” beginning on page 116 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
The foregoing description of the Stockholder Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Stockholder Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition of Disposition of Assets. |
The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination, the Company had the following outstanding securities:
· | 97,925,153 shares of Common Stock; and |
· | 13,250,000 warrants, each exercisable for one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share (the “Warrants”). |
FORM 10 INFORMATION
Item 2.01(f) of this Current Report on Form 8-K states that if the predecessor registrant was a shell company, as Novus was immediately before the Business Combination, then the registrant must disclose the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10. Accordingly, the Company, as the successor registrant to Novus, is providing the information below that would be included in a Form 10 if it were to file a Form 10. Please note that the information provided below relates to the combined company after the consummation of the Business Combination unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Company makes forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in documents incorporated herein by reference. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K, regarding the Company’s future financial performance, as well as the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Current Report on Form 8-K, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, incident to its business.
These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in any document incorporated herein by reference should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
· | the Company’s ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably following the Closing; |
· | costs related to the Business Combination; |
· | changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
· | the outcome of any legal proceedings against the Company; |
· | the financial and business performance of the Company, including financial projections and business metrics and any underlying assumptions thereunder; |
· | changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; |
· | the Company’s ability to successfully construct controlled environment agriculture facilities, which may be subject to unexpected costs and delays; |
· | the implementation, market acceptance and success of the Company’s business model; |
· | the Company’s ability to scale in a cost-effective manner; |
· | developments and projections relating to the Company’s competitors and industry; |
· | the impact of health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business and the actions the Company may take in response thereto; |
· | the Company’s expectations regarding its ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; |
· | expectations regarding the time during which the Company will be an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended; |
· | the Company’s future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; |
· | the Company’s ability to obtain funding for its future operations; |
· | the Company’s business, expansion plans and opportunities; |
· | the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings; and |
· | other risks and uncertainties set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference. |
Business and Properties
The business and properties of Novus and Legacy AppHarvest prior to the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections entitled “Information About Novus” and “Information About AppHarvest” beginning on pages 189 and 151, respectively, of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and such descriptions are incorporated herein by reference.
Risk Factors
The risks associated with the Company’s business are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
Selected Historical Financial Information
The selected historical consolidated and financial information and other data for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 for Legacy AppHarvest is included in the section entitled “Selected Historical Financial Information of AppHarvest” beginning on page 31 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
The unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 of Legacy AppHarvest have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and pursuant to the regulations of the SEC and are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-26 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which are incorporated herein by reference.
These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the historical audited financial statements of Legacy AppHarvest as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the related notes included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-2 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019 is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” beginning on page 72 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and is incorporated herein by reference.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Legacy AppHarvest prior to the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “AppHarvest’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning on page 171 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Directors and Executive Officers
The Company’s directors and executive officers after the Closing are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 210 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Compensation
Information with respect to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers is described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “AppHarvest’s Executive Compensation” beginning on page 164 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the compensation of the Company’s executive officers is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the employment agreements of Messrs. Webb, Lee and Eggleton and Ms. Butler, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Director Compensation
Information with respect to the compensation of the Company’s directors is described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections entitled “Management After the Business Combination—Director Compensation” beginning on page 215 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Closing, by:
· | each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Common Stock upon the Closing of the Business Combination; |
· | each of the Company’s executive officers and directors; and |
· | all of the Company’s executive officers and directors as a group upon the Closing. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and restricted stock units that are currently exercisable or vested or that will become exercisable or vest within 60 days. This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13G or 13D filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, the Company believes that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. The beneficial ownership percentages set forth in the table below are based on approximately 97,925,153 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing Date.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) |
Number of
Shares |
Percentage of
Common Stock Outstanding |
||||||
5% or Greater Stockholders: | ||||||||
Jonathan Webb | 18,341,499 | 18.7 | % | |||||
Entities Affiliated with FMR, LLC(2) | 12,500,000 | 12.8 | ||||||
Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund, L.P.(3) | 11,798,704 | 12.0 | ||||||
Alyeska Master Fund, L.P.(4) | 6,000,000 | 6.1 | ||||||
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, LP(5) | 5,396,594 | 5.5 | ||||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||||||
Jonathan Webb | 18,341,499 | 18.7 | ||||||
Loren Eggleton(6) | 271,040 | * | ||||||
Marcella Butler | — | — | ||||||
David Lee(7) | 16,666 | * | ||||||
Kiran Bhatraju | 550,663 | * | ||||||
Dave Chen(8) | 3,293,985 | 3.4 | ||||||
Greg Couch(9) | 256,316 | * | ||||||
Robert J. Laikin | 439,635 | * | ||||||
Anna Mason | — | — | ||||||
Martha Stewart(10) | 163,510 | * | ||||||
Jeffrey Ubben(3) | 11,798,704 | 12.0 | ||||||
J.D. Vance(11) | 2,939,577 | 3.0 | ||||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)(12) | 38,071,595 | 38.8 |
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the directors and executive officers of the Company is C/O AppHarvest, Inc., 401 W. Main Street, Suite 321, Lexington, KY 40507. |
(2) | Consists of (i) 485,276 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Series Growth Company Fund, (ii) 2,170,878 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Growth Company Fund, (iii) 2,041,529 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Growth Company Commingled Pool, (iv) 302,318 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Growth Company K6 Fund, (v) 1,824,864 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund, (vi) 56,448 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool, (vii) 3,042 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Flex Large Cap Growth Fund, (viii) 195,665 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Blue Chip Growth K6 Fund, (ix) 5,509 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Institutional Trust, (x) 251,069 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Series Blue Chip Growth Fund, (xi) 163,402 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by FIAM Target Date Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool, (xii) 608,885 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Variable Insurance Products Fund III: Growth Opportunities Portfolio, (xiii) 3,990,851 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Advisor Series I: Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund, (xiv) 117,259 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity Advisory Series I: Fidelity Advisor Series Growth Opportunities Fund, (xv) 104,394 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity U.S. Growth Opportunities Investment Trust and (xvi) 178,611 shares of Combined Company Stock purchased in the PIPE by Fidelity NorthStar Fund. These accounts are managed by direct or indirect subsidiaries of FMR LLC. Abigail P. Johnson is a director, the chairman, the chief executive officer and the president of FMR LLC. Members of the Johnson family, including Abigail P. Johnson, are the predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of Series B voting common shares of FMR LLC, representing 49% of the voting power of FMR LLC. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders of FMR LLC have entered into a shareholders’ voting agreement under which all Series B voting common shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Series B voting common shares. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common shares and the execution of the shareholders’ voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC. Neither FMR LLC nor Abigail P. Johnson has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Fidelity Funds”) advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which power resides with the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. Fidelity Management & Research Company carries out the voting of the shares under written guidelines established by the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. The principal business address for each person and entity named in this footnote is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110. |
(3) | These shares are held by Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund, L.P. Jeffrey Ubben is the controlling member of the management committee of Inclusive Capital Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P., the investment manager to Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund, L.P. The principal business address of In-Cap Spring Master Fund is 572 Ruger Street, Suite B, San Francisco, CA 94129. |
(4) | Alyeska Investment Group, L.P., the investment manager of Alyeska Master Fund, L.P., has voting and investment control of these shares. Anand Parekh is the Chief Executive Officer of Alyeska Investment Group, L.P. and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. Mr. Parekh, however, disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by Alyeska Master Fund, L.P. The principal business address of Alyeska Master Fund, L.P. is 77 W. Wacker, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601. |
(5) | Stephen M. Case holds sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, LP (“ROTR”). The principal business address of ROTR is 1717 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036. |
(6) | Consists of (i) 234,080 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 36,960 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date. |
(7) | Consists of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the settlement of restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Closing Date. |
(8) | These shares are held by CEFF AppHarvest Equity Holdings, LLC (“CEFF AppHarvest”). Dave Chen is the CEO and Chairman of Equilibrium Controlled Environment Foods Fund, LLC. CEFF AppHarvest is a subsidiary of Controlled Environment Foods Fund (AIV II), LLC, both of which are managed by EqCEF I, LLC (“Eq Manager”). Eq Manager appoints an investment committee which holds voting and dispositive power over the shares held by CEFF AppHarvest and is currently comprised of R. Thomas Amis, Dave Chen, John J. Pierrepont and Marco de Bruin. The principal business address of CEFF AppHarvest is 411 NW Park Ave., Suite 401, Portland, OR 97209. |
(9) | These shares are held by Couch Holdings II, LLC (“Couch Holdings”). Greg Couch is the Managing Member of Couch Holdings. The principal business address of Couch Holdings is 250 West Main Street, Suite 3150, Lexington, KY 40507. |
(10) | Consists of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date. |
(11) | These shares are held by Narya Capital Fund I, L.P. (“Narya”). J.D. Vance is a Partner of Narya. The principal business address of Narya is 1435 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. |
(12) | Consists of (i) 37,854,459 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 200,470 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date and (iii) 16,666 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the settlement of restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Closing Date. |
Certain Relationships and Related Business Combination
Certain relationships and related party transactions are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Certain AppHarvest Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Certain Novus Relationships and Related Party Transactions” beginning on pages 183 and 206, respectively, of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and such descriptions are incorporated herein by reference.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against the Company or any members of its management team.
Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Market Information and Holders
Novus’s common stock and warrants were historically quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “NOVUS” and “NOVUSW,” respectively. The Common Stock and Warrants began trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the new trading symbols “APPH” and “APPHW,” respectively, on February 1, 2021.
In connection with the Closing, each Novus unit was separated into its components, which consist of one share of common stock and one warrant, and such units longer exist. As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination, the Company had 97,956,253 shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding held of record by 141 holders, and 13,250,000 Warrants outstanding held of record by 25 holders.
Dividends
The Company has not paid dividends on its Common Stock to date and does not intend to pay cash dividends. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any dividends will be within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. It is the present intention of the Company’s board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the Company’s business operations and, accordingly, the board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Description of Registrant’s Securities
Common Stock
A description of the Common Stock is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Description of Novus’s Securities—Common Stock Following the Business Combination” beginning on page 218 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Warrants
A description of the Warrants is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Description of Novus’s Securities—Warrants” beginning on page 220 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These indemnification agreements provide such directors and executive officers with contractual rights to indemnification and expense advancement.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the form of Indemnification Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the Company’s consolidated financial statements and supplementary data.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 4.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the changes in certifying accountant.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
The information set forth in Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The securities issued in connection with the Subscription Agreements and the Legacy AppHarvest Convertible Note have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth in Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4.01 | Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant. |
On January 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2021. EY served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Legacy AppHarvest prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), Novus’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, was informed on January 29, 2021 that it would be replaced by EY as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Marcum’s report of independent registered public accounting firm dated January 29, 2021 on the Novus consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) through December 31, 2020 and the related notes to the financial statements did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles, except for an explanatory paragraph in such report regarding substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) through December 31, 2020 and the subsequent interim period through January 29, 2021, there were no “disagreements” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused Marcum to make reference thereto in its reports on Novus’s financial statements for such periods. During the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) through December 31, 2020 and the subsequent interim period through January 29, 2021, there have been no “reportable events” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
During the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) through December 31, 2020 and the subsequent interim period through January 29, 2021, (i) the Company did not both (a) consult with EY as to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and (b) receive a written report or oral advice that EY concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to such accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue; and (ii) the Company did not consult EY on any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
The Company has provided Marcum with a copy of the disclosures made by the registrant in this Item 4.01 in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the registrant in this Item 4.01 in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A letter from Marcum is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1.
Item 5.01 | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
The information set forth in the section entitled “Introductory Note” and in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
As a result of the completion of the Business Combination pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, a change of control of Novus has occurred, and the stockholders of Novus as of immediately prior to the Closing held 12.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately following the Closing.
Item 5.02 | Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
The information set forth in the sections entitled “Directors and Executive Officers” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
At the Special Meeting, the Novus stockholders considered and approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The Equity Incentive Plan was previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, by Novus’s board of directors on January 10, 2021. The Equity Incentive Plan became effective immediately upon the Closing.
A summary of the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 3—The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 136 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such summary and the foregoing description are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the Equity Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.10 and incorporated herein by reference.
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
At the Special Meeting, the Novus stockholders considered and approved the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP was previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, by Novus’s board of directors on January 10, 2021. The ESPP became effective immediately upon the Closing.
A summary of the terms of the ESPP is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 4—The Employee Stock Purchase Plan Proposal” beginning on page 144 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such summary and the foregoing description are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the ESPP, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.11 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
At the Special Meeting, the Novus stockholders considered and approved, among other things, Proposal No. 2–The Charter Proposals (the “Charter Proposals”), which is described in greater detail in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 126 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 29, 2021, includes the amendments proposed by the Charter Proposals.
On January 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved and adopted the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”), which became effective as of the Effective Time.
Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
The description of the Certificate of Incorporation and the general effect of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws upon the rights of holders of the Company’s capital stock are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus under the section entitled “Description of Novus’s Securities” beginning on page 218 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.05 | Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics. |
In connection with the Business Combination, on January 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved and adopted a new Code of Conduct applicable to all employees, officers and directors of the Company. A copy of the Code of Ethics can be found in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.appharvest.com.
Item 5.06 | Change in Shell Company Status. |
As a result of the Business Combination, the Company ceased being a shell company. Reference is made to the disclosure in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 89 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and such disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On February 1, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the Closing. A copy of the press release is filed hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liabilities under that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings. This Current Report on Form 8-K will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information contained in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statement and Exhibits. |
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Legacy AppHarvest as of September 30, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-26 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Legacy AppHarvest as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-2 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Novus as of September 30, 2020 and for the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) to September 30, 2020 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-54 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Novus as of June 30, 2020 and for the period from March 5, 2020 (Novus’s inception) to June 30, 2020 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-39 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019 is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” beginning on page 72 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Exhibits.
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished herewith. |
+ | Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601. The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request |
† | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement. |
^ | Portions of this exhibit have been omitted as the Registrant have determined that the omitted information (i) is not material and (ii) is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. |
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.
AppHarvest, Inc. | ||
Dated: February 1, 2021 | ||
By: | /s/ Loren Eggleton | |
Loren Eggleton | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
Novus Capital Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented, the “DGCL”), does hereby certify that:
ONE: The original Certificate of Incorporation of Novus Capital Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 5, 2020 and subsequently amended and restated with the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) on May 15, 2020.
TWO: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate.
THREE: The Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
I.
The name of this company is AppHarvest, Inc. (the “Company”).
II.
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801 and the name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
III.
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations, including Public Benefit Corporations, may be organized under the DGCL, including without limitation the following public benefits: (i) empowering individuals in Appalachia; (ii) driving positive environmental change in the agriculture industry; and (iii) improving the lives of the Company’s employees and the community at large.
IV.
A. The Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue is 760,000,000 shares, 750,000,000 shares of which shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of which shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”). The Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share, and the Common Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share.
B. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereafter prescribed (a “Preferred Stock Designation”). Subject to any limitation prescribed by law and the rights of any series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of all or any of the shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix the number of shares and state by the Preferred Stock Designation, the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase (but not above the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series.
C. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, or Common Stock, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock.
D. Except as provided above, the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participating, optional, or other rights, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) “Acquisition” means (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Entity, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold a majority of the voting power of the surviving Entity in substantially the same proportions (or, if the surviving Entity is a wholly owned subsidiary of another Entity, the surviving Entity’s Parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power is transferred; provided that an Acquisition shall not include any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted or a combination thereof.
(b) “Asset Transfer” means a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(c) “Certificate of Incorporation” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended or restated from time to time, including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation of any series of Preferred Stock.
(d) “Entity” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity.
(e) “Liquidation Event” means (i) any Asset Transfer or Acquisition in which cash or other property is, pursuant to the express terms of the Asset Transfer or Acquisition, to be distributed to the stockholders in respect of their shares of capital stock in the Company or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, compensation pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or other compensatory arrangement to be paid to or received by a person who is also a holder of Common Stock does not constitute consideration or a “distribution to stockholders” in respect of the Common Stock.
(f) “Parent” of an Entity means any Entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities or interests of such Entity.
(g) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. Rights relating to Dividends, Subdivisions and Combinations.
(a) Subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes and series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Company legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as permitted in Section 2(b) of Article IV(D), any dividends paid to the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be paid pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis.
(b) The Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution to the holders of Common Stock payable in securities of the Company unless the same dividend or distribution with the same record date and payment date shall be declared and paid on all shares of Common Stock.
3. Voting Rights.
(a) Common Stock. Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share thereof held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company.
(b) General. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock shall vote together and not as separate series or classes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.
4. Liquidation Rights.
In the event of a Liquidation Event, upon the completion of the distributions required with respect to each series of Preferred Stock that may then be outstanding, the remaining assets of the Company legally available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed on an equal priority, pro rata basis to the holders of Common Stock; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, compensation pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or other compensatory arrangement to be paid to or received by a person who is also a holder of Common Stock does not constitute consideration or a “distribution to stockholders” in respect of the Common Stock.
