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 Earliest Event Reported): February 26, 2021
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-39004 | 84-1747686 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
||
240 East Hacienda Avenue Campbell, CA |
95008 | |||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(408) 841-4500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation
5949 Sherry Lane, Suite 1010
Dallas, TX 75225
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e- 4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Common Stock, par value $0.0001 | CHPT | New York Stock Exchange | ||
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | CHPT WS | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
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 February 26, 2021 (the Closing Date), ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation) (the Company), consummated the previously announced business combination (the Closing) pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated September 23, 2020, by and among Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation (Switchback), Lightning Merger Sub Inc., a subsidiary of Switchback (Merger Sub), and ChargePoint, Inc., a Delaware corporation (ChargePoint). At the Closing, Merger Sub merged with and into ChargePoint, with ChargePoint surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the Merger and collectively with the other transactions described in the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination). As a result of the Business Combination, ChargePoint became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, each stockholder of ChargePoint received 0.9966 shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock) and the contingent right to receive certain Earnout Shares (as defined below), for each share of ChargePoint common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, owned by such ChargePoint stockholder that was outstanding immediately prior to the Closing (other than any shares of ChargePoint restricted stock). In addition, certain investors purchased an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of Common Stock (such investors, the PIPE Investors) concurrently with the Closing for an aggregate purchase price of $225,000,000. Additionally, at the Closing, after giving effect to the forfeiture contemplated by the Founders Stock Letter (as defined below), each outstanding share of the Companys Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Founder Shares), was converted into a share of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis and the Founder Shares ceased to exist.
Also at the Closing, NGP Switchback, LLC (the Sponsor) exercised its right to convert a portion of the working capital loans made by the Sponsor to the Company into an additional 1,000,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant in satisfaction of $1,500,000 principal amount of such loans.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), (1) warrants to purchase shares of capital stock of ChargePoint were converted into warrants to purchase an aggregate of 38,761,031 shares of Common Stock and the contingent right to receive certain Earnout Shares, (2) options to purchase shares of common stock of ChargePoint were converted into options to purchase an aggregate of 30,135,695 shares of Common Stock and, with respect to vested options, the contingent right to receive certain Earnout Shares and (3) unvested restricted shares of common stock of ChargePoint that were outstanding pursuant to the early exercise of ChargePoint options were converted into an aggregate of 345,689 restricted shares of the Company (the Restricted Shares).
During the time period between the Closing Date and the five-year anniversary of the Closing Date, eligible former equityholders of ChargePoint may receive up to 27,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the Earnout Shares) in the aggregate in three equal tranches if certain earnout conditions (as further described in the Business Combination Agreement) are fully satisfied.
In connection with the Closing, the Company changed its name from Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation to ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Unless the context otherwise requires, the Company refers to the registrant and its subsidiaries, including ChargePoint and its subsidiaries, after the Closing, and Switchback refers to the registrant prior the Closing.
The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which was attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on September 24, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference. A more detailed description of the Business Combination can be found in the section titled The Business Combination in the Companys definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement filed with the SEC on January 8, 2021 (the Proxy Statement) prepared in connection with the solicitation of the proxies from the Companys stockholders to approve, among other things, the Business Combination.
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Item 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
The disclosure set forth in the Introductory Note above is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Closing, that certain Registration Rights Agreement of the Company dated July 25, 2019 (the IPO Registration Rights Agreement) was amended and restated and the Company, certain persons and entities holding securities of the Company prior to the Closing (the Initial Holders) and certain persons and entities receiving Common Stock or instruments exercisable for Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the New Holders and together with the Initial Holders, the Registration Rights Holders) entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached as an exhibit to the Business Combination Agreement (the A&R Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed that, within fifteen (15) business days after the Closing, the Company will file with the SEC (at the Companys sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the Registration Rights Holders (the Resale Registration Statement), and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. The A&R Registration Rights Agreement provides the Registration Rights Holders with the right to demand up to four underwritten offerings and the Registration Rights Holders will be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights. The foregoing description of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.13 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Lock-Up Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, certain stockholders of the Company entered into agreements (the Lock-Up Agreements) pursuant to which they agreed, subject to certain customary exceptions, not to effect any (a) direct or indirect sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, or entry into any agreement with respect to any sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by them immediately after the Closing, including any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock held by them immediately following the Closing or (b) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a), in each case, for six months after the Closing.
The foregoing description of the Lock-Up Agreements is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.12 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Indemnification Agreements
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements (the Indemnification Agreements) with each of its directors and executive officers. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indemnification Agreements provide that the Company will indemnify each of its directors and executive officers against any and all expenses incurred by that director or executive officer because of his or her status as one of the Companys directors or executive officers, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Second A&R Charter and Second A&R Bylaws, copies of which are attached as Exhibit 3.1 and 3.2, respectively to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the indemnification agreements provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company will advance all expenses incurred by its directors or executive officers in connection with a legal proceeding involving his or her status as a director or executive officer, subject to certain exceptions.
The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Indemnification Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.9 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
The disclosure set forth in the Introductory Note above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference. The material provisions of the Business Combination Agreement are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled The Business Combination beginning on page 101, which is incorporated by reference herein.
On the Closing Date, the Company consummated the previously announced Merger pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. Holders of 33,009 shares of Common Stock sold in Switchbacks initial public offering (the public shares) properly exercised their right to have such shares redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the trust account holding the proceeds from Switchbacks initial public offering, calculated as of two business days prior to the Closing, or approximately $10.09 per share and $333,060.81 in the aggregate.
In September 2020, Switchback entered into subscription agreements (collectively, the Subscription Agreements) pursuant to which certain investors agreed to purchase an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of Common Stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and $225,000,000 in the aggregate (the PIPE Investment). At the Closing, the Company consummated the PIPE Investment and the PIPE Investors received an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements.
In addition, pursuant to a letter agreement (the Founders Stock Letter) entered into by the holders of the Founder Shares (the initial stockholders) and the Company in connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, immediately prior to the Closing, the initial stockholders (i) surrendered to the Company, for no consideration and as a capital contribution to the Company, 984,706 Founder Shares held by them (on a pro rata basis), whereupon such shares were immediately canceled, and (ii) subjected 900,000 Founder Shares (including Common Stock issued in exchange therefor in the Merger) held by them to potential forfeiture in accordance with the terms of the Founders Stock Letter. Upon the Closing, all outstanding Founder Shares converted into Common Stock on a one-for-one basis and the Founder Shares ceased to exist.
As consideration for the Merger, an aggregate of 217,021,368 shares of Common Stock (including 345,689 Restricted Shares) were issued to ChargePoints stockholders and up to an aggregate of 27,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock may be issued to former equityholders of ChargePoint if certain conditions (as described in the Business Combination Agreement) are fully satisfied.
As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination, the Company had the following outstanding securities:
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277,768,357 shares of Common Stock, including 345,689 Restricted Shares; |
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30,135,695 stock options, each exercisable for one share of Common Stock at a weighted average price of $0.71 per share; |
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10,470,562 public warrants, each exercisable for one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share (the Public Warrants); |
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6,521,568 private placement warrants, each exercisable for one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share; |
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38,761,031 assumed warrants, each exercisable for one share of Common Stock at the weighted average price of $6.83 per share. |
As of the Closing Date, the Sponsor owned an aggregate of 6,763,280 shares of Common Stock and 6,521,568 private placement warrants.
The Companys Common Stock and Public Warrants have commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbols CHPT and CHPT WS on March 1, 2021, subject to ongoing review of the Companys satisfaction of all listing criteria following the Business Combination. The Companys publicly traded units automatically separated into their component securities upon the Closing and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security and were delisted from the NYSE.
The description of the Founders Stock Letter in this Item 2.01 is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Founders Stock Letter, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
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FORM 10 INFORMATION
Prior to the Closing, the Company was a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) with no operations, formed as a vehicle to effect a business combination with one or more operating businesses. After the Closing, the Company became a holding company whose only assets consist of equity interests in ChargePoint. Accordingly, pursuant to Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K, the Company is providing below the information 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 Merger, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Company makes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in documents incorporated by reference herein. 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 Companys future financial performance, as well as the Companys strategy, future operations, future operating results, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, should, could, would, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, estimate, continue, project or the negative of such terms and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified herein, and on the current expectations of the Companys 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 by any investor 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 may differ from assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. If any of these risks materialize or the Companys assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company does not presently know or that the Company currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect the Companys expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Companys assessments to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company specifically disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Companys assessments as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risk and uncertainties, most of which are all difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.
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In addition, the Company cautions you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company, which are included in this Current Report on Form 8-K, are subject to the following factors:
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the risk that the recently consummated Business Combination disrupts the Companys current plans and operations; |
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the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the combined business to grow and manage growth profitably; |
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costs related to the Business Combination; |
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changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
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the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; |
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the Companys ability to expand its business in Europe; |
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the Companys success in retaining or recruiting, or changes in, its officers, key employees or directors following the business combination; |
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the electric vehicle market may not continue to grow as expected; |
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the Company may not attract a sufficient number of fleet owners as customers; |
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incentives from governments or utilities may be reduced, which could reduce demand for electric vehicles (EVs); |
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the impact of competing technologies that could reduce the demand for EVs; |
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technological changes; |
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data security breaches or other network outages; |
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the Companys ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting; |
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the impact of COVID-19; and |
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other risks and uncertainties set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Risk Factors beginning on page 39 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference. |
Business and Properties
The business and properties of ChargePoint prior to the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Information About ChargePoint beginning on page 189, which is incorporated herein by reference. The business and properties of Switchback are described in the sections titled Part I, Item 1. Business and Part I, Item 2. Properties in Switchbacks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021 (the Form 10-K), which are incorporated herein by reference.
Risk Factors
The risks associated with the Companys business are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Risk Factors beginning on page 39, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein. The Company has applied the amendment to Regulation S-K Item 301 which became effective on February 10, 2021.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Managements discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operation of ChargePoint prior to the Business Combination is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of ChargePoint beginning on page 168, which is incorporated herein by reference. Managements discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operation of the Company prior to the Business Combination is included in the Form 10-K in the section titled Part II, Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Executive Compensation
Switchback
None of Switchbacks officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to Switchback. Commencing on the date that Switchbacks securities were first listed on the NYSE through the Closing, Switchback paid the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services. In addition, the Sponsor, Switchbacks executive officers and directors, and any of their respective affiliates, have been reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on Switchbacks behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finders and consulting fees, has been paid by Switchback to the Sponsor, Switchbacks officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to the Closing.
ChargePoint
Fiscal Year 2021 Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows information regarding the compensation of ChargePoints named executive officers for services performed during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2021 and January 31, 2020.
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary
($) |
Bonus
($) |
Option
Awards(1) ($) |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Total
($) |
||||||||||||||||||
Pasquale Romano,
|
2021 | 454,167 | | | (2) | | 454,167 | |||||||||||||||||
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2020 | 500,000 | 112,500 | 1,125,000 | 262,500 | 2,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Christopher Burghardt, (3), (4)
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2021 | 402,500 | | | | 402,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael Hughes, (4)
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2021 | 272,500 | | | 294,000 | (5) | 566,500 |
(1) |
The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted to the officer in the applicable fiscal year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 13 of the notes to ChargePoints audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-62, which is incorporated herein by reference for a discussion of the assumptions made by ChargePoint in determining the grant date fair value of its equity awards. In accordance with SEC rules, the grant date fair value of an award subject to a performance condition is based on the probable outcome of the performance condition. |
(2) |
Mr. Romano was granted an option to purchase 1,500,000 shares of ChargePoints common stock on June 2, 2020. As originally granted, the option would have vested if ChargePoint achieved positive operating income for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024. At the time the option was granted it was not probable that the performance condition would be achieved, and therefore no amount is included in the Option Awards column for fiscal year 2021. The grant date fair value of the option granted to Mr. Romano, assuming maximum achievement of the performance condition, was $783,991. |
(3) |
Mr. Burghardts salary is paid in Euros and has been converted to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate during the fiscal year of 1.15. |
(4) |
Messrs. Burghardt and Hughes were employed by us, but were not named executive officers, in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020. Accordingly compensation information is only provided for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021. |
(5) |
Reflects sales commissions. |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
The compensation of ChargePoints named executive officers generally consists of base salary, annual incentive compensation and equity compensation. In making executive compensation decisions, the ChargePoint Board and ChargePoints compensation committee consider such factors as they deem appropriate in their exercise of discretion and business judgment, including a subjective assessment of the named executive officers performance, the amount of vested and unvested equity held by the officer, amounts paid to ChargePoints other executive officers and competitive market conditions.
The salaries and target bonus opportunities of ChargePoints named executive officers are typically reviewed annually and adjusted when the ChargePoint Board or compensation committee determines it is appropriate. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, Mr. Romanos base salary was $500,000 per year, Mr. Burghardts base salary was 350,000 per year and Mr. Hughes base salary was $300,000 per year. However, as part of a COVID-related expense reduction program, the base salaries of ChargePoints U.S. employees (including Messrs. Romano and Hughes) were reduced by 20% from April 16, 2020 to September 30, 2020.
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As part of the same COVID-19-related expense reduction program, ChargePoint did not adopt a formal executive bonus program for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021. Any bonuses for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021 will be at the discretion of the Companys board of directors and compensation committee and will be disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K if and when awarded. Mr. Hughes was eligible to earn sales commissions based on the Companys billings. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, his target commission opportunity was 70% of his base salary. The commissions earned by Mr. Hughes are included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan column of the Fiscal Year 2021 Summary Compensation Table above.
Effective as of the closing of the Business Combination, the ChargePoint Board approved the following changes in the base salaries and target bonuses of ChargePoints named executive officers: Mr. Romanos target bonus was increased to 100% of base salary and his base salary remains unchanged, Mr. Burghardts target bonus was increased to 40% of his base salary and his base salary remains unchanged and Mr. Hughes base salary was increased to $350,000 per year and his target bonus remains unchanged.
Historically, the equity compensation granted to ChargePoints named executive officers has consisted of stock options. For a description of the stock options granted to ChargePoints named executive officers in fiscal year 2021, please see the Outstanding Equity Award at Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End table below.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, Mr. Romano was granted an option to purchase 1,500,000 shares of ChargePoints common stock. As originally granted, the option was eligible to vest if ChargePoint achieved positive operating income for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024. Effective upon consummation of the Business Combination, in order to provide an additional retention incentive as ChargePoint transitions to becoming a publicly traded company, this option was amended so that it will fully vest in a single installment on January 31, 2024 subject to Mr. Romanos service through the vesting date. The incremental fair value associated with the modification of Mr. Romanos option will appear in our Fiscal Year 2022 Summary Compensation Table.
The Company intends to grant 100,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to Mr. Burghardt and 150,000 RSUs to Mr. Hughes. These RSU awards will vest in quarterly installments over four years of service subject to the officers continuous service through each vesting date.
ChargePoints named executive officers were eligible to participate in ChargePoints health and welfare plans to the same extent as other full-time employees generally. ChargePoint generally did not provide ChargePoints named executive officers with perquisites or other personal benefits. However, ChargePoint did reimburse ChargePoints named executive officers for their necessary and reasonable business and travel expenses incurred in connection with their services.
Employment Arrangements with ChargePoints Named Executive Officers
ChargePoint has entered into offer letters or employment agreements with each of its named executive officers setting forth the initial terms of the officers employment. Offer letters with our U.S. named executive officers provide that the officers employment will be at will and may be terminated at any time. The employment agreement with Mr. Burghardt, who is a resident of Europe, includes statutory notice provisions required under European law. The severance benefits that ChargePoints named executive officers are entitled to are described in Severance and Change in Control Benefits below.
Severance and Change in Control Benefits
Messrs. Romano and Hughes are entitled to severance payments in the event the named executive officers employment is terminated by ChargePoint without Cause (as defined below) or if the officer resigns for Good Reason (as defined below) (either of which, a Qualifying Termination). In the case of a Qualifying Termination, the named executive officer is eligible to receive a lump sum payment equal to six months worth of his then-current base salary and a lump sum payment equal to six months of premiums under the Companys group health plans pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Action of 1985 (in the case of Mr. Romano) or benefits premiums (in the case of Mr. Hughes). As a condition to the receipt of severance benefits, the officer must execute a release of claims, resign from all positions with ChargePoint and return all company property.
The stock options granted by ChargePoint to Messrs. Romano and Hughes include a double trigger vesting provision whereby 50% of the unvested options (100% in the case of the option granted to Mr. Romano in June 2020) subject to such grant will vest if the named executive officer undergoes a Qualifying Termination within 12 months after a Corporate Transaction (as defined below). In addition, Mr. Romanos June 2020 option will accelerate with respect to 6/48th of the total option shares if Mr. Romano is subject to a Qualifying Termination at any time. In order to receive these acceleration benefits, the named executive officer is required to execute a release of claims.
Cause means (a) the named executive officer is convicted of a felony (including a plea of nolo contendere) which is to ChargePoints material economic detriment, or (b) the named executive officers intentional misconduct in the performance of his duties for ChargePoint that is materially detrimental to ChargePoint after written notice thereof and failure to cure within 30 days of such notice.
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Corporate Transaction means any of the following transactions whether accomplished through one or a series of related transactions: (a) a merger or acquisition in which ChargePoint is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which ChargePoint is incorporated, (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of ChargePoint whether through a single transaction or a series of transactions, (c) any reverse merger in which ChargePoint is the surviving entity but in which 50% or more of ChargePoints outstanding voting stock is transferred to holders different from those who held the stock immediately prior to such merger or (d) a transaction or series of related transactions in which any person or group (as defined in the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly of securities representing more than 50% of the voting power of ChargePoint then outstanding.
Good Reason means (a) a material diminution in the named executive officers duties and responsibilities (other than a change of title), (b) the named executive officers office is relocated more than 50 miles from its current location, or (c) there is a material reduction in the named executive officers salary or benefits. In order to resign for Good Reason, the named executive officer must provide written notice to ChargePoint of the existence of one or more of the above conditions within 90 days of its initial existence and ChargePoint must be provided with 30 days to cure the condition. If the condition is not cured within such 30 day period, the named executive officer must terminate employment within 30 days of the end of such cure period.
The Business Combination is not expected to be considered a Corporate Transaction for purposes of these acceleration provisions.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Burghardt is entitled to a lump sum severance payment equal to six months of his base salary if his employment is terminated by ChargePoint other than as a result of Mr. Burghardts death, conviction of a felony or certain other statutory grounds. In addition, if Mr. Burghardts employment is terminated by ChargePoint other than as a result of his death, conviction of a felony or certain statutory grounds and such termination occurs within 12 months after certain transactions that result in a change in control of ChargePoint, 50% of the unvested options granted to Mr. Burghardt by ChargePoint will vest subject to Mr. Burghardts execution of a release of claims.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End
The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards held by ChargePoints named executive officers as of January 31, 2021.
The number of shares subject to each option set forth below and the applicable exercise price are as of January 31, 2021, but have been adjusted to reflect adjustments made on the Closing Date when ChargePoint options were converted into options to purchase the Companys Common Stock.
The vesting schedule applicable to each outstanding award is described in the footnotes to the table below. For information regarding the vesting acceleration provisions applicable to ChargePoints named executive officers equity awards, see Severance and Change in Control Benefits above.
Option Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Grant Date |
Vesting
Commencement Date |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Option
Exercise Price ($) |
Option
Expiration Date |
||||||||||||||||||
Pasquale Romano |
3/1/2011 | | 16,623 | | $ | 60.21 | 2/28/2021 | |||||||||||||||||
6/11/2012 | | 815,802 | | $ | 0.27 | 6/10/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
11/6/2014 | | 1,364,712 | | $ | 0.27 | 11/5/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
1/26/2018 | 11/1/2017 | 2,130,232 | 560,587 | $ | 0.84 | 1/25/2028 | ||||||||||||||||||
10/23/2019 | 2/1/2020 | 342,581 | 1,152,318 | $ | 0.76 | 10/22/2029 | ||||||||||||||||||
6/2/2020 | 2/1/2020 | | 1,494,900 | $ | 0.76 | 6/1/2030 | ||||||||||||||||||
Christopher Burghardt |
12/27/2017 | 11/6/2017 | 89,611 | 158,124 | $ | 0.84 | 12/26/2027 | |||||||||||||||||
Michael Hughes |
8/27/2018 | 08/16/2018 | 861,469 | 629,705 | $ | 0.56 | 8/26/2028 |
(1) |
Option vests in 48 equal monthly installments beginning with the vesting commencement date set forth above, subject to the named executive officers continued employment through the applicable vesting date. |
(2) |
As of January 31, 2021, the option was subject to a performance condition which had not yet been achieved. Effective as of closing of the Business Combination, option vests in a single installment on January 31, 2024 subject to the named executive officers continuous service through the applicable vesting date. |
(3) |
Represents the unexercised portion of an option to purchase a total of 758,990 shares. 25% of the option vests on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date set forth above and 1/48th of the option vests per month thereafter, subject to the named executive officers continued employment through the applicable vesting date. |
(4) |
Represents the unexercised portion of an option to purchase a total of 1,590,834 shares. 25% of the option vests on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date set forth above and 1/48th of the option vests per month thereafter, subject to the named executive officers continued employment through the applicable vesting date. |
401(k) Plan
ChargePoint maintains a 401(k) plan for employees. The 401(k) plan is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, so that contributions to the 401(k) plan by employees or by ChargePoint, and the investment earnings thereon, are not taxable to the employees until withdrawn, and so that contributions made by ChargePoint, if any, will be deductible by ChargePoint when made. Employees may elect to reduce their current compensation by up to the statutorily prescribed annual limits and to have the amount of such reduction contributed to their 401(k) plans. The 401(k) plan permits us to make contributions up to the limits allowed by law on behalf of all eligible employees. ChargePoint currently does not make matching contributions under its 401(k) plan.
Equity Plans
2017 Stock Plan
General. The ChargePoint Board adopted ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan on December 21, 2017, and it was approved by ChargePoints stockholders on December 21, 2017. No further awards will be made under ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan; however, awards outstanding under ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan will continue to be governed by their existing terms.
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Share Reserve. As of October 31, 2020, ChargePoint has reserved 37,454,289 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock for issuance under ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan plus up to 11,775,302 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock that recycle from ChargePoints 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, all of which may be issued as incentive stock options. As of October 31, 2020, options to purchase 28,943,338 shares of Common Stock, at exercise prices ranging from $0.55 to $0.83 per share, or a weighted-average exercise price of $0.7256 per share were outstanding under ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan, and 4,303,737 shares of Common Stock remained available for future issuance. Shares subject to awards granted under ChargePoints 2017 Stock Plan that expire or are cancelled or lapse unexercised, shares forfeited to or reacquired by us, and shares withheld in payment of the purchase price or exercise price of an award or in satisfaction of withholding taxes will again become available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.
2007 Stock Incentive Plan
The ChargePoint Board adopted ChargePoints 2007 Stock Incentive Plan on September 13, 2007, and it was approved by ChargePoints stockholders on November 15, 2007. ChargePoint ceased making awards under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan after the 2017 Stock Plan was adopted and, as of October 31, 2020, there were options to purchase 8,732,625 shares of Common Stock, at exercise prices ranging from $0.26 to $65.00 per share, or a weighted-average exercise price of $0.4619 per share outstanding under ChargePoints 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Following closing of the Business Combination, the post-combination company will have the 2021 Plan and the ESPP described in Proposal No. 8 and Proposal No. 9 of the Proxy Statement.