V.
A. The liability of the directors of the Company for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director shall be eliminated to the fullest extent authorized under applicable law.
B. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and other agents of the Company (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Company to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by such applicable law.
C. If applicable law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article V to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director to the Company shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Article V in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act giving rise to liability.
D. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of action under the Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on behalf of the Company; (ii) any claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, to the Company or the Company’s stockholders; (iii) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time); (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time, including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. This Section D of Article V shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
E. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
F. Any person or Entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
VI.
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Company, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Company, of its directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:
A. Board of Directors.
1. Generally. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The authorized number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
2. Election.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors as specified in any Preferred Stock Designation, all directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to hold office until the next annual meeting. The directors of the Company need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
(b) No stockholder entitled to vote at an election for directors may cumulate votes to which such stockholder is entitled unless required by applicable law at the time of such election. During such time or times that applicable law requires cumulative voting, every stockholder entitled to vote at an election for directors may cumulate such stockholder’s votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which such stockholder’s shares are otherwise entitled, or distribute the stockholder’s votes on the same principle among as many candidates as such stockholder thinks fit. No stockholder, however, shall be entitled to so cumulate such stockholder’s votes unless (i) the names of such candidate or candidates have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and (ii) the stockholder has given notice at the meeting, prior to the voting, of such stockholder’s intention to cumulate such stockholder’s votes. If any stockholder has given proper notice to cumulate votes, all stockholders may cumulate their votes for any candidates who have been properly placed in nomination. Under cumulative voting, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are elected.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
3. Removal of Directors. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law, removal shall be as provided in Section 141(k) of the DGCL.
4. Vacancies. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders and except as otherwise provided by applicable law, be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.
B. Stockholder Actions. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Company except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with the Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Company shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
C. Bylaws. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
VII.
A. The Company reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, except as provided in paragraph B. of this Article VII, and all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Company required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation filed with respect to a series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII and VIII.
VIII.
At any time when any shares of capital stock of the Company are outstanding, the Company shall not, either directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate with or into another entity if, as a result of such merger or consolidation, the capital stock of the Company would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, shares or other equity interests in a domestic or foreign corporation that is not a public benefit corporation or similar entity and the certificate of incorporation (or similar governing document) of which does not contain identical provisions to Article III identifying the public benefit or public benefits, unless the Company shall have obtained, in addition to any affirmative vote required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
* * * *
FOUR: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
FIVE: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of said corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL by the stockholders of the Company.
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In Witness Whereof, the Company has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer on this 29th day of January, 2021.
By: | /s/ Larry M. Paulson | |
Name: Larry M. Paulson | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
APPHARVEST, INC.
(A DELAWARE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION)
Article I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation shall also have and maintain an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the corporation (the “Board of Directors”), and 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 as may be necessary or convenient to the business of the corporation.
Article II
CORPORATE SEAL
Section 3. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal. If adopted, the corporate seal shall consist of a die bearing the name of the corporation and the inscription, “Corporate Seal-Delaware.” Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
Article III
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
Section 4. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be held at such place (if any), either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders of the corporation may be held both in a place and by means of remote communication.
Section 5. Annual Meeting.
(a) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may properly come before it, shall be held at such place, if any, and on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and proposals of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (ii) brought specifically by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof; or (iii) by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record or beneficial owner at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 5(b) below, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 5. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (iii) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and submit other business (other than matters properly included in the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders and proxy statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder before an annual meeting of stockholders).
(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 5(a) and the procedures below.
(i) For nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a), the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(b)(iii) and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting: (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee; (2) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee; (3) the class or series and number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such nominee; (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition; (5) a statement whether such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s failure to receive the required vote for election or re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors; and (6) such other information concerning such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the corporation’s proxy statement and associated proxy card as a nominee of the stockholder and to serving as a director if elected); and (B) the information required by Section 5(b)(iv). The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve (i) as an independent director (as such term is used in any applicable stock exchange listing requirements or applicable law) of the corporation or (ii) on any committee or sub-committee of the Board of Directors under any applicable stock exchange listing requirements or applicable law, and that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
(ii) Other than proposals sought to be included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act, for business other than nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a), the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(b)(iii), and must update and supplement such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each matter such 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 the Bylaws of the corporation (the “Bylaws”), the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest (including any anticipated benefit of such business to any Proponent (as defined below) other than solely as a result of its ownership of the corporation’s capital stock, that is material to any Proponent individually, or to the Proponents in the aggregate) in such business of any Proponent; and (B) the information required by Section 5(b)(iv).
(iii) To be timely, the written notice required by Section 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 5(b)(iii), in the event that no annual meeting was held during the preceding year or the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received (A) not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (B) not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(iv) The written notice required by Section 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) shall also set forth, as of the date of the notice and as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “Proponent” and collectively, the “Proponents”): (A) the name and address of each Proponent, as they appear on the corporation’s books; (B) the class or series and number of shares of each class of capital stock of the corporation that are owned of record and beneficially by each Proponent; (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal between or among any Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert, or otherwise under the agreement, arrangement or understanding, with any of the foregoing; (D) a representation that the Proponents are holders of record or beneficial owners, as the case may be, of shares of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intend to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(i)) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(ii)); (E) a representation as to whether the Proponents intend to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of holders of the corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(i)) or to carry such proposal (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(ii)); (F) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal on the date of such stockholder’s notice; and (G) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proponent during the previous twelve (12) month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, such Derivative Transactions.
(c) A stockholder providing the written notice required by Section 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) shall update and supplement such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for the meeting and (ii) the date that is five (5) business days prior to the meeting and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, five (5) business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 5(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 5(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than two (2) business days prior to the date for the meeting, and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, two (2) business days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 5(b)(iii) and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 5 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
(e) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at the annual meeting unless the person is nominated either in accordance with clause (ii) or clause (iii) of Section 5(a). Except as otherwise required by law, the chairperson of the annual meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, or the Proponent does not act in accordance with the representations in Sections 5(b)(iv)(D) and 5(b)(iv)(E), to declare that such proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination or such business may have been solicited or received.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders’ meeting, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals and/or nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 5(a).
(g) For purposes of Sections 5 and 6,
(i) “affiliates” and “associates” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);
(ii) “Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial: (A) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the corporation; (B) that otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the corporation; (C) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes; or (D) that provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any securities of the corporation, which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the corporation held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member; and
(iii) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones Newswires, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or by such other means reasonably designed to inform the public or security holders in general of such information including, without limitation, posting on the corporation’s investor relations website.
Section 6. Special Meetings.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be called, for any purpose as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, by (i) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
(b) For a special meeting called pursuant to Section 6(a), the person(s) calling the meeting shall determine the time and place, if any, of the meeting; provided, however, that only the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may authorize a meeting solely by means of remote communication. Upon determination of the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, the Secretary shall cause a notice of meeting to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7. No business may be transacted at a special meeting otherwise than as specified in the notice of meeting.
(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record or beneficial owner at the time of giving notice provided for in this paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers written notice to the Secretary of the corporation setting forth the information required by Section 5(b)(i) and the information required by Section 5(b)(iv). In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder of record or beneficial owner may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, if written notice setting forth the information required by Section 5(b)(i) and the information required by Section 5(b)(iv) shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected. The stockholder shall also update and supplement such information as required under Section 5(c). In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(d) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at the special meeting unless the person is nominated either in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) of Section 6(c). Except as otherwise required by law, the chairperson of the special meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been solicited or received.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 6. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations for the election to the Board of Directors or proposals of other businesses to be considered pursuant to Section 6(c).
Section 7. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice, given in writing or by electronic transmission, of each meeting of stockholders shall be given not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, such notice to specify the place, if any, date and hour, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, 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 any such meeting. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s mailing address as it appears on the records of the corporation. If delivered by courier service, notice is given at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation. If sent via electronic transmission, notice is given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address as it appears on the records of the corporation unless the stockholder has notified the corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 232(e) of the DGCL. Notice of the time, place, if any, and purpose of any meeting of stockholders (to the extent required) may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof or by electronic transmission by such person, either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by his or her attendance thereat in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, except when the stockholder attends a 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 8. Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, the presence, in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairperson of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares represented thereat and entitled to vote thereon, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by applicable stock exchange rules, or by the 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 voting power of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, except where otherwise provided by statute, by applicable stock exchange rules or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or classes or series, present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Except where otherwise provided by statute, by applicable stock exchange rules or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of voting power of such class or classes or series present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or classes or series.
Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings. Any meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time either by the person(s) who called the meeting or the chairperson of the meeting, or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, and means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Section 10. Voting Rights. For the purpose of determining those stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock records of the corporation on the record date shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Every person entitled to vote shall have the right to do so either in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by an agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance with Delaware law. An agent so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock. If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (a) if only one (1) votes, his or her act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and (c) if more than one (1) votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for relief as provided in DGCL Section 217(b). If the instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of subsection (c) shall be a majority or even-split in interest.
Section 12. List of Stockholders. The corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. The list shall be open to examination of any stockholder during the time of the meeting as provided by law.
Section 13. Action without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, no action shall be taken by the stockholders of the corporation except at an annual or a special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with these Bylaws, and no action of the stockholders of the corporation may be taken by the stockholders by written consent or electronic transmission.
Section 14. Organization.
(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, if a chairperson has not been appointed, is absent or refuses to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or, if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, is absent or refuses to act, the President, or, if the President is absent or refuses to act, a chairperson of the meeting designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the Board of Directors does not designate such chairperson, a chairperson chosen by a majority of the voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy duly authorized, shall act as chairperson. The Chairperson of the Board may appoint the Chief Executive Officer as chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary or other officer, director or other person directed to do so by the chairperson of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairperson shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.
(c) The corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one (1) or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspectors shall: (1) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; (2) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; (3) count all votes and ballots; (4) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and (5) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Sections 211(e) or 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, or any information provided pursuant to Sections 211(a)(2)b.(i) or (iii) of the DGCL, ballots and the regular books and records of the corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification pursuant to Section 231(b)(5) of the DGCL shall specify the precise information considered by them including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Article IV
DIRECTORS
Section 15. Number and Term of Office. The authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed exclusively from time to time by a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws, or such vacancies may be filled in accordance with Section 18 herein.
Section 16. Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 17. Classes of Directors. The directors shall be divided into classes as and to the extent provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 18. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 19. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time. If no such specification is made, the resignation shall be effective at the time of delivery of the resignation to the Secretary.
Section 20. Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) to elect additional directors or remove such directors under specified circumstances, neither the Board of Directors nor any individual director may be removed except in the manner specified in Section 141(k) of the DGCL.
Section 21. Meetings.
(a) Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or date and at any place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors.
(b) Special Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any date, time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
(c) Meetings by Electronic Communications Equipment. Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(d) Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting. If notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting may be waived in writing or by electronic transmission at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director 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.
(e) Waiver of Notice. The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though it had been transacted at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present who did not receive notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or shall waive notice by electronic transmission. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of any meeting will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director 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.
Section 22. Quorum and Voting.
(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater number, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the directors currently serving on the Board of Directors (but in no event less than one third of the total authorized number of directors); provided, however, at any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 23. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the 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. The consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
Section 24. Fees and Compensation. Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility and authority, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility and authority, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 25. Committees.
(a) Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee to consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law and 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 (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the corporation.
(b) Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such other committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) or more members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the powers denied to the Executive Committee in these Bylaws.
(c) Term. The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock and the provisions of subsections (a) or (b) of this Section 25, may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his or her death or voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. 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, and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they 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.
(d) Meetings. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other committee appointed pursuant to this Section 25 shall be held at such times and places, if any, as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of any such committee may be held at any place, if any, which has been determined from time to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon notice to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any regular or special meeting of any committee may be waived in writing or by electronic transmission at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends such regular or special 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. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, a majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those members of the committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
Section 26. Duties of Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if appointed and when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
Section 27. Organization. At every meeting of the directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairperson has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer (if a director), or, if a Chief Executive Officer is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent, the most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the absence of any such person, a chairperson of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his or her absence, any Assistant Secretary or other officer, director or other person directed to do so by the person presiding over the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Article V
OFFICERS
Section 28. Officers Designated. The officers of the corporation shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall be fixed in the manner required by applicable law or stock exchange rules.
Section 29. Tenure and Duties of Officers.
(a) General. All officers shall be designated by and hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.
(b) Duties of Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors (if a director), unless the Chairperson of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present. Unless an officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the corporation. To the extent that a Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and no President has been appointed, all references in these Bylaws to the President shall be deemed references to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.
(c) Duties of President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors (if a director), unless the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and is present. Unless another officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the corporation. The President shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors (or the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer and President are not the same person and the Board of Directors has delegated the designation of the President’s duties to the Chief Executive Officer) shall designate from time to time.
(d) Duties of Vice Presidents. A Vice President may assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President or whenever the office of President is vacant (unless the duties of the President are being filled by the Chief Executive Officer). A Vice President shall perform other duties commonly incident to their office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or, if the Chief Executive Officer has not been appointed or is absent, the President shall designate from time to time.
(e) Duties of Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the corporation. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties provided for in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President may direct any Assistant Secretary or other officer to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time.
(f) Duties of Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time. To the extent that a Chief Financial Officer has been appointed and no Treasurer has been appointed, all references in these Bylaws to the Treasurer shall be deemed references to the Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President may direct the Treasurer, if any, or any Assistant Treasurer, or the controller or any assistant controller to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each controller and assistant controller shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time.
(g) Duties of Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. Unless another officer has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, the Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation and shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President, and, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President and Chief Financial Officer (if not Treasurer) shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President and Chief Financial Officer may direct any Assistant Treasurer or the controller or any assistant controller to assume and perform the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, and each Assistant Treasurer and each controller and assistant controller shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President and Chief Financial Officer shall designate from time to time.
Section 30. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 31. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, to the President or to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.
Section 32. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, or by any committee or superior officer upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
Article VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
Section 33. Execution of Corporate Instruments. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of the corporation, except where otherwise provided by applicable law or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the corporation. All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do. Unless (i) authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or (ii) within the agency power of an officer or any designee of any such officer (each, an “Authorized Employee”), no officer, agent or employee other than an Authorized Employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
Section 34. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. All stock and other securities and interests of other corporations and entities owned or held by the corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or any Vice President.
Article VII
SHARES OF STOCK
Section 35. Form and Execution of Certificates. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, or shall be uncertificated if so provided by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors. Certificates, if any, for the shares of stock shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Certificates of shares of stock shall note conspicuously that the corporation is a public benefit corporation formed pursuant to Subchapter XV of the DGCL. Every holder of stock in the corporation represented by certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the corporation by any two (2) authorized officers of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles. 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 with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Any notice given by the corporation pursuant to Section 151(f) of the DGCL upon the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares shall state conspicuously that the corporation is a public benefit corporation formed pursuant to Subchapter XV of the DGCL.
Section 36. Lost Certificates. A new certificate or certificates shall be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the corporation in such manner as it shall require or to give the corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Section 37. Transfers.
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and, in the case of stock represented by certificate, upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.
(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.
Section 38. Fixing Record Dates.
(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 the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor fewer than ten (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, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the 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, in advance, 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 sixty (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 39. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
Article VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
Section 40. Execution of Other Securities. All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates (covered in Section 35), may be signed by any executive officer (as defined in Article XI) or any other officer or person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by an executive officer of the corporation or such other officer or person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.
Article IX
DIVIDENDS
Section 41. Declaration of Dividends. Dividends upon the outstanding capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporation’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
Section 42. Dividend Reserve. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, thinks proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Article X
FISCAL YEAR
Section 43. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall end on December 31 or on such other date as may otherwise be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Article XI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 44. Indemnification of Directors, Executive Officers, Employees and Other Agents.
(a) Directors and Executive Officers. The corporation shall indemnify its directors and executive officers (for the purposes of this Article XI, “executive officers” shall have the meaning defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated under the 1934 Act) to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, who were or are made a party or are threatened to be made a party or are otherwise involved in proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person; provided, however, that the corporation may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its directors and executive officers, in which case such contract shall supersede and replace the provisions hereof; and, provided, further, that the corporation shall not be required to indemnify any director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the corporation under the DGCL or any other applicable law or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under subsection (d) of this Section 44.
(b) Other Officers, Employees and Other Agents. The corporation shall have the power to indemnify (including the power to advance expenses in a manner consistent with subsection (c) of this Section 44) its other officers, employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be given to any such person except executive officers to such officers or other persons as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(c) Expenses. The corporation shall advance to any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or executive officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or executive officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director or executive officer in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by a director or executive officer in his or her capacity as a director or executive officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this section or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 44, no advance shall be made by the corporation to an executive officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of directors who were not parties to the proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not reasonably believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
(d) Enforcement. Without the necessity of entering into an express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and executive officers under this Bylaw shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the corporation and the director or executive officer. Any right to indemnification or advances granted by this section to a director or executive officer shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied by the Board of Directors, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days of request therefor. To the extent permitted by law, the claimant in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting the claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL or any other applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. In connection with any claim by an executive officer of the corporation (except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the corporation) for advances, the corporation shall be entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear and convincing evidence that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not reasonably believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or with respect to any criminal action or proceeding that such person acted without reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a director or executive officer to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the director or executive officer is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this section or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL, or by any other applicable law.
(f) Survival of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or executive officer or officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(g) Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other applicable law, the corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors, may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified pursuant to this section.
(h) Amendments. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this section shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the corporation.
(i) Saving Clause. If this Bylaw or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this section that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this section shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the corporation shall indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent under any other applicable law.
(j) Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Bylaw, the following definitions shall apply:
(i) The term “proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(ii) The term “expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys’ fees, witness fees, fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and expenses of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any proceeding.
(iii) The term the “corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(iv) References to a “director,” “executive officer,” “officer,” “employee,” or “agent” of the corporation shall include, without limitation, situations where such person is serving at the request of the corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
(v) References to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
Article XII
NOTICES
Section 45. Notices.
(a) Notice to Stockholders. Notice to stockholders of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 7 herein. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to stockholders, including under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, subject to Section 232(e) of the DGCL, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the corporation. Notice shall be deemed given pursuant to this Section 45, (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (a) such posting, and (b) the giving of such separate notice; and (3) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. For purposes of these Bylaws, (1) “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process; (2) “Electronic mail” means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information); and (3) “Electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the “local part” of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the “domain part” of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.
(b) Notice to Directors. Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a) or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, with notice other than one which is delivered personally to be sent to such address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known address of such director.
(c) Affidavit of Mailing. An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected or other agent, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.
(d) Methods of Notice. It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all recipients of notice, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.
(e) Notice to Person with Whom Communication is Unlawful. Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
(f) Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, any notice given under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Such consent shall have been deemed to have been given if such stockholder fails to object in writing to the corporation within sixty (60) days of having been given notice by the corporation of its intention to send the single notice. Any consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation.
Article XIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 46. Amendments. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 44(h) of these Bylaws or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Article XIV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
Section 47. Loans to Officers. Except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law, the corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.
ARTICLE XV
BOOKS AND RECORDS
Section 48. The books and records of the corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors. Any books or records maintained by the corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method; provided, however, that the books and records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The corporation shall so convert any books or records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the DGCL.
Article XVI
PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION PROVISIONS
Section 49. The corporation shall include in every notice of a meeting of stockholders a statement to the effect that it is a public benefit corporation under Subchapter XV of the DGCL.
Section 50. The corporation shall no less than biennially provide the stockholders with a statement as to the corporation’s promotion of the public benefit or public benefits identified in the Certificate of Incorporation and of the best interests of those materially affected by the corporation’s conduct. The statement shall include: (i) the objectives the Board of Directors has established to promote such public benefit or public benefits and interests; (ii) the standards the Board of Directors has adopted to measure the corporation’s progress in promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests; (iii) objective factual information based on those standards regarding the corporation’s success in meeting the objectives for promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests; and (iv) an assessment of the corporation’s success in meeting the objectives and promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests.
EXHIBIT 10.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 29, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and among Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the parties listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”). Any capitalized term used but not defined herein will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, ORGA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and AppHarvest, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“AppHarvest”) are party to that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of September 28, 2020 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, on the Effective Date, Merger Sub will merge (the “Merger”) with and into AppHarvest, with AppHarvest surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and certain of the Holders designated as Original Holders on Schedule A hereto (the “Original Holders”) are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2020 (the “Prior Agreement”);
WHEREAS, certain of the Holders currently hold an aggregate of 41,791,276 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, certain of the Holders designated as New Holders on Schedule A hereto (the “New Holders”) are receiving shares of Common Stock (the “Business Combination Shares”) on or about the date hereof, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties to the Prior Agreement desire to terminate the Prior Agreement and to provide for certain rights and obligations included herein and to include the recipients of the Business Combination Shares identified herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings set forth below:
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Business Combination Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demand Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Effectiveness Deadline” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Form S-1” means a Registration Statement on Form S-1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
“New Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.4.
“Original Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.
“Prior Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Warrants” means Warrants of the Company purchased by certain of the Original Holders at the time of the Company’s initial public offering.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security”, “Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) any outstanding share of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by an Original Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (b) the Business Combination Shares held by the New Holders as of the date of this Agreement, (c) the Private Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise thereof, (d) any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Company Interim Period Convertible Notes (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions, limitations or conditions); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, including the cost of rendering any opinion or negative assurance letter;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration, including the cost of rendering any comfort letter;
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel for all holders of registrable securities to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration, selected by (i) holders of the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration, (ii) holders of the majority-in-interest of Holders of all Registrable Securities included in a Company-initiated Piggyback Registration, or (iii) Robert J. Laikin and Larry M. Paulson in the case of a Resale Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that such reimbursable fees and expenses shall not exceed $50,000 per Registration Statement; and
(G) reasonable fees and disbursements of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with the Registration.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Resale Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“SEC Guidance” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.4.
“Sponsor Restricted Stock Agreement” shall mean that certain Sponsor Restricted Stock Agreement, by and among the Company, the stockholders of the Company identified therein and AppHarvest, dated as of January 29, 2021.
“Suspension Event” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION
Section 2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that is 90 days prior to the expiration of the lock-up provisions set forth in the Lock-up Agreement between the Company and the New Holders being entered into as of the Effective Date, New Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all New Holders (such New Holders, the “Demanding Holders”), may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (“Form S-3”) (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Demanding Holders), which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Demand Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Demand Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Demand Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Demand Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Demand Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Demand Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Demand Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the New Holders, in the case of a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 initiated by the New Holders, or a majority-in-interest of the Demand Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.2.1, shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Demand Requesting Holders (if any), withdraws from a proposed offering pursuant to this Section 2.1.5, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.
Section 2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date hereof, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (v) filed pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities then outstanding as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(i) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(ii) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
Section 2.3 Resale Shelf Registration Rights
2.3.1 Registration Statement on Form S-3 Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. The Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission, no later than thirty (30) days following the closing of the Business Combination, a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor thereto registering the resale from time to time by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities held by Holders (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (or if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable after filing, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 120th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the closing of the Business Combination and (ii) ten (10) Business Days after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Deadline”). Once effective, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, to ensure that another Registration Statement is available, under the Securities Act at all times until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or have ceased to be Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement (subject to the restrictions provided in the Sponsor Restricted Stock Agreement and the Lock-up Agreement between the Company and the New Holders, each being entered into as of the date hereof), and shall provide that such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders. If the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is filed on Form S-1, then promptly following the date upon which the Company becomes eligible to use a Registration Statement on Form S-3, the Company shall file a post-effective amendment on Form S-3 to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (an “S-3 Conversion”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Holders shall not be entitled to reimbursement from the Company of Registration Expenses set forth in clause (F) of the definition of “Registration Expenses” related to an S-3 Conversion.
2.3.2 Notification and Distribution of Materials. The Company shall notify the Holders in writing of the effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable, and in any event within one (1) Business Day after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, and shall furnish to them, without charge, such number of copies of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (including any amendments, supplements and exhibits), the Prospectus contained therein (including each preliminary prospectus and all related amendments and supplements) and any documents incorporated by reference in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities in the manner described in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement.
2.3.3 Amendments and Supplements. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3.1 above, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission from time to time such amendments and supplements to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all the Registrable Securities. If any Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.3.1 is filed on Form S-3 and thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall promptly notify the Holders of such ineligibility and use its best efforts to file a shelf registration on an appropriate form as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and have the such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; provided, however, that at any time the Company once again becomes eligible to use Form S-3, the Company shall cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is once again on Form S-3.
2.3.4 Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.3, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its reasonable best efforts to file amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), on Form S-3, or if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company for such registration statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”), including without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations D.29. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced in order to include first, the number of shares of Common Stock included in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement that are held by PIPE Investors (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and the number of shares of Common Stock included in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement that were issued upon conversion of Company Interim Period Convertible Notes (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), and second, the Registrable Securities under this Agreement other than the shares issued upon conversion of Company Interim Period Convertible Notes, on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holders. In the event the Company amends the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.
2.3.5 Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.2.
Section 2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be materially detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be materially detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer a filing pursuant to Section 2.1 for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12 month period.