Fiscal Year 2021 Director Compensation
In fiscal year 2021, ChargePoint paid certain of its directors an annual retainer in connection with their service on the ChargePoint Board. ChargePoint also had a policy of reimbursing all of its non-employee directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending board of directors and committee meetings. From time to time, ChargePoint has granted stock options to certain of its non-employee directors, typically in connection with a non-employee directors initial appointment to the ChargePoint Board.
The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation of ChargePoints non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021:
Name |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($) |
Option
Awards ($)(1) |
Total
($) |
|||||||||
Bruce Chizen |
40,000 | 2,485,949 | (2) | 2,525,949 | ||||||||
Roxanne Bowman |
40,000 | | (3) | 40,000 | ||||||||
Axel Harries |
| | | |||||||||
Jeffrey Harris |
| | | |||||||||
Mark Leschly |
| | | |||||||||
Michael Linse |
| | | |||||||||
Richard Lowenthal |
| | (4) | | ||||||||
Neil S. Suslak |
| | | |||||||||
G. Richard Wagoner Jr. |
40,000 | | (5) | 40,000 |
(1) |
The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted to the non-employee director in the applicable fiscal year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 13 of the notes to ChargePoints audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-95, which is incorporated herein by reference, for a discussion of the assumptions made by ChargePoint in determining the grant date fair value of its equity awards. |
(2) |
As of January 31, 2021, Mr. Chizen held options to purchase 398,640 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock in the aggregate. |
(3) |
As of January 31, 2021, Ms. Bowman held options to purchase 348,810 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock in the aggregate. |
(4) |
As of January 31, 2021, Mr. Lowenthal held options to purchase 235,963 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock in the aggregate. |
(5) |
As of January 31, 2021, Mr. Wagoner held options to purchase 379,717 shares of ChargePoint Common Stock in the aggregate. |
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The Company implemented a compensation program for its non-employee directors. Pursuant to this program, non-employee directors will receive the following cash compensation, paid quarterly in arrears:
Position |
Annual
Retainer |
|||
Board service |
$ | 40,000 | ||
plus (as applicable): |
||||
Board Chair |
$ | 30,000 | ||
Audit Committee Chair |
$ | 20,000 | ||
Compensation Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||
Nominating/Governance Committee Chair |
$ | 8,000 |
The Company will reimburse non-employee directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board of directors and committee meetings.
In addition, non-employee directors will receive grants of equity awards under the 2021 Plan. Upon joining the Companys board of directors, a new non-employee director will receive RSUs with an approximate grant date value of $350,000. This new director equity award will vest in three annual installments on each anniversary of the date of grant subject to the directors continued service on the board through each such anniversary. In connection with each annual meeting of stockholders, each non-employee director who will continue to serve on the Companys Board (other than a director who joined the board within three months prior to the annual meeting) will receive RSUs with an approximate grant date value of $185,000 ($92,500 in the case of a non-employee director who joined the board at least three, but less than six, months prior to the date of the annual meeting). These annual equity awards will vest in full on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant or the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders subject to the directors continued service on the board through such date. Both new director equity awards and annual equity awards will vest in full in the event of a change in control while the non-employee director remains in service.
Non-employee directors who served on the ChargePoint board of directors prior to the Business Combination are not eligible for new director equity awards in connection with joining the Companys board of directors. Instead, following the closing of the Business Combination, certain of ChargePoints directors, Messrs. Harries, Harris, Leschly, Linse, Suslak and Wagoner will receive one-time equity awards consisting of 18,500 restricted stock units that will vest in full on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of closing of the Business Combination or a change in control subject to the directors continued service on the board through such date.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of the Companys common stock immediately following the Closing, by:
|
each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; |
|
each current named executive officer and director of the Company; and |
|
all current executive officers and directors of the Company, as a group. |
Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. A person is a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days.
The beneficial ownership percentages set forth in the table below are based on 277,768,357 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of immediately following the Closing.
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Unless otherwise noted in the footnotes to the following table, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their beneficially owned common stock and preferred stock.
Name of Beneficial Owners |
Number of
Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
Percentage
of Outstanding Common Stock |
||||||
5% Stockholders: |
||||||||
Entities affiliated with Linse Capital, LLC(1) |
79,465,105 | 27.5 | % | |||||
Q-GRG VII (CP) Investment Partners, LLC(2) |
34,198,906 | 11.8 | % | |||||
Rho Ventures VI, L.P.(3) |
23,503,621 | 8.4 | % | |||||
Entities affiliated with Braemar Energy Ventures III, LP(4) |
20,002,109 | 7.2 | % | |||||
CPP Investment Board (USRE) Inc. (5) |
18,347,301 | 6.5 | % | |||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors: |
||||||||
Pasquale Romano(6) |
6,777,513 | 2.4 | % | |||||
Christopher Burghardt(7) |
573,559 | * | ||||||
Michael Hughes(8) |
1,060,555 | * | ||||||
Roxanne Bowman(9) |
138,069 | * | ||||||
Bruce Chizen(10) |
909,349 | * | ||||||
Axel Harries |
| * | ||||||
Jeffrey Harris |
| * | ||||||
Mark Leschly(11) |
382,996 | * | ||||||
Michael Linse(12) |
79,465,105 | 27.5 | % | |||||
Neil S. Suslak(13) |
20,002,109 | 7.2 | % | |||||
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. (14) |
451,584 | * | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (18 individuals) (15) |
112,888,726 | 37.5 | % |
* |
Less than One percent |
(1) |
Includes (a) 28,026,451 shares held directly by Linse Capital CP LLC (Linse I), (b) 8,115,159 shares held directly by Linse Capital CP II LLC (Linse II), (c) 9,130,762 shares held directly by Linse Capital CP III, LLC (Linse III), (d) 6,319,434 shares held directly by Linse Capital CP IV, LLC (Linse IV), (e) 6,498,802 shares and 2,166,266 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Linse Capital CP V, LLC (Linse V) and (f) 9,818,807 shares and 9,389,424 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Linse Capital CP VI, LLC (Linse VI and collectively, the Linse Funds). Linse Capital CP VI GP LP (Linse GP VI) is the manager of Linse VI, and Linse Capital Management PR LLC (LCMPR) is the general partner of Linse GP VI. Mr. Linse is the managing director of Linse Capital LLC, which is the manager of LCMPR and the managing member of Linse I, Linse II, Linse III, Linse IV and Linse V. Mr. Linse has sole voting and investment power over the shares held by each of the Linse Funds. The principal address of Linse I, Linse II, Linse III, Linse IV and Linse V is 53 Calle Palmeras, Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901. The principal address of Linse VI is 985 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite 240, Reno, NV 89521. |
(2) |
Includes 23,074,833 shares and 11,124,073 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Q-GRG VII (CP) Investment Partners, LLC (Q-GRG). QEM VII, LLC (QEM VII) is the managing member of Q-GRG. Therefore, QEM VII may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the securities held by Q-GRG and may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these securities. QEM VII disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities in excess of its pecuniary interest in the securities. Any decision taken by QEM VII to vote, or to direct to vote, and to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, the securities held by Q-GRG has to be approved by a majority of the members of its investment committee, which majority must include S. Wil VanLoh, Jr. and Dheeraj Verma. Therefore, Messrs. VanLoh, Jr. and Verma may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the securities held by Q-GRG and may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these securities. Messrs. VanLoh, Jr. and Verma disclaim beneficial ownership of such securities in excess of their pecuniary interests in the securities. The principal address of Q-GRG is 800 Capitol Street, Suite 3600, Houston, TX 77002. |
(3) |
Includes 22,992,817 shares and 510,804 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Rho Ventures VI, L.P. (RV VI). RMV VI, L.L.C. (RMV VI) is the General Partner of RV VI, and Rho Capital Partners LLC (RCP LLC) is the Managing Member of RMV VI, and as such each of RCP LLC and RMV VI has the power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares owned by RV VI and may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of the shares held by RV VI. As managing members of RCP LLC, Joshua Ruch and Habib Kairouz possess the power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares owned by RV VI and may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of the shares held by RV VI. The principal address of each of RV VI is 152 West 57th St., 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
(4) |
Includes (a) 319,495 shares held directly by Braemar CP Investments 2019 LLC, (b) 2,459,007 shares held directly by Braemar CP Investments II 2020, LLC, (c) 10,546,048 shares and 29,273 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Braemar Energy Ventures III, L.P., (d) 2,749,839 shares and 92,989 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by ChargePoint Investments |
13
LLC, (e) 806,246 shares held directly by ChargePoint Investments II, LLC and (f) 1,533,161 shares and 1,466,051 subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Braemar ChargePoint Investments III, LLC (collectively, the Braemar Funds). Mr. Suslak is the Managing Partner of Braemar Energy Ventures, which is the General Partner of each of the Braemar Funds. Mr. Suslak shares voting and investment power over the shares held by each of the Braemar Funds with William D. Lese and Donald F. Tappan, III. Each of Messrs. Suslak, Lese and Tappan disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Braemar Funds. The principal address of each of the funds is c/o Braemar Energy Ventures, 350 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10017. |
(5) |
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), through its wholly-owned subsidiary CPP Investment Board (USRE) Inc. (USRE), beneficially owns (a) 12,902,361 shares and (b) 5,444,940 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021. CPPIB is managed by a board of directors and because the board of directors acts by consensus/majority approval, none of the members of the CPPIB board of directors has sole voting or dispositive power with respect to the securities of ChargePoint held by USRE. The principal address of USRE is c/o Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, One Queen St., E Suite 2600, Toronto, ON M5C 2W5, Canada. |
(6) |
Includes 4,914,936 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021 held directly by Mr. Romano. |
(7) |
Includes (a) 436,511 shares and (b) 137,048 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Mr. Burghardt. |
(8) |
Includes (a) 99,660 shares and (b) 960,896 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by Mr. Hughes. |
(9) |
Includes 138,070 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021 held by Ms. Bowman. |
(10) |
Includes (a) 91,354 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021 held directly by Mr. Chizen, (b) 690,155 shares and 87,821 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by the Bruce Chizen 2009 Irrevocable Trust, dated January 24, 2009 (the Chizen Trust) and (c) 40,019 shares held directly by the Gail Chizen 2009 Irrevocable Trust (the Gail Chizen Trust). Mr. Chizen is the co-trustee of each the Chizen Trust and the Gail Chizen Trust and has shared voting and investment power over the shares held by each of the Chizen Trust and the Gail Chizen Trust. |
(11) |
Includes 382,996 shares held directly by Iconica LLC. As the managing member of Iconica LLC, Mr. Leschly possesses sole power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares owned by Iconica LLC. The principal address of Iconica LLC is c/o Iconica Partners, 525 University Avenue, Suite 1350, Palo Alto, CA 94301. |
(12) |
See footnote 1. |
(13) |
See footnote 4. |
(14) |
Includes (a) 379,718 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021 held by Mr. Wagoner and (b) 36,738 shares and 35,129 shares subject to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, all of which is held directly by the G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Trust dated July 13, 1989, as amended and restated October 19, 2018 (the Wagoner Trust). Mr. Wagoner is the trustee of the Wagoner Trust and has sole voting and investment power over the shares held by the Wagoner Trust. |
(15) |
Includes (a) 9,918,805 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021, (b) 13,416,248 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of February 26, 2021. |
Directors and Executive Officers
Information with respect to the Companys directors and executive officers immediately following the Closing is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Management After the Business Combination beginning on page 223 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has added the below additional executive officer, Rebecca Chavez, subsequent to the date of the Proxy Statement.