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
Section 3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Effective Time the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (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 such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental 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 necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 advise each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed;
3.1.9 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;
3.1.10 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.11 permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.12 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to such managing Underwriter;
3.1.13 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to an Underwritten Registration, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Underwritten Registration, addressed to the Underwriters covering such legal matters with respect to the Underwritten Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such managing Underwriter;
3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.16 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
Section 3.2 Registration Expenses. Except as provided in Section 2.3.1 with respect to an S-3 Conversion, the Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
Section 3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
Section 3.4 Suspension of Sales. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, and from time to time to require the Holders not to sell under a Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event the Board reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Board, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend a Registration Statement on more than two occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period that a Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event a Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Holders agrees that (i) they will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Shares under such Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Holders receive copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) they will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Company, the Holders will deliver to the Company or, in each Holder’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares in such Holder’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares shall not apply (i) to the extent the Holder is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (a) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (b) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (ii) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
Section 3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Section 3.6 Limitations on Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, other than the registration rights granted in subscription agreements with the PIPE Investors (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and the Company Interim Period Convertible Notes (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would provide to such holder registration rights on a basis more favorable than the registration rights granted to the Holders herein.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 4.1 Indemnification
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and agents and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 5.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including Schedule A hereto) constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of intent, in each case, written or oral, of any and every nature with respect thereto.
Section 5.2 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received (a) upon receipt when delivered by hand, (b) upon transmission, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission (in each case with receipt verified by electronic confirmation), or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent by courier or express delivery service, specifying next day delivery, with proof of receipt. The addresses, email addresses and facsimile numbers for such notices and communications are those set forth on the signature pages hereof, or such other address, email address or facsimile numbers as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by any such person.
Section 5.3 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such Holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such Holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and the permitted assigns of the applicable holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the applicable holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 5.3. No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement).
Section 5.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart and such counterparts may be delivered by the parties hereto via facsimile or electronic transmission.
Section 5.5 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and any provision hereof may be waived, in whole or in part, at any time pursuant to an agreement in writing executed by (i) the Company, (ii) holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by the Original Holders at such time, and (iii) holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by the New Holders at such time; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that materially and adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. In the event that the Company issues shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Company Interim Period Convertible Notes (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), the holder(s) thereof shall become party to this Agreement solely upon execution of a counterpart signature page and shall be deemed to be New Holders for all purposes under this Agreement. Any failure by any party at any time to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed a waiver of such provision or any other provisions hereof.
Section 5.6 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto.
Section 5.7 Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State. All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The parties hereto hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) agree not to commence any action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) that (i) the action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such action is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
Section 5.8 Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other parties hereto would be irreparably harmed and would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by such first party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by such first party. Accordingly, each party agrees that the other parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such parties are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 5.9 Exercise Term. The Holders may not exercise their registration rights under Article II after the seven-year anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Vincent Donargo | |
Name: | Vincent Donargo | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
NEW HOLDER: | ||
AB Co-Investments LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Owen Littman | |
Name: | Owen Littman | |
Title: | Authorized Person | |
Kiran Bhatraju | ||
Signature: | /s/ Kiran Bhatraju | |
CEFF AppHarvest Equity Holdings, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ David Chen | |
Name: | David Chen | |
Title: | CEO Equilibrium | |
Couch Holdings II, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Greg Couch | |
Name: | Greg Couch | |
Title: | Managing member | |
Loren Eggleton | ||
Signature: | /s/ Loren Eggleton | |
Narya Capital Fund I, L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ J.D. Vance | |
Name: | J.D. Vance | |
Title: | Authorized Person | |
Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Ubben | |
Name: | Jeffrey Ubben | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
Jonathan Webb | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Webb |
ORIGINAL HOLDER: | ||
Robert J. Laikin | ||
Signature: | /s/ Robert J. Laikin | |
Zak Laikin | ||
Signature: | /s/ Zak Laikin | |
LARRY M PAULSON AND GRETCHEN V PAULSON, Trustees of the Larry M and Gretchen V Paulson Family Trust dated September 4, 2019 and any amendments thereto | ||
By: | /s/ Larry Paulson | |
Name: | Larry Paulson | |
Title: | Trustee | |
New Frontier LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Foster | |
Name: | Jeffrey Foster | |
Title: | Manager | |
Hirsch Family Living Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Dan Hirsch | |
Name: | Dan Hirsch | |
Title: | Trustee | |
Mons Investment LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Hersch Klaff | |
Name: | Hersch Klaff | |
Title: | Authorized Person | |
Cliff Holdings, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Ryan Levy | |
Name: | Ryan Levy | |
Title: | Manager | |
Vince Donargo | ||
Signature: | /s/ Vince Donargo | |
Louis Conforti | ||
Signature: | /s/ Louis Conforti | |
Madnani Living Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Sean Madnani | |
Name: | Sean Madnani | |
Title: | Trustee |
Ken Beyer | ||
Signature: | /s/ Ken Beyer | |
Alex Paskoff | ||
Signature: | /s/ Alex Paskoff | |
Maria Marta R Birge Rev TR DEC | ||
By: | /s/ Tag Birge | |
Name: | Tag Birge | |
Title: | Trustee | |
Karin Michelle Held Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Andrew Held | |
Name: | Andrew Held | |
Title: | Trustee | |
Finovus LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Fivel | |
Name: | Steven Fivel | |
Title: | Member | |
Anne T. Dillon | ||
By: | /s/ Anne Dillon | |
Brian Pahud | ||
By: | /s/ Brian Pahud | |
Joel Hoffman | ||
By: | /s/ Joel Hoffman | |
Bea Holdings II, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Bradley A. Bostic | |
Name: | Bradley A. Bostic | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
SEDD Bond Holdings, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ David Eskenazi | |
Name: | David Eskenazi | |
Title: | Managing Member |
Ethan W. Meyers Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Sidney Eskenazi | |
Name: | Sidney Eskenazi | |
Title: | Trustee | |
Samantha H. Meyers Trust | ||
By: | /s/ Sidney Eskenazi | |
Name: | Sidney Eskenazi | |
Title: | Member | |
Heather Goodman | ||
By: | /s/ Heather Goodman | |
Alexander Laikin | ||
By: | /s/ Alexander Laikin | |
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Levine | |
Name: | Steven Levine | |
Title: | CEO |
SCHEDULE A
ORIGINAL HOLDERS:
· | Robert J. Laikin |
· | Zak Laikin |
· | Larry M Paulson and Gretchen V Paulson, Trustees of the Larry M and Gretchen V Paulson Family Trust dated September 4, 2019 and any amendments thereto |
· | New Frontier LLC |
· | Hirsch Family Living Trust |
· | Mons Investment LLC |
· | Cliff Holdings, LLC |
· | Vince Donargo |
· | Louis Conforti |
· | Madnani Living Trust |
· | Ken Beyer |
· | Alex Paskoff |
· | Maria Marta R Birge Rev TR DEC |
· | Karin Michelle Held Trust |
· | Finovus LLC |
· | Anne T. Dillon |
· | Brian Pahud |
· | Joel Hoffman |
· | Bea Holdings II, LLC |
· | SEDD Bond Holdings, LLC |
· | Ethan W. Meyers Trust |
· | Samantha H. Meyers Trust |
· | Heather Goodman |
· | Alexander Laikin |
· | EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. |
NEW HOLDERS:
· | AB Co-Investments LLC |
· | Kiran Bhatraju |
· | CEFF AppHarvest Equity Holdings, LLC |
· | Couch Holdings II, LLC |
· | Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund L.P. |
· | Jonathan Webb |
· | Loren Eggleton |
· | Narya Capital Fund I, L.P. |
· | Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, LP |
Executed
STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 29, 2021, is entered into by and among Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the stockholders of the Company or AppHarvest, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“AppHarvest”), whose name appears on the signature pages hereto (each a “Stockholder,” and collectively, the “Stockholders”). Each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among the Company, ORGA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”) and AppHarvest, dated as of September 28, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented, modified or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “BCA”).
WHEREAS, pursuant to the BCA, Merger Sub will be merged with and into AppHarvest (the “Merger”), with AppHarvest surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, prior to the closing of the Merger, the Company will hold a meeting of the Company’s stockholders to consider, among other things, (1) the approval and adoption of the BCA and the Merger, (2) the approval of the issuance of Novus Common Stock as contemplated by the BCA and the Subscription Agreements, (3) the approval and adoption of the second amended and restated Novus Certificate of Incorporation as set forth on Exhibit G to the BCA, including the conversion of Novus into a public benefit corporation contemplated thereby, (4) the approval and adoption of an equity incentive plan, in accordance with the BCA, (5) the approval and adoption of an employee stock purchase plan, in accordance with the BCA, and (6) any other proposals the Company and AppHarvest deem necessary to effectuate the Transactions (the “Novus Proposals”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the BCA, the Stockholders and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance and voting matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Article I
GOVERNANCE AND VOTING MATTERS
Section 1.1 Board and Committees.
(a) Subject to the approval of the Novus Proposals and the consummation of the Merger, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board under Delaware law) to cause the following to occur immediately after the effective time of the Merger:
(i) The Board to consist of ten directors (each, a “Director”), including Jonathan Webb, Kiran Bhatraju, Martha Stewart, Anna Mason, J.D. Vance, Jeffrey Ubben, David Lee, David Chen, Greg Couch, and Robert Laikin;
(ii) The audit committee of the Board to consist of three directors, including David Lee, as chair, Greg Couch, and J.D. Vance;
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(iii) The compensation committee of the Board to consist of three directors, including Kiran Bhatraju, as chair, Martha Stewart, and Anna Mason; and
(iv) The nominating and governance committee of the Board to consist of three directors, including Jeffrey Ubben, as chair, David Chen, and Robert Laikin.
(b) After the Closing, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board under Delaware law) to (i) cause the Board to nominate and recommend for election to the Board at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 (the “First Annual Meeting”) each of the above-mentioned individuals (the “Nominees”), each to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified, and (ii) cause each applicable Nominee to be included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with the Company’s soliciting proxies or consents in favor of the foregoing for the First Annual Meeting, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written resolution of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board at the First Annual Meeting.
(c) If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Stockholders holding a majority of the shares of Novus Common Stock shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee and the Stockholders and the Company shall take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation or the size of the Board shall be increased by one and such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee within ten days of such designation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation and appointment, unless the Stockholders fail to designate such Nominee for more than 30 days, after which the Company may appoint an interim successor nominee who may serve as a director if duly elected until the Stockholders make such designation. The Stockholders shall not be obligated to designate all (or any) of the directors they are entitled to designate pursuant to this Agreement but the failure to do so shall not constitute a waiver of their rights hereunder.
(d) The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount and pursuant to terms determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as any Director to the Board nominated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Directors.
Section 1.2 Voting. Subject to the approval of the Novus Proposals and the consummation of the Merger, the Stockholders shall vote, or provide a written consent or proxy with respect to, their shares of the Novus Common Stock in favor of each of the Nominees and/or other person who has been recommended by the Board for such appointment or nomination in accordance with Section 1.1(c) at the First Annual Meeting and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board with respect to the First Annual Meeting.
Section 1.3 Restrictions on Other Agreements. The Stockholders shall not, directly or indirectly, grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust, agreement or arrangement of any kind with respect to their shares of Common Stock if and to the extent the terms thereof conflict with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such proxy, voting trust, agreement or agreements are with other holders of shares of Common Stock that are not parties to this Agreement or otherwise).
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Article II
TERMINATION
Section 2.1 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate after the First Annual Meeting.
Article III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.1 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, mailed by registered or certified mail or be sent by facsimile or electronic mail to such party at the address set forth below (or such other address as shall be specified by like notice). Notices will be deemed to have been duly given hereunder if (i) personally delivered, when received, (ii) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, one business day after deposit with the nationally recognized overnight courier, (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail, when received, and (iv) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date sent so long as such communication is transmitted before 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a business day, otherwise, on the next business day.
(a) If to the Company prior to the closing of the Merger, to:
Novus
Capital Corporation
8556 Oakmont Lane
Indianapolis,
IN 4626
Attention: Robert J. Laikin, Chairman and Larry M. Paulson, President & CEO
Email:
with a copy to:
Blank
Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Attention:
Robert J. Mittman and Kathleen Cunningham
Email:
(b) If to the Company after the closing of the Merger, to:
AppHarvest,
Inc.
401 W. Main Street, Suite 321
Lexington, KY 40507
Attention: Jonathan Webb
Email:
with a copy to:
Cooley
LLP
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004
Attention: Derek O. Colla and David I. Silverman
Email:
3
(c) If to the Stockholders, to the addresses set forth on the signature pages hereto.
Section 3.2 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
Section 3.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be considered one and the same agreement.
Section 3.4 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 3.5 Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the other parties hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein.
Section 3.6 Governing Law; Equitable Remedies. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF). The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
Section 3.7 Consent To Jurisdiction. With respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“Proceeding”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts therefrom (the “Selected Courts”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided, however, that a party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (b) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to their respective addresses referred to in Section 3.1 hereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (c) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.
4
Section 3.8 Amendments; Waivers.
(a) No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (i) in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto, and (ii) in the case of a waiver, by each of the parties against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
Section 3.9 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 3.10 No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.
[Signature page follows.]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | |||
NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ Larry M. Paulson | ||
Name: | Larry M. Paulson | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
AB Co-Investments LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Owen Littman | ||
Name: | Owen Littman | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Kiran Bhatraju | ||
By: | /s/ Kiran Bhatraju |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
CEEF AppHarvest Equity Holdings, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ David Chen | ||
Name: | David Chen | ||
Title: | CEO Equilibrium |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Couch Holdings II, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Greg Couch | ||
Name: | Greg Couch | ||
Title: | Managing Member |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Loren Eggleton | ||
By: | /s/ Loren Eggleton |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund L.P. | |||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Ubben | ||
Name: | Jeffrey Ubben | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, LP | |||
By: | Rise of the Rest Seed Fund GP, LLC | ||
Its: | General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Stephen M. Case | ||
Name: | Stephen M. Case | ||
Its: | Operating Manager |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Narya Capital Fund I, L.P. | |||
By: | /s/ J.D. Vance | ||
Name: | J.D. Vance | ||
Title: | Partner |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Jonathan Webb | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Webb |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Robert J. Laikin | ||
By: | /s/ Robert Laikin |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Louis Conforti | ||
By: | /s/ Louis Conforti |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Madnani Living Trust | |||
By: | /s/ Sean Madnani | ||
Name: | Sean Madnani | ||
Title: | Trustee |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Finovus LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Steve Fivel | ||
Name: | Steve Fivel | ||
Title: | Manager |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Ethan W. Meyers Trust | |||
By: | /s/ Sidney Eskenazi | ||
Name: | Sidney Eskenazi | ||
Title: | Chief Operating Officer |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Samantha H. Meyers Trust | |||
By: | /s/ Sidney Eskenazi | ||
Name: | Sidney Eskenazi | ||
Title: | Chief Operating Officer |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Sedd Bond Holdings, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ David Eskenazi | ||
Name: | David Eskenazi | ||
Title: | Managing Member |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Anne T. Dillon | ||
By: | /s/ Anne T. Dillon |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Ken Beyer | ||
By: | /s/ Ken Beyer |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Vincent Donargo | ||
By: | /s/ Vincent Donargo |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
New Frontier LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Jeff Foster | ||
Name: | Jeff Foster | ||
Title: | Manager |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Mons Investment LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Hersch Klaff | ||
Name: | Hersch Klaff | ||
Title: | Hersch M. Klaff, Manager and Sole Member of HMK Advisor, LLC as investment advisor for Mons Investments, LLC |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Cliff Holdings LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Ryan Levy | ||
Name: | Ryan Levy | ||
Title: | Authorized Signer |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Brian Pahud | ||
By: | /s/ Brian C. Pahud |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Maria Marta R Birge Rev TR DEC | |||
By: | /s/ Marta Rainero Birge | ||
Name: | Marta Rainero Birge | ||
Title: | Mrs |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Alex Paskoff | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Paskoff |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Karin Michelle Held Revocable Trust | |||
By: | /s/ Karin Held | ||
Name: | Karin Held | ||
Title: | Trustee |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Josh Hoffman | ||
By: | /s/ Josh Hoffman |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Alex Laikin | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Laikin |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
BEA Holdings II, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Bradley A. Bostic | ||
Name: | Bradley A. Bostic | ||
Title: | Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Larry M Paulson and Gretchen V Paulson Family Trust dated Sept 4, 2019, and any amendments thereto | |||
By: | /s/ Larry M. Paulson | ||
Name: | Larry M. Paulson | ||
Title: | CEO |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | |||
Hirsch Family Living Trust | |||
By: | /s/ Dan Hirsch | ||
Name: | Dan Hirsch | ||
Title: | Trustee |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Heather Goodman | ||
By: | /s/ Heather Goodman |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Zak Laikin | ||
By: | /s/ Zak Laikin |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT 16.1
January 29, 2021
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have read the statements made by AppHarvest, Inc. under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated January 29, 2021. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01. We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Marcum LLP
New York, NY
EXHIBIT 21.1
APPHARVEST, INC.