Name |
Age |
Position(s) |
||||
Rebecca Chavez |
43 | General Counsel and Secretary |
Rebecca Chavez. Ms. Chavez has served as ChargePoints General Counsel and Secretary since February 2021. Prior to ChargePoint, Ms. Chavez served in various legal leadership roles at Palo Alto Networks, Inc., a global cybersecurity company, including serving as the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate, Securities and M&A, from November 2018 to February 2021, Associate General Counsel and Senior Director, Corporate and Securities, from November 2016 to November 2018 and Director, Corporate and Securities, from August 2015 to November 2016. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, Inc., she served as Associate General Counsel, Finance & Governance at Levi Strauss & Co., an American clothing company, from April 2013 to July 2015. Ms. Chavez began her legal career working at Morrison & Foerster LLP followed by Sidley Austin LLP. Ms. Chavez holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies and M.A. in Education from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
14
Directors
Effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in connection with the Business Combination, the size of the Board of Directors (the Board) was increased from eight members to nine members. Effective as of immediately after the Effective Time, Pasquale Romano, Roxanne Bowman, Bruce Chizen, Neil Suslak, Michael Linse, Mark Leschly, G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., Axel Harries and Jeffrey Harris were appointed to serve as directors of the Company. Ms. Bowman and Messrs. Harries and Suslak were appointed to serve as Class I directors, each with a term expiring at the Companys annual meeting of stockholders in 2021; Messrs. Harris, Leschly and Wagoner were appointed to serve as Class II directors, each with a term expiring at the Companys annual meeting of stockholders in 2022; and Messrs. Chizen, Linse and Romano were appointed to serve as Class III directors, each with a term expiring at the Companys annual meeting of stockholders in 2023. Biographical information for these individuals is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Management After the Business Combination beginning on page 223 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Independence of Directors
The Companys Board has determined that each member of the Board, other than Pasquale Romano, is independent within the meaning of Section 303.A.02 of the NYSE Listing Manual and applicable SEC rules.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Effective as of the Effective Time, the standing committees of the Companys Board consist of an audit committee (the Audit Committee), a compensation and organizational development committee (the Compensation and Organizational Development Committee) and a nominating and corporate governance committee (the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee). Each of the committees reports to the Board.
Effective as of the Effective Time, the Board appointed Messrs. Harris, Suslak and Wagoner to serve on the Audit Committee, with Mr. Harris as chairperson. The Board appointed Messrs. Chizen, Leschly and Linse to serve on the Compensation and Organizational Development Committee, with Mr. Linse as chairperson. Ms. Bowman and Messrs. Chizen and Leschly were appointed to serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with Mr. Leschly as chairperson.
Executive Officers
The Companys directors and executive officers are described in the Proxy in the section titled Management After the Business Combination beginning on page 223 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Certain relationships and related party transactions are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions beginning on page 249 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The independence of directors and identification of any non-independent directors that are on any of the Companys Audit Committee, Compensation and Organizational Development Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are described in the section above titled Directors and Executive Officers of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Legal Proceedings
Information about legal proceedings is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled The Business CombinationLitigation Relating to the Business Combination on page 150 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. Although the Company believed no supplemental disclosures were required under applicable law to address the claims made in the complaints, in order to alleviate the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation and provide additional information to its stockholders, the Company determined to voluntarily supplement the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement on a Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company filed on February 4, 2021. Each of the stockholders bringing a complaint voluntarily dismissed their complaint upon the Closing of the Business Combination.
Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Market Information and Dividends
The Companys units, Common Stock and warrants were historically quoted on NYSE under the symbols SBE.U, SBE and SBE WS, respectively. On March 1, 2021, the Companys Common Stock and warrants began trading on the NYSE under the new trading symbols of CHPT and CHPT WS, respectively. The Companys publicly-traded units automatically separated into their component securities upon the Closing and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security and were delisted from the NYSE.
15
Prior to the Closing, there was no established public trading market for ChargePoints common stock.
Holders of Record
As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination and the redemption of public shares described above, the Company had 277,768,357 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held of record by 361 holders, 55,573,161 warrants outstanding held of record by 27 holders and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Such amounts do not include DTC participants or beneficial owners holding shares through nominee names.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans beginning on page 161 thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference. As described below under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Incentive Bonus Plan and the material terms thereunder were approved by the Switchbacks stockholders at the special meeting.
Dividends
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Common Stock to date. The Company may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and has no current plans to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of the Board and will depend on, among other things, the Companys results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant. In addition, the Companys ability to pay dividends is limited by covenants of its existing outstanding indebtedness. The Company does not anticipate declaring any cash dividends to holders of the Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
Certain Indebtedness
Information about certain indebtedness of the Company is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled ChargePoint, Inc. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page F-42 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Description of Registrants Securities
A description of the Companys securities is in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Description of Securities, beginning on page 229 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 the directors and executive officers with contractual rights to indemnification and expense advancement.
A description of the indemnification obligations of the Company are included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Indemnification Agreements, beginning on page 252 which is incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
16
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
The information set forth under Item 4.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
The information set forth under 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 above in the Introductory Note and Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the issuance of Common Stock to the PIPE Investors and to the Sponsors conversion of a portion of its working capital loans to the Company into an additional 1,000,000 private placement warrants is incorporated herein by reference. The 22,500,000 shares of Common Stock issued to the PIPE Investors and the 1,000,000 private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor were not registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The parties receiving the securities represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution, and appropriate restrictive legends were affixed to the certificates representing the securities (or reflected in restricted book entry with the Companys transfer agent). The parties also had adequate access, through business or other relationships, to information about the Company.
Item 3.03 |
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders |
The information set forth in Item 5.03 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
As disclosed in Item 2.01, the Companys Common Stock and Warrants commenced trading on the NYSE under the symbols CHPT and CHPT WS on March 1, 2021.
Item 4.01 |
Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant |
On February 26, 2021 the Audit Committee of the Board dismissed WithumSmith+Brown, PC (Withum), Switchbacks independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination.
Withums report on the Companys financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the period from May 10, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, other than the Companys ability to continue as a going concern due to the Companys obligation to either complete a business combination by July 30, 2021, or cease all operations except for the purpose of winding down and liquidating.
During the period from May 10, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, the year ended December 31, 2020, and the subsequent period through February 26, 2021, there were no: (i) disagreements with Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to Withums satisfaction would have caused Withum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report or (ii) reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company has provided Withum with a copy of the disclosures made by the Company in response to this Item 4.01 and has requested that Withum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the registrant in response to this Item 4.01 and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of the letter from Withum is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K
On February 26, 2021, the Board approved the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Companys consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2021. PwC served as the independent registered public accounting firm of ChargePoint prior to the Business Combination.
During the period from May 10, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, the year ended December 31, 2020 and through February 26, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone on the Companys behalf consulted PwC with respect to either (i) 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 Companys financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to the Company by PwC that PwC concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial
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reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, or a reportable event, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
Item 5.01 |
Changes in Control of the Registrant |
The information set forth above under Introductory Note and Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02 |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
The information set forth above in the sections titled Executive Compensation and Directors and Executive Officers and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions in Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2021 Plan)
At the Special Meeting, the stockholders of the Company considered and approved the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan was also approved by the Board on February 25, 2021. The 2021 Plan became effective upon the Closing.
A description of the 2021 Plan is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Proposal No. 8The 2021 Plan Proposal beginning on page 156 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the 2021 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2021 Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.7 and incorporated herein by reference.
ChargePoint Holdings 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On February 25, 2021, the stockholders of the Company considered and approved the ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP). The ESPP was also approved by the Board on February 25, 2021. The ESPP became effective immediately upon the Closing.
A description of the ESPP is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled Proposal No. 9The Employee Stock Purchase Plan Proposal beginning on page 162 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the ESPP does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the ESPP, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.8 and incorporated herein by reference.
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Incentive Bonus Plan
On February 26, 2021, the Board approved the ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Incentive Bonus Plan (the Bonus Plan) pursuant to which the Company may adopt bonus programs for employees of the Company and its affiliates, including its executive officers. Bonuses may be based on performance criteria established by the plan administrator which may be based on Company or individual performance, on an absolute or relative basis, and may be paid in cash or in the form of equity awards granted under the 2021 Plan or another equity plan maintained by the Company. The foregoing description of the Bonus Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Bonus Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.10 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On February 26, 2021, the Company amended and restated its amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as so amended and restated, the Second A&R Charter) and its amended and restated bylaws (as so amended and restated, the Second A&R Bylaws).
Copies of the Second A&R Charter and the Second A&R Bylaws are attached as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. Upon the filing of the Second A&R Charter, the Companys Class A Common Stock became Common Stock.
The material terms of each of the Second A&R Charter and the Second A&R Bylaws and the general effect upon the rights of holders of the Companys capital stock are included in the Proxy Statement under the sections titled Proposals No. 2 - 6The Charter Proposals beginning on page 152 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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On February 26, 2021, the Board of Directors determined to change the Companys fiscal year end from December 31 of each year to January 31 of each year. The determination was made to align the Companys fiscal year end with that of ChargePoint.
Item 5.06 |
Change in Shell Company Status |
As a result of the Merger, which fulfilled the definition of a business combination as required by Switchbacks Amended & Restated Charter, the Company ceased to be a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) as of the Closing Date. The material terms of the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement in the sections titled The Business Combination beginning on page 101, of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
The audited consolidated financial statements of ChargePoint as of January 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the years ended January 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-62, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of ChargePoint as of and for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-37, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
(d) Exhibits.
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+ |
The schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
# |
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
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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.
CHARGEPOINT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Rex Jackson |
|
Name: Rex Jackson | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Date: March 1, 2021
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Exhibit 3.1
Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the corporation is Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation. The date of the filing of its original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was May 10, 2019 and the date of filing of its amended and restated certificate of incorporation was July 25, 2019.
2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the Certificate of Incorporation), which restates, integrates and further amends the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the corporation, has been duly adopted by the corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any applicable successor act thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time (the DGCL) and has been adopted by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the corporation.
3. The Certificate of Incorporation is being amended and restated in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of September 23, 2020, by and among the Corporation (as defined below), Lightning Merger Sub Inc. and ChargePoint, Inc. (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the Business Combination Agreement). As part of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, 984,706 of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock of the Corporation were forfeited to the Corporation for no consideration and the remaining 6,868,235 shares of the Class B Common Stock of the Corporation were converted on a 1-for-1 basis into 6,868,235 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation such that, at the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation, only Class A Common Stock remains outstanding. All Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation and all Class A Common Stock issued as part of the Business Combination Agreement and the subscription agreements contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement shall be Common Stock for all purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation.
4. The certificate of incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter called the Corporation).
SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 3500 South Dupont Highway, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19901. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is Incorporating Services, Ltd.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized and incorporated under the DGCL.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 1,010,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Preferred Stock). Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.
A. Common Stock. The powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:
1. Ranking. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.
2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date on any matter that is submitted to a vote of all of the stockholders of the Corporation, including the election or removal of directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) 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 as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or the DGCL.
3. Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board in its discretion from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends or other distributions.
4. Liquidation. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock and after payment or provision for payment of the debt and other liabilities of the Corporation, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive (ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them) the assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary. A liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this Section A(4), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other person or a sale, lease, exchange, exclusive license, conveyance or other disposition of all or any part of its assets.
B. Preferred Stock.
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Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board is hereby authorized to the fullest extent as may now or hereafter be permitted by the DGCL, to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time for the issuance, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock, without stockholder approval (except as otherwise expressly required by this Certificate of Incorporation) by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (any such certificate, a Preferred Stock Designation), setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the number of shares to be included in such series, and fixing the powers, including voting powers of the shares of such series, and the designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of each such series. The powers, designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following:
1. the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;
2. the number of shares of the series, which number the Board may thereafter increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) without any vote of stockholders (except as otherwise expressly required by this Certificate of Incorporation);
3. the amounts or rates at which dividends will be payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative;
4. the dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable;
5. the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
6. the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
7. the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;
8. whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;
9. restrictions on the issuance or reissuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;
10. the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and
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11. any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, all as may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to the rights of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
FIFTH: This Article FIFTH is inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.
A. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or the DGCL.
B. Number of Directors; Election of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall exclusively be fixed from time to time by resolution of the majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term Whole Board will mean the total number of authorized directors, whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
C. Classes of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board shall be and is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, and each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one third of the total number of directors. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time such classification becomes effective.
D. Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided that each director initially assigned to Class I shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporations first annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; each director initially assigned to Class II shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporations second annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; and each director initially assigned to Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporations third annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; provided further, each director shall continue to serve as a director until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.
E. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any increase in the number of directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. The
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Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class to which such director shall have been appointed or assigned, and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.
F. Preferred Directors. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the special right to elect additional directors, upon commencement and for the duration of such period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of additional directors, and the holders of such series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation; and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such directors successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such directors right to hold such office terminates pursuant to the certificate of designation establishing such series of Preferred Stock, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having the special right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) , the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall automatically terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
G. Removal. Subject to any rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class. For purposes of this Section G, cause shall mean, with respect to any director, (i) the willful failure by such director to perform, or the gross negligence of such director in performing, the duties of a director, (ii) the engaging by such director in willful or serious misconduct that is injurious to the Corporation or (iii) the conviction of such director of, or the entering by such director of a plea of nolo contendere to, a crime that constitutes a felony.
H. Stockholder Nominations and Introduction of Business. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws.
SIXTH: Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.
SEVENTH:
A. Limitation of Director Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or unless he or she violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her action as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
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B. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
1. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Part B of Article SEVENTH or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Part B of Article SEVENTH shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Part B(1) of Article SEVENTH, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
2. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Part B of Article SEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
3. Any repeal or amendment of this Part B of Article SEVENTH by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Part B of Article SEVENTH, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
4. This Part B of Article SEVENTH shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
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EIGHTH: Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with the Bylaws and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
NINTH: Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the majority of the Whole Board or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and may not be called by stockholders or any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice for such meeting.
TENTH: If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The Corporation reserves the right at any time from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and any other provisions authorized by the DGCL may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article TENTH. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 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 series of Preferred Stock required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any of Parts A and B of Article FOURTH, Article FIFTH, Article SEVENTH, Article EIGHTH, Article NINTH, Article ELEVENTH, Article TWELFTH, and this Article TENTH, and in each case, the definition of any capitalized terms used therein or any successor provision (including, without limitation, any such article or section as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alteration, change, repeal or adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation). Any amendment, repeal or modification of any of Article SEVENTH, and this sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any person existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
ELEVENTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or repeal, in whole or in part, the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, but in
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addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws; provided, further, however, that no Bylaw hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time of such act prior to the adoption of such Bylaw.
TWELFTH:
A. Forum Selection.
(a) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the Court of Chancery) (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the state or federal courts in the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (3) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as the foregoing may be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated from time to time), or (4) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (1) through (4) above, (a) any action as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten (10) days following such determination) and (b) any action asserted to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, in each case, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction.
(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.
B. Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section A immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a Foreign Action) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the applicable state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section A immediately above (an FSC Enforcement Action) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
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THIRTEENTH: The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation. In addition to the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate opportunity with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 26 day of February, 2021.
By: |
/s/ Pasquale Romano |
|
Name: | Pasquale Romano | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
Article I Stockholders |
1 | |||||
1.1 |
Registered Office | 1 | ||||
1.2 |
Additional Offices | 1 | ||||
1.3 |
Place of Meetings | 1 | ||||
1.4 |
Annual Meeting | 1 | ||||
1.5 |
Special Meetings | 1 | ||||
1.6 |
Notice of Meetings | 1 | ||||
1.7 |
Voting List | 2 | ||||
1.8 |
Quorum | 2 | ||||
1.9 |
Adjournments | 3 | ||||
1.10 |
Voting and Proxies | 3 | ||||
1.11 |
Action at Meeting | 4 | ||||
1.12 |
Nomination of Directors | 4 | ||||
1.13 |
Notice of Business at Annual Meetings | 10 | ||||
1.14 |
Conduct of Meetings | 13 | ||||
Article II Directors |
14 | |||||
2.1 |
General Powers | 14 | ||||
2.2 |
Number, Election and Qualification | 14 | ||||
2.3 |
Chairman of the Board; Vice Chairman of the Board | 14 | ||||
2.4 |
Classes of Directors | 14 | ||||
2.5 |
Terms of Office | 15 | ||||
2.6 |
Quorum | 15 | ||||
2.7 |
Action at Meeting | 15 | ||||
2.8 |
Removal | 15 | ||||
2.9 |
Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies | 15 | ||||
2.10 |
Resignation | 15 | ||||
2.11 |
Regular Meetings | 16 | ||||
2.12 |
Special Meetings | 16 | ||||
2.13 |
Notice of Special Meetings | 16 | ||||
2.14 |
Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment | 16 | ||||
2.15 |
Action by Consent | 16 | ||||
2.16 |
Committees | 16 | ||||
2.17 |
Compensation of Directors | 17 | ||||
Article III Officers |
17 | |||||
3.1 |
Titles | 17 | ||||
3.2 |
Appointment | 17 | ||||
3.3 |
Qualification | 17 | ||||
3.4 |
Tenure | 18 | ||||
3.5 |
Removal; Resignation | 18 | ||||
3.6 |
Vacancies | 18 |
3.7 |
President; Chief Executive Officer | 18 | ||||
3.8 |
Chief Financial Officer | 18 | ||||
3.9 |
Vice Presidents | 18 | ||||
3.10 |
Secretary and Assistant Secretaries | 18 | ||||
3.11 |
Salaries | 19 | ||||
3.12 |
Delegation of Authority | 19 | ||||
3.13 |
Execution of Contracts | 19 | ||||
Article IV Capital Stock |
19 | |||||
4.1 |
Issuance of Stock | 19 | ||||
4.2 |
Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares | 19 | ||||
4.3 |
Transfers | 20 | ||||
4.4 |
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates | 20 | ||||
4.5 |
Record Date | 20 | ||||
4.6 |
Regulations | 21 | ||||
4.7 |
Dividends | 21 | ||||
Article V General Provisions |
21 | |||||
5.1 |
Fiscal Year | 21 | ||||
5.2 |
Corporate Seal | 21 | ||||
5.3 |
Notice. | 22 | ||||
5.4 |
Waiver of Notice | 24 | ||||
5.5 |
Voting of Securities | 24 | ||||
5.6 |
Evidence of Authority | 24 | ||||
5.7 |
Severability | 24 | ||||
5.8 |
Pronouns | 24 | ||||
5.9 |
Electronic Transmission | 24 | ||||
5.10 |
Inconsistent Provisions | 24 | ||||
5.11 |
Section Headings | 24 | ||||
Article VI Amendments |
25 | |||||
Article VII Indemnification and Advancement |
25 | |||||
7.1 |
Right to Indemnification | 25 | ||||
7.2 |
Right to Advancement of Expenses | 25 | ||||
7.3 |
Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit | 25 | ||||
7.4 |
Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 26 | ||||
7.5 |
Insurance | 26 | ||||
7.6 |
Indemnification of Other Persons | 26 | ||||
7.7 |
Amendments | 27 | ||||
7.8 |
Certain Definitions | 27 | ||||
7.9 |
Contract Rights | 27 | ||||
7.10 |
Severability | 27 |
Article I
Stockholders
1.1 Registered Office. The registered office of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (the Corporation) shall be as set forth in the Corporations Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation then in effect (as the same may be amended from time to time, the Certificate of Incorporation).
1.2 Additional Offices. The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.
1.3 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the Chairman of the Board or, if not so designated, at the principal executive office of the Corporation. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any applicable successor act thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time (the DGCL).
1.4 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date and at a time designated by the Board or the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (which date shall not be a legal holiday in the place, if any, where the meeting is to be held). The Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by the majority of the Whole Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. For purposes of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws), the term Whole Board will mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
1.5 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by a resolution adopted by the majority of the Whole Board or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and may not be called by any other person or persons. The Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by the majority of the Whole Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
1.6 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective
1
if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the DGCL) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting). The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the DGCL. Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any special meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.12(f)) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.
1.7 Voting List. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number 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. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
1.8 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporations securities are listed, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any,
2
authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
1.9 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the chairman of the meeting or by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, even though less than a quorum. 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 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. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
1.10 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock entitled to vote and held of record by such stockholder as may be fixed in the Certificate of Incorporation, unless otherwise provided by law. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person (including by means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) or may authorize another person or persons to vote for such stockholder by a proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by applicable law. No such proxy shall be voted upon after three (3) years from the date of its execution, unless the proxy expressly provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. 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. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority.
(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such persons signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or
3
be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
1.11 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, any matter other than the election of directors to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of shares of stock having a majority in voting power of the votes cast by the holders of all of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively on such matter (or if there are two or more classes or series of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class or series, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of that class or series present or represented at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively on such matter), except when a different vote is required by applicable law, regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, the certificate of designation with respect to the Corporations preferred stock, par value $.0001 (Preferred Stock) or these Bylaws. For the avoidance of doubt, neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for or against such matter. Other than directors who may be elected by the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock or pursuant to any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted by the Board, each director shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot, unless required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.
1.12 Nomination of Directors.
(a) Except for (1) any directors entitled to be elected by the holders of Preferred Stock, (2) any directors elected in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof by the Board to fill a vacancy or newly-created directorship or (3) as otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange regulation, at any meeting of stockholders, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures in this Section 1.12 shall be eligible for election or re-election as directors. Nomination for election to the Board at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board (or any authorized committee thereof) or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (x) timely complies with the notice procedures in Section 1.12(b), (y) is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice, on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and at the time of the meeting and (z) is entitled to vote at such meeting.
(b) To be timely, a stockholders notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation as follows: (i) in the case of an election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) calendar day prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting nor later than the Close of Business on the ninetieth (90th)
4
calendar day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to be held in 2021 or (y) in the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than sixty (60) days, from the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice must be so received not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of (A) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs; or (ii) in the case of an election of directors at a special meeting of stockholders, provided that the majority of the Whole Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer has determined, in accordance with Section 1.5, that directors shall be elected at such special meeting and provided further that the nomination made by the stockholder is for one of the director positions that the Board, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer as the case may be, has determined will be filled at such special meeting, not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of such special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of a meeting (or the public disclosure thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice. For the avoidance of doubt, a stockholder shall not be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in these Bylaws. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.12(b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholders notice required by this Section 1.12(b) shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
The stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(A) as to each proposed nominee (1) such persons name, age, business address and, if known, residence address, (2) such persons principal occupation or employment (present and for the past five (5) years), (3) the Ownership Information (as defined herein) for such person and any member of the immediate family of such person, or any Affiliate or Associate (as such terms are defined herein) of such person, or any person acting in concert therewith, (4) a complete and accurate description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings (whether written or oral) during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among (x) the stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made and the respective Affiliates and Associates of, or others acting in concert with, such stockholder and such beneficial owner, on the
5
one hand, and (y) each proposed nominee, and his or her respective Affiliates and Associates, or others acting in concert with such nominee(s), on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to federal and state securities laws, including Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or any Affiliate or Associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith were the registrant for purposes of such Item and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (5) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, swaps, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by, or on behalf of, such proposed nominee, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such proposed nominee with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and (6) any other information concerning such person that must be disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; and
(B) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books, of such beneficial owner, and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), (2) the class and series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned, beneficially or of record, by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person (provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.12(b), any such person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership of at any time in the future), (3) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived, in whole or in part, from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a Derivative Instrument) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (4) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote or has granted a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (5) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) between and among such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and any person acting in concert with any such person, on the other hand, with the intent or effect of which may be to transfer to or from any such person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation or to increase or decrease the voting power of any such person with respect to any security of the Corporation, (6) any direct or indirect legal, economic or financial interest (including short interest) of such stockholder or beneficial owner
6
and any Stockholder Associated Person in the outcome of any vote to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or any other entity with respect to any matter that is substantially related, directly or indirectly, to any nomination or business proposed by any stockholder under this Section 1.12, (7) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (8) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership or limited liability company or similar entity in which such stockholder, beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns any interest in a general partner or is the manager or managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns any interest in the manager or managing member of a limited liability company or similar entity, (9) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each stockholder, beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, (10) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder, such beneficial owner and/or any Stockholder Associated Person and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made or who may participate in the solicitation of proxies in favor of electing such nominee(s), (11) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, swaps, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation (subclause (2) through (11) of this Section 1.12(b) shall be referred to, collectively, as Ownership Information), (12) any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (13) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, will continue to be a stockholder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting through the date of such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (14) a representation whether such stockholder, such beneficial owner and/or such Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock reasonably believed by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or such Stockholder Associated Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such nomination, (15) a certification that such stockholder, beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with its acquisition of shares or other securities of the Corporation and such persons acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (16) a representation as to the accuracy of the information set forth in the notice.