List of Subsidiaries
Subsidiary | Jurisdiction | |
AppHarvest Operations, Inc. | Delaware | |
AppHarvest Morehead Farm, LLC | Delaware | |
AppHarvest Richmond Farm, LLC | Delaware | |
AppHarvest Berea Farm, LLC | Delaware | |
Russell Springs Land Company, LLC | Delaware | |
Morehead Farm, LLC | Delaware |
Exhibit 99.1
AppHarvest, a Pioneering Developer and Operator of Sustainable, Large-Scale Controlled Environment Indoor Farms, Becomes a Public AgTech Company
AppHarvest and Novus Capital Complete Business Combination
AppHarvest to Begin Trading on Nasdaq as “APPH” on February 1, 2021
Company Reaffirms Full-Year 2021 Guidance
February 1, 2021 – MOREHEAD, Kentucky – AppHarvest (“the Company”), a leading AgTech company and Certified B Corp building and operating some of the country’s largest high-tech indoor farms to sustainably grow affordable, nutritious, chemical pesticide-free non-GMO fruits and vegetables at scale using 90% less water than traditional open-field agriculture and 100% recycled rainwater, and Novus Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: NOVS) (“Novus Capital”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, announced today that they have completed their previously announced business combination and related charter amendments. The resulting company is named AppHarvest, Inc. and its common stock and warrants will commence trading on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbols “APPH” and “APPHW,” respectively, on Monday, February 1, 2021. AppHarvest has qualified to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which is the highest of three tiers based on certain financial, liquidity and corporate governance requirements that the company met. The combined company will be led by Jonathan Webb, AppHarvest’s Founder & Chief Executive Officer.
The Boards of Directors of AppHarvest and Novus Capital unanimously approved the transaction, and the transaction was also approved at a special meeting of Novus Capital shareholders on January 29, 2021.
Company Overview
AppHarvest, committed to ESG principles and social impact, is redefining and transforming American agriculture by developing modern, large-scale and efficient indoor farms in Central Appalachia, a water- rich region strategically located within a day’s drive of approximately 70% of the U.S. population. AppHarvest has strong relationships with the leading agricultural and construction firms and universities in the Netherlands, the world’s leader in high-tech controlled environment indoor farms. The Netherlands, despite a land mass similar in size to Eastern Kentucky, is the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter behind only the United States due to its extensive network of controlled environment agriculture facilities. These relationships allow the Company to leverage the most recent proven technologies in an effort to sustainably increase crop yields, improve access to nutritious, non-GMO food, build a consistent and safe U.S.-grown food supply for national grocers, and increase investment and employment in Appalachia. The Company operates a 60-acre controlled environment agriculture facility in Morehead, Kentucky — one of the largest high-tech greenhouses in the world — and has an active development pipeline for up to 12 large-scale indoor controlled-environment farm projects through 2025.
AppHarvest has achieved several key commercial milestones since announcing the business combination on September 29, 2020:
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· | January 19, 2021: Announced first-ever harvest of Beefsteak tomatoes from its 60-acre Morehead, Kentucky, flagship indoor farm, and began shipping to select national grocery retailers. The Morehead facility alone is expected to produce about 45 million pounds of tomatoes annually. |
· | October 26, 2020: Announced the start of construction on a third high-tech controlled environment agriculture facility in Central Appalachia and expansion into growing leafy greens. Located in Berea, Kentucky, the farm, when complete, will be 15 acres. |
· | October 20, 2020: Announced the start of construction on a second high-tech controlled environment agriculture facility in Madison County, Kentucky. The farm, when complete, will exceed 60 acres and will double AppHarvest's existing growing space in Central Appalachia. |
“Today marks an important milestone for AppHarvest and for American agriculture as we drive the next chapter of our growth as a public company,” said Jonathan Webb, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppHarvest. “The capital we raised in this transaction will further advance our mission of transforming agriculture by developing large-scale sustainable food production in the heart of Central Appalachia. We currently import nearly half of all fresh vine crops sold in the U.S. To create a more resilient food system, we must farm more efficiently and closer to where the food is needed.”
David Lee joined AppHarvest on Jan. 25, having previously served in the CFO and COO roles at Impossible Foods and bringing decades of experience across retail and consumer industries driving business transformation and optimizing organizational effectiveness from Del Monte to Zynga to Impossible Foods. He will focus on accelerating infrastructure buildout, strengthening marketing and establishing effective product development processes as AppHarvest works to build an iconic brand that disrupts traditional agriculture.
“In a marketplace where consumers are more knowledgeable and conscientious than ever about the food they buy, we have a tremendous opportunity at AppHarvest to build a trustworthy sustainable foods brand that people care about,” said AppHarvest President David Lee. “Customers are craving better quality food options—and ones they can feel better about because the company is socially conscious and environmentally responsible. With our first harvest already underway and produce shipping to major grocery outlets, we reiterate our full-year 2021 guidance.”
Supported by early sales from its first harvest, AppHarvest reaffirms guidance on full-year 2021 net revenue of $21 million and Adjusted EBITDA of ($41) million provided during its Analyst Day presentation on December 15, 2020. Note, Adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation and other non-cash items.
“Jonathan Webb and his talented team at AppHarvest have established a unique platform for rapid growth and value creation that will be further strengthened by this transaction and entrance into the public markets,” said Bob Laikin, Chairman of Novus Capital. “We look forward to seeing the team capitalize on the attractive opportunities that lie ahead given the heightened investor focus on ESG initiatives and the secular shift to plant-based foods, as AppHarvest continues to redefine American agriculture.”
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Transaction Overview
As a result of this transaction, AppHarvest has received approximately $475 million of gross proceeds, including $375 million from the fully committed common stock PIPE anchored by existing and new investors – including Fidelity Management & Research Company, LLC, Inclusive Capital and Novus Capital. The transaction provides AppHarvest over $435 million of unrestricted cash, which will primarily be used to fund operations, including building additional high-tech controlled environment indoor farms, support growth and for other general corporate purposes.
A more detailed description of the transaction terms will be included in a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by AppHarvest, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as Novus Capital’s previous filings with the SEC. Once AppHarvest’s common stock and warrants commence trading on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbols “APPH” and “APPHW,” the Novus Capital units (“NOVSU”) will cease trading on Nasdaq.
Cowen served as sole placement agent and capital markets advisor, and Blank Rome LLP served as legal advisor to Novus Capital. Cowen served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to AppHarvest.
About AppHarvest
AppHarvest, a public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp, is an applied technology company building some of the world’s largest indoor farms in Appalachia. The Company combines conventional agricultural techniques with cutting-edge technology and is addressing key issues including improving access for all to nutritious food, farming more sustainably, building a home-grown food supply, and increasing investment in Appalachia. The Company’s 60-acre Morehead, Kentucky facility is among the largest indoor farms in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.appharvest.com/.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The financial information and data contained this press release is unaudited and does not conform to Regulation S-X. Accordingly, such information and data may not be included in, may be adjusted in, or may be presented differently in, any proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or other report or document to be filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC. Some of the financial information and data contained in this press release, such as EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA, has not been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company believes these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP measures for trend analyses and for budgeting and planning purposes. A reconciliation for the Company’s 2021E non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is not included, because, without unreasonable effort, the Company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or timing of non-GAAP adjustments that are used to calculate these non-GAAP financial measures.
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The Company believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating projected operating results and trends. Other similar companies may present different non-GAAP measures or calculate similar non-GAAP measures differently. Management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses that are required by to be presented in the Company’s GAAP financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses are excluded in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. You should review the Company’s audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, which will be included in a combined registration statement and proxy statement to be filed with the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the business combination, AppHarvest’s expected use of proceeds from the business combination and PIPE, the benefits of the transaction and AppHarvest’s future financial performance, as well as AppHarvest’s growth plans and strategy, ability to capitalize on commercial opportunities, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated adjusted EBITDA, revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of AppHarvest’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AppHarvest. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the final prospectus/proxy statement filed with the SEC by Novus Capital on January 11, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents Novus Capital has filed, or that AppHarvest will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect AppHarvest’s expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. AppHarvest anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while AppHarvest may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, AppHarvest specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing AppHarvest’s assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
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Investor Contacts
Chris Mandeville and John Mills
AppHarvestIR@icrinc.com
Media Contacts
Cory Ziskind and Keil Decker
AppHarvestPR@icrinc.com
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