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Such information provided and statements made as required by clauses (A) and (B) above or otherwise by this Section 1.12 are hereinafter referred to as a Nominee Solicitation Statement. Not later than (x) ten (10) days after the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, the information required by Items (A)(1)-(6) and (B)(1)-(16) of the prior sentence shall be supplemented by the stockholder giving the notice to provide updated information as of such record date and (y) fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, the information required by Items (A)(1)-(6) and (B)(1)-(16) of the prior sentence shall be supplemented by the stockholder giving notice to provide updated information as of such record date. In addition, to be effective, the stockholders notice must be accompanied by a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and the written consent of the proposed nominee to be named in the Corporations proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected and a written statement executed by the proposed nominee acknowledging that as a director of the Corporation, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under Delaware law with respect to the Corporation and its stockholders. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to the Boards understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee, or whether such nominee would be independent under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission and stock exchange rules and the Corporations publicly disclosed corporate governance guidelines. A stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.12 if the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholders nominee in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.12. For purposes of these Bylaws, a Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and on whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being made, or (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii).
(c) Without exception, no person shall be eligible for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders unless nominated in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Section 1.12. In addition, a nominee shall not be eligible for election or re-election if a stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as applicable, takes action contrary to the representations made in the Nominee Solicitation Statement applicable to such nominee or if the Nominee Solicitation Statement applicable to such nominee contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.12 (including the previous sentence of this Section 1.12(c)), and if the chairman should determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.12, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and such nomination shall not be brought before the meeting.
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(d) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.12 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board information with respect to any nominee for director submitted by a stockholder.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present a nomination, such nomination shall not be brought before the meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nominee may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.12, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(f) For purposes of this Section 1.12, public disclosure shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, 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 Exchange Act.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.12; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.12 (including paragraph (a)(ii) hereof), and compliance with paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.12 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
(h) For purposes of these Bylaws,
(i) Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any specified person, any person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term control means the ownership of a majority of the voting securities of the applicable person or the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the applicable person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms controlled and controlling have meanings correlative thereto.
(ii) Associate(s) shall have the meaning attributed to such term in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(iii) Business Day shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, NY are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(iv) Close of Business shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and if an applicable deadline falls on the Close of Business on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable deadline shall be deemed to be the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Business Day.
(v) person means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity of any kind.
1.13 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings.
(a) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (1) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (2) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or any committee thereof), or (3) properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, (i) if such business relates to the nomination of a person for election as a director of the Corporation, the procedures in Section 1.12 must be complied with and (ii) if such business relates to any other matter, the business must constitute a proper matter under Delaware law for stockholder action and the stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary in accordance with the procedures in Section 1.13(b), (y) be a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice, on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and at the time of the meeting, and (z) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting.
(b) To be timely, a stockholders notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) calendar day prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting nor later than the Close of Business on the ninetieth (90th) calendar day prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to be held in 2021 or (y) in the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than sixty (60) days, from the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice must be so received not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of (A) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public disclosure thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the
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giving of a stockholders notice. For the avoidance of doubt, a stockholder shall not be entitled to make an additional notice or substitute the notice following the expiration of the time periods set forth in these Bylaws.
The stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(A) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (2) the text of the proposal (including the exact text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the exact text of the proposed amendment), and (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and
(B) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books, of such beneficial owner and of any Stockholder Associated Person, (2) the Ownership Information, (3) a description of any material interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person and the respective Affiliates and Associates of, or others acting in concert with, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person in such business, (4) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder, such beneficial owner and/or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business or who may participate in the solicitation of proxies in favor of such proposal, (5) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, swaps, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (6) any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the business proposed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (7) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, will continue to be a stockholder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting through the date of such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (8) a representation whether such stockholder, such beneficial owner and/or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal, (9) a certification that such stockholder, beneficial owner and any Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with its acquisition of shares or other securities of the Corporation and such persons acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, and (10) a representation as to the accuracy of the information set forth in the notice.
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Such information provided and statements made as required by clauses (A) and (B) above or otherwise by this Section 1.13 are hereinafter referred to as a Business Solicitation Statement. Not later than (x) ten (10) days after the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, the information required by Items (A)(3) and (B)(1)-(10) of the prior sentence shall be supplemented by the stockholder giving the notice to provide updated information as of such record date and (y) fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, the information required by Items (A)(3) and (B)(1)-(10) of the prior sentence shall be supplemented by the stockholder giving the notice to provide updated information as of such record date. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures in this Section 1.13; provided that any stockholder proposal which complies with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Exchange Act and is to be included in the Corporations proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to comply with the notice requirements of this Section 1.13. A stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.13 if the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholders proposal in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.13.
(c) Without exception, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Section 1.13. In addition, business proposed to be brought by a stockholder may not be brought before the annual meeting if such stockholder or a Stockholder Associated Person, as applicable, takes action contrary to the representations made in the Business Solicitation Statement applicable to such business or if the Business Solicitation Statement applicable to such business contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The chairman of any annual meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether business was properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.13 (including the previous sentence of this Section 1.13(c)), and if the chairman should determine that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.13, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be brought before the annual meeting.
(d) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.13 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board information with respect to any proposal submitted by a stockholder.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting to present business, such business shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business may have been received by the Corporation.
(f) For purposes of this Section 1.13, the terms qualified representative of the stockholder and public disclosure shall have the same meaning as in Section 1.12.
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(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.13; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to proposals as to any business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.13 (including paragraph (a)(3) hereof), and compliance with paragraph (a)(3) of this Section 1.13 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (b), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 1.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
1.14 Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairmans absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Vice Chairmans absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officers absence, by the President, or in the Presidents absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of all of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretarys absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The Board may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders 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 chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
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(c) The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted.
(d) In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is present, ready and willing to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspectors duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspectors ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or duly appointed inspectors.
Article II
Directors
2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board, who may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the majority of the Whole Board. Election of directors need not be by written ballot. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
2.3 Chairman of the Board; Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint from its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board, neither of whom need be an employee or officer of the Corporation. If the Board appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board and, if the Chairman of the Board is also designated as the Corporations Chief Executive Officer, shall have the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer prescribed in Section 3.7 of these Bylaws. If the Board appoints a Vice Chairman of the Board, such Vice Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairmans absence, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
2.4 Classes of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board shall be and is divided into three (3) classes, designated: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third (1/3) of the total number of directors constituting the Whole Board. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time such classification
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becomes effective. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director.
2.5 Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, and except as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third (3rd) annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor and be subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.
2.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
2.7 Action at Meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board, unless a greater number is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
2.8 Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, directors of the Corporation may be removed only as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
2.9 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any increase in the number of directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class to which such director shall have been appointed or assigned, and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.
2.10 Resignation. Any director may resign only by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the
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Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.
2.11 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
2.12 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at any time and place designated by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, two (2) or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only a single director in office.
2.13 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board shall be given to each director by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary or by one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (a) in person or by telephone at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, (b) by sending written notice by reputable overnight courier, telecopy, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission (including email), or delivering written notice by hand, to such directors last known business, home or electronic transmission address at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) by sending written notice by first-class mail to such directors last known business or home address at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
2.14 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board or any committee thereof 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 by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.15 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
2.16 Committees. The Board may by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as the Board thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or
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members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board and subject to the provisions of law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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 to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend 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) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board may from time to time request. Except as the Board may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
2.17 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary entities in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service. The Board shall also have the power and discretion to provide for and pay fair compensation for rendering services to the Corporation not ordinarily rendered by directors.
Article III
Officers
3.1 Titles. The Executive Officers of the Corporation shall be such persons as are designated as such by the Board and shall include, but not be limited to, a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a Chief Financial Officer. Additional Executive Officers may be appointed by the Board from time to time. In addition to the Executive Officers of the Corporation described above, there may also be such Non-Executive Officers of the Corporation as may be designated and appointed from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2 of these Bylaws. In addition, the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries of the Corporation may be appointed by the Board from time to time.
3.2 Appointment. The Executive Officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an Executive Officer under any contract of employment. Non-Executive Officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person.
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3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officers successor is duly elected and qualified by the Board, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such officers earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
3.5 Removal; Resignation. Subject to the rights, if any, of an Executive Officer under any contract of employment, any Executive Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board. Any Non-Executive Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or by the Executive Officer to whom such Non-Executive Officer reports. Any officer may resign only by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chief Executive Officer. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.
3.6 Vacancies. The Board may fill any vacancy occurring in any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled, for such period as it may determine, any offices.
3.7 President; Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Corporations Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe.
3.8 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these Bylaws, to disburse such funds as ordered by the Board, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
3.9 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. The Board or the Chief Executive Officer may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title.
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the secretary, including without limitation the duty and power to give notices of all
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meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board, to attend all meetings of stockholders and the Board and keep a record of the proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.
In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the chairman of the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
3.11 Salaries. Executive Officers of the Corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board or a committee thereof.
3.12 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
3.13 Execution of Contracts. Each Executive Officer and Non-Executive Officer of the Corporation may execute, affix the corporate seal and/or deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, deeds, mortgages, notes, bonds, contracts, agreements, powers of attorney, guarantees, settlements, releases, evidences of indebtedness, conveyances or any other document or instrument which (i) is authorized by the Board or (ii) is executed in accordance with policies adopted by the Board from time to time, except in each case where the execution, affixation of the corporate seal and/or delivery thereof shall be expressly and exclusively delegated by the Board to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
Article IV
Capital Stock
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation held in the Corporations treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board in such manner, for such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board may determine.
4.2 Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
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If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock, provided that in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the DGCL or, with respect to Section 151 of DGCL, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
4.3 Transfers. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law, the Certificate of Incorporation and in these Bylaws. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of stock of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond as the Board may require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.
4.5 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a
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record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board 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 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, 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 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.
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 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 may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such 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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.
4.6 Regulations. The issue and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board may establish.
4.7 Dividends. Dividends on the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law, and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock.
Article V
General Provisions
5.1 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first (1st) day of February of each year and end on the last day of January in each year.
5.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board.
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5.3 Notice.
(a) Notice to Directors. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the directors address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the directors address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.
(b) Notice to Stockholders. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholders address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholders address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholders consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporations transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
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(c) Electronic Transmission. Electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, 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, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.
(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these 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. A stockholder may revoke such stockholders consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements. Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these 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 that 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 with the Secretary of State of Delaware, 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.
Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two (2) consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two (2) consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two (2) payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a twelve (12) month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholders address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholders then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.
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5.4 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in any such waiver. Attendance of a person at a meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person 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.
5.5 Voting of Securities. Except as the Board may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice, vote, consent, or appoint any person or persons to waive notice, vote or consent, on behalf of the Corporation, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for this Corporation (with or without power of substitution) with respect to, and exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of the securities of any other entity which may be held by this Corporation.
5.6 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
5.7 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.
5.8 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
5.9 Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, 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.
5.10 Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
5.11 Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
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Article VI
Amendments
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Whole Board or by the stockholders as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Article VII
Indemnification and Advancement
7.1 Right to Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, company, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an Indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
7.2 Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (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 the Corporations receipt 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 that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.
7.3 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received
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by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a final adjudication) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
7.5 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
7.6 Indemnification of Other Persons. This Article VII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VII.
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7.7 Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article VII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 65% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
7.8 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VII, (a) references to other enterprise shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to serving at the request of the Corporation shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) 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 for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.
7.9 Contract Rights. The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators.
7.10 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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Exhibit 10.9
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of February [●], 2021, by and between CHARGEPOINT HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and [●] (Indemnitee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the Board) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals as directors and officers, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect such persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors and officers are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation. The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Charter) and the Bylaws (the Bylaws) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL). The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Companys stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance Expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve or continue to serve for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. In consideration of the Companys covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director or key employee of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitees resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as provided in Section 17 of this Agreement. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitees service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:
(a) References to agent shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
(b) The terms Beneficial Owner and Beneficial Ownership shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A Change in Control shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Companys securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or
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nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the Continuing Directors), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a reorganization, merger, asset acquisition, stock (or other equity interest) purchase or exchange, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company (a Business Combination), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, other than factoring the Companys current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or
(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
(d) Corporate Status describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was Serving at the Request of the Company (as defined below).
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(e) Delaware Court shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
(f) Disinterested Director shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(g) Enterprise shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was Serving at the Request of the Company (as defined below) as a director, officer, trustee, manager, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(h) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) Expenses shall include all reasonable direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or Fines (as defined below) against Indemnitee.
(j) Fines shall include all fines, including without limitation any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan and any fines imposed on Indemnitee by any governmental authority.
(k) Independent Counsel shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement.
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(l) The term Person shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that Person shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(m) The term Proceeding shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitees part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was Serving at the Request of the Company (as defined below) as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
(n) The term Serving at the Request of the Company shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Agreement.
(o) The term Subsidiary, with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.
3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, Fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid
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or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, Fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.
5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 27 of this Agreement), to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 27 of this Agreement), to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, a witness or deponent
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in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection therewith.
7. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.
(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, Fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
8. EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance of Expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise, except (i) with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise and (ii) as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement;
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f)-(g) of this Agreement, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, advance of Expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.
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9. INDEMNITOR OF FIRST RESORT. The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (collectively, the Alternative Indemnitors). The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Alternative Indemnitors to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, Fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Charter or Bylaws (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Alternative Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Alternative Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Alternative Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Alternative Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing, and the Alternative Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Alternative Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 9.
10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than the provisions of Section 27 of this Agreement), and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitees ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitees ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Companys receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, advance of Expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement.
(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, Fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitees prior written consent.
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11. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnitee agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.
(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitees sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.
12. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company will promptly advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board),
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and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or law firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the others selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person or law firm selected by the Delaware Court, and the person or law firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or law firm so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) of this Agreement. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or such Independent Counsels engagement pursuant hereto.
13. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
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(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitees action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, managers, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
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14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitees option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitees right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).
(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
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(f) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Companys receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce Indemnitees rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter or the Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).
(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
15. SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Companys obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
16. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.
(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitees Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
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(b) The DGCL, the Charter and the Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (Indemnification Arrangements) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitees status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was Serving at the Request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(e) The Companys obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was Serving at the Request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Companys satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under
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this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.
17. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee is Serving at the Request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.
18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
19. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or the Bylaws as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to
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be a director, officer employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Companys request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitees spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult to prove, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.
20. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
21. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(i) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.
(ii) If to the Company, to:
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.
240 East Hacienda Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
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22. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 of this Agreement or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
23. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic delivery of a counterpart in pdf format), each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
24. MISCELLANEOUS. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate and vice versa. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
25. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitees spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
26. ADDITIONAL ACTS. If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
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27. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Indemnitee hereby agrees that Indemnitee does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a Claim) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Companys initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim Indemnitee may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided under this Agreement will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the trust account to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) the Company consummates a Business Combination.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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Exhibit 10.10
CHARGEPOINT HOLDINGS, INC.
INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN
ARTICLE 1. |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE |
1.1 Effective Date. This Plan became effective upon its adoption by the Board and is not subject to approval by the Companys stockholders.
1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The Plan is intended to provide Participants with the possibility of earning incentive bonuses.
ARTICLE 2. |
DEFINITIONS |
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
2.1 Actual Award means, as to any Performance Period, the actual award amount (if any) payable to a Participant for the Performance Period. Subject to Section 3.7, each Actual Award is determined by the Payout Formula for the Performance Period, subject to the Administrators authority under Section 3.6 to increase, eliminate or reduce the award otherwise indicated by the Payout Formula.
2.2 Administrator means the Board, Committee or such other entity, group, or individual delegated authority to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 5.1 of the Plan.
2.3 Affiliate means any corporation or other entity (including, without limitation, partnerships and joint ventures) controlled by the Company.
2.4 Base Salary means, as to any Performance Period and unless the Administrator determines otherwise for such Performance Period, the Participants regular base salary as in effect at the end of the Performance Period. Base Salary shall be calculated before both (a) deductions for taxes or benefits and (b) any deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company-sponsored plans or Affiliate-sponsored plans.
2.5 Board means the Companys Board of Directors.
2.6 Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
2.7 Company means ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
2.8 Employee means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate, whether such employee is so employed when the Plan is adopted or becomes so employed after the adoption of the Plan.
2.9 Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Company.
2.10 Participant means, as to any Performance Period, an Employee who has been selected for participation in the Plan for that Performance Period pursuant to Section 3.1.
2.11 Payout Formula means, as to any Performance Period, the formula or payout matrix established by the Administrator pursuant to Section 3.5 in order to determine the Actual Awards (if any) to be paid to Participants. The formula or matrix may differ from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant.
2.12 Performance Period means a Fiscal Year, or any longer or shorter period determined by the Administrator.
2.13 Performance Goals means the goal(s) or combined goal(s) determined by the Administrator to be applicable to a Participant for a Target Award for a Performance Period. Possible performance measures that might be used as a Performance Goal are set forth in Section 3.3 below. A Performance Goal may be established and measured either on a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, business segments or an individual, and either in absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or one or more relevant indices. The Administrator may adjust the results under any Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) strategic corporate transactions, (b) any force majeure event significantly affecting the Company, such as a natural disaster, severe weather event, terrorist attack, pandemic or similar event, (c) asset write-downs, (d) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (e) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (f) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (g) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items, (h) exchange rate effects for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings, or (i) statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates.
2.14 Plan means this ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Incentive Bonus Plan.
2.15 Shares means shares of the Companys Class A common stock.
2.16 Target Award means the target award amount payable under the Plan to a Participant for the Performance Period expressed as a percentage of his or her Base Salary or a specific dollar amount or by reference to a number of Shares, as determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 3.4.
2.17 Termination of Employment means a cessation of the employee-employer relationship between an Employee and the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including (without limitation) a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability, retirement or the disaffiliation of an Affiliate, but excluding a transfer from the Company to an Affiliate or between Affiliates.
ARTICLE 3. |
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS |
3.1 Selection of Participants. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall select the Employees who shall be Participants for any Performance Period. Participation in the
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Plan is in the sole discretion of the Administrator and shall be determined Performance Period by Performance Period. Accordingly, an Employee who is a Participant for a given Performance Period is in no way assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Performance Period.
3.2 Determination of Performance Period. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall establish whether a Performance Period shall be a Fiscal Year or such longer or shorter period of time. The Performance Period may differ from Participant to Participant and from award to award.
3.3 Determination of Performance Goals. The Administrator shall establish the Performance Goals for each Participant for the Performance Period, and the Administrator (or its designee) shall communicate the applicable Performance Goals to each Participant. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from award to award. In addition to such other objectives as may be established from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion, the following performance objectives may be used as the basis of a Performance Goal: earnings (before or after taxes); earnings per share; earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; total stockholder return; return on equity or average stockholders equity; return on assets, investment or capital employed; operating income; gross margin; operating margin; net operating income; net operating income after tax; return on operating revenue; sales or revenue; billings; expense or cost reduction; operating expenses; working capital; economic value added (or an equivalent metric); market share; cash consumption; cash flow or cash balance; operating cash flow; cash flow per share; share price; debt reduction; customer satisfaction; stockholders equity; employee survey results; development and launch of new products; individual or departmental performance goals; and other measures of performance selected by the Administrator from time to time.
3.4 Determination of Target Awards. The Administrator shall establish a Target Award for each Participant for each Performance Period, and the Administrator (or its designee) shall communicate the applicable Target Award to each Participant.
3.5 Determination of Payout Formula or Formulae. The Administrator will establish a Payout Formula or Formulae for purposes of determining the Actual Award (if any) payable to each Participant. Each Payout Formula may (a) be based on a comparison of actual performance to the Performance Goals, (b) provide for the payment of a Participants Target Award if the Performance Goals for the Performance Period are achieved at the predetermined level and (c) provide for the payment of an Actual Award greater than or less than the Participants Target Award, depending upon the extent to which actual performance exceeds or falls below the Performance Goals, subject to the limitations in Section 3.7.
3.6 Determination of Actual Awards. The Administrator will determine the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for the Performance Period were achieved or exceeded. The Actual Award for each Participant will be determined by applying the Payout Formula to the level of actual performance that has been determined by the Administrator; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Administrator may (a) reduce or eliminate the Actual Award that otherwise would be payable under the Payout Formula; (b) increase the Actual Award; or (c) determine whether or not any
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Participant will receive an Actual Award in the event that the Participant incurs a Termination of Employment before such Actual Award is to be paid pursuant to Section 4.2. If a Participants Actual Award is reduced or eliminated, no other Participants Actual Award shall be increased as a result. The Administrator has the absolute discretion to reduce or eliminate payment of an Actual Award if in the Administrators judgment corporate performance, financial condition, individual performance, general economic conditions, or other similar factors make such reduction or elimination appropriate.
3.7 Maximum Actual Awards. The Administrator may establish a maximum amount or value of the Actual Award paid to any Participant for any Performance Period.
ARTICLE 4. |
PAYMENT OF AWARDS |
4.1 Right to Receive Payment. A Participant shall have no right to receive an Actual Award unless the Participant is employed by the Company or an Affiliate on the date of payment, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
4.2 Unfunded Plan. Each Actual Award that may become payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company or the Affiliate that employs the Participant (as the case may be), as determined by the Company. No amounts awarded or accrued under the Plan shall be funded, set aside or otherwise segregated prior to payment. The obligation to pay Actual Awards under the Plan shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Participants shall have the status of general creditors of the Company or the Affiliate that employs the Participant.
4.3 Timing of Payment. Subject to Sections 3.7 and 4.6, payment of each Actual Award shall be made as soon as administratively practicable after vesting, but in any event no later than required to ensure that that no amount paid or to be paid hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code.
4.4 Form of Payment. Each Actual Award shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) or in Share-based awards (or a combination thereof) in a single lump sum, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator. To the extent an Actual Award is paid in whole or in part in the form of a Share-based award, such award shall be granted under an equity incentive plan maintained by the Company for the payment or awarding of Shares.
4.5 Payment in the Event of Death. If a Participant dies before receiving an Actual Award that was scheduled to be paid before his or her death for a prior Performance Period, then the Actual Award shall be paid to the Participants designated beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated, to the administrator or representative of his or her estate, subject to applicable law. Any beneficiary designation or revocation of a prior designation shall be effective only if it is in writing, signed by the Participant and received by the Company prior to the Participants death, subject to applicable law.
4.6 Recoupment Policy. All awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to any Company recoupment or clawback policy, as in effect from time to time, including any required by Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
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ARTICLE 5. |
ADMINISTRATION |
5.1 Administrator Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator, subject to Section 5.3, and with respect to any Company executive officer the Committee shall act as Administrator. The Administrator shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including (without limitation) the power to (a) determine which Employees shall be granted awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of the awards, (c) interpret the Plan, (d) adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.
5.2 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Administrator, the Board or any delegate of the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
5.3 Delegation by the Administrator. The Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more directors and/or employees of the Company, except that the Committee may not delegate its authority and powers under the Plan with respect to Company executive officers.
ARTICLE 6. |
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
6.1 Tax Withholding. The Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall withhold all required taxes from an Actual Award, including any federal, state, local or other taxes.
6.2 Application of Section 409A. The provisions of this Plan are intended to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code so that none of the payments to be provided under this Plan will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to be so exempt. In no event will the Administrator reimburse Participants for any taxes that may be imposed as result of Section 409A of the Code.
6.3 No Effect on Employment. Neither the Plan nor any Target Award shall confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participants employment with the Company or an Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate any Participants employment or service at any time, with or without cause. The Company and its Affiliates expressly reserve the right, which may be exercised at any time and without regard to when during or after a Performance Period such exercise occurs, to terminate any individuals employment with or without cause, and to treat him or her without regard to the effect that such treatment might have upon him or her as a Participant.
6.4 Participation; No Effect on Other Benefits. No Employee shall have the right to be selected to receive an award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future award. Except as expressly set forth in a Participants employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, any Actual Awards under the Plan shall not be
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considered for the purpose of calculating any other benefits to which such Participant may be entitled, including (a) any termination, severance, redundancy or end-of-service payments, (b) other bonuses or long-service awards, (c) overtime premiums, (d) pension or retirement benefits or (e) future Base Salary or any other payment to be made by the Company to such Participant. All Participants expressly acknowledge that there is no obligation on the part of the Company to continue the Plan. Any Actual Awards granted under the Plan are not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of a Participants normal or expected compensation,
6.5 Successors. All obligations of the Company and any Affiliate under the Plan, with respect to awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company and/or such Affiliate, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a merger, consolidation, direct or indirect purchase of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company or such Affiliate, or any similar transaction.
6.6 Nontransferability of Awards. No award granted under the Plan shall be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or to the limited extent provided in Section 4.5. All rights with respect to an award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to the Participant.
ARTICLE 7. |
DURATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION |
7.1 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated pursuant to Section 7.2.
7.2 Amendment, Suspension or Termination. The Board or the Administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. No award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan.
ARTICLE 8. |
LEGAL CONSTRUCTION |
8.1 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
8.2 Requirements of Law. The granting of awards under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities markets as may be required.
8.3 Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience only and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
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Exhibit 10.11
CHARGEPOINT HOLDINGS, INC.
COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
(EFFECTIVE UPON THE CLOSING OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION)
A. |
Cash Compensation |
1. |
Non-employee directors (Outside Directors) will receive the following cash retainers, paid quarterly in arrears at the end of each fiscal quarter, for their service on the Board of Directors (the Board) and (if applicable) as Board or a committee chair: |
Board service |
$ | 40,000 | ||
plus (as applicable): |
||||
Board Chair |
$ | 30,000 | ||
Audit Committee Chair |
$ | 20,000 | ||
Compensation Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||
Nominating/Governance Committee Chair |
$ | 8,000 |
2. |
The reasonable expenses incurred by directors in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees will be reimbursed upon submission of appropriate documentation. |
B. |
Equity Compensation |
1. |
New Director Equity Award: On the date an Outside Director is elected or appointed to the Board, the Outside Director will automatically be granted restricted stock units (RSUs) under the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) with a target value of $350,000. Subject to the Outside Directors continuing service, such RSU award will vest in three equal annual installments on each anniversary of the date of grant. |
2. |
Annual Equity Award: Upon the conclusion of each regular annual meeting of the Companys stockholders beginning in calendar year 2021, each Outside Director who continues to serve as a member of the Board thereafter will automatically be granted RSUs under the Plan with a target value of $185,000 ($92,500 in the case of an Outside Director who was elected or appointed to the Board more than 3 months, but less than 6 months, prior to the date of such annual meeting of stockholders). Subject to the Outside Directors continuing service, each such RSU award will vest in full on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant or the date of the regular annual meeting of the Companys stockholders held in the year following the date of grant. The foregoing notwithstanding, an Outside Director who is elected or appointed to the Board on the date of an annual meeting of stockholders or within 3 months prior thereto will not receive an annual equity award in connection with such meeting. |
C. |
General |
1. |
The number of RSUs subject to each automatic equity award will be determined by dividing the target equity value allocated to such RSUs by the average closing price of the Companys Common Stock as reported on the NYSE during the fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of grant, rounded down to the nearest whole share. |
2. |
Each RSU will be settled by issuing one share of the Companys Common Stock upon vesting, unless a deferral program is implemented. |
3. |
All automatic equity awards will fully vest upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) before the Outside Directors service terminates. |
4. |
All equity awards will be subject to the forms of RSU agreement adopted by the Board for use under the Plan consistent with the foregoing. |
Exhibit 10.13
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of February 26, 2021, is made and entered into by and among ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, f/k/a Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation (the Company), NGP Switchback, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sponsor), the undersigned parties listed under Holder on Schedule A hereto and the undersigned parties listed under Additional Holder on Schedule A hereto (each such party and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a Holder and collectively the Holders).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on July 25, 2019, the Company, the Sponsor and certain other security holders named therein entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the Existing Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which the Company granted the Sponsor and such other holders named therein certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;
WHEREAS, on September 23, 2020, the Company, Lighting Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and ChargePoint, Inc., a Delaware corporation (ChargePoint), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into ChargePoint on or about the date hereof, with ChargePoint surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the Business Combination);
WHEREAS, after the closing of the Business Combination, the Holders will own shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock) and Sponsor will own warrants to purchase 5,521,658 shares of Common Stock (the Private Placement Warrants); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
Adverse Disclosure shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a)
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would be required to be made in (i) any Registration Statement in order for the applicable Registration Statement not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any Prospectus in order for the applicable Prospectus not to include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
Affiliate means, with respect to any specified person, any other person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person, including without limitation any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such person or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such person.
Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
Board shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
Business Combination shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
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.
Demanding Holder shall mean any Initial Holder or group of Initial Holders, that together elects to dispose of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $25 million, at the time of the Underwritten Demand, under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering.
Effectiveness Period shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.1 of this Agreement.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
Existing Registration Rights Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Holder Indemnified Persons shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.1 of this Agreement.
Holders shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
Initial Holders shall be the Holders (other than Additional Holders) which hold a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities at the time of the Underwritten Demand, under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering.
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Maximum Number of Securities shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4 of this Agreement.
Merger Sub shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Misstatement shall mean, in the case of a Registration Statement, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and in the case of a Prospectus, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Piggyback Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement.
Private Placement Warrants shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Pro Rata shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4 of this Agreement.
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 shall mean (a) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (b) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder, (c) 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 a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (d) any shares of the Company issued or to be issued to any Holders in connection with the Business Combination, including as a result of shares of ChargePoint or upon exercise of options or warrants to purchase shares of ChargePoint that are held by the Holder as of the date of this 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 Securities, 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; or (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 or limitations).
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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 any such registration statement having been declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to rules promulgated by, the Commission.
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 and any national 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;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration or Underwritten Offering;
(F) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of any Registrable Securities on each national securities exchange on the Common Stock is then listed;
(G) the fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any road show for any Underwritten Offerings; and
(H) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel jointly selected by the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Demand, the Requesting Holders participating in an Underwritten Offering and the Holders participating in a Piggyback Registration, as applicable.
Registration Statement shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act 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.
Requesting Holder shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 of this Agreement.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Shelf Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement.
Sponsor shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
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Underwriter shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealers market-making activities.
Underwritten Demand shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 of this Agreement.
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
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Registration.
2.1.1 Shelf Registration. The Company agrees that, within fifteen (15) business days after the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will file with the Commission (at the Companys sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement registering the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities (a Shelf Registration), which Shelf Registration may include shares of Common Stock that may be issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, or shares that may have been purchased in any private placement that was consummated at the same time as the closing of the Business Combination.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Shelf Registration on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (a) as shall be selected by the Company and (b) as shall permit the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities by the Holders. Holder shall provide the Company, prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, a description of its intended disposition of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, any Demanding Holder may make a written demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 2.1.1 of this Agreement (an Underwritten Demand). The Demanding Holder shall have the responsibility to engage an underwriter(s), which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, and the Company shall have no responsibility for engaging any underwriter(s) for an Underwritten Offering. The Company shall, within five (5) business days of the Companys receipt of the Underwritten Demand, notify, in writing, all other Holders of such demand, as well as any other holder of piggyback registration rights (a Piggyback Holder), and each Holder and Piggyback Holder who thereafter requests to include shares of Common Stock in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Underwritten Demand (each such Holder or Piggyback Holder , a Requesting Holder) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within two (2) days (one (1) day if such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after the receipt by such Holder or Piggyback Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s), such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their shares of Common Stock included in such Underwritten Offering
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pursuant to such Underwritten Demand. In such event, the right of any Holder or Requesting Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 2.1.3, shall be conditioned upon such Holders or Requesting Holders participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities or such other Requesting Holders inclusion of Common Stock in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All such Holders or Requesting Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such 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 Demanding Holders initiating such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect more than an aggregate of four (4) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 and is not obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand, advises or advise the Company, the Demanding Holders, the Requesting Holders and other persons or entities holding Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Holders have requested to include in such Underwritten Offering, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock or other securities, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights held by other equity holders of the Company who desire to sell (if any) that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities or other equity securities of the Company requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities of the Company 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 (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering, regardless of the number of shares held by each such person and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering (such proportion is referred to herein as Pro Rata)) 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), the Registrable Securities of the Requesting Holders (other than the Additional Holders), Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Registrable Securities of the Additional Holders, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (v) fifth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company held by other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
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2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.2 and Section 2.3 hereof, if, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to consummate an Underwritten Offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, other than for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed action to all of the Holders as soon as practicable, which notice shall (x) describe the amount and type of securities to be included, the intended method(s) of distribution and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, and (y) offer to all of the Holders the opportunity to include such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within two (2) days (unless such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering, then one (1) day), in each case 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 commercially reasonable 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 Piggyback Registration and to permit the resale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to include Registrable Securities in 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 Offering 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 the equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which the Underwritten Offering 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 a Piggyback Registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement and (iii) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which inclusion in the Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Underwritten Offering is undertaken for the Companys account, the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company 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 (other than Additional Holders) requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the
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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), the Registrable Securities of Additional Holders requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, 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 of the Company, if any, as to which inclusion in the Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; or
(b) If the Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders, 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 (other than Additional Holders) requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, 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 clause (B), the Registrable Securities of Additional Holders requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (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 of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (E) fifth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company 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 shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration 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 commencement of the Underwritten Offering. 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. The Company (whether on its own determination or as a result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw an Underwritten Offering undertaken for the Companys account at any time prior to the effectiveness of a Registration Statement.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration or Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
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2.3 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and in the good faith judgment of the Board such Underwritten Offering would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering 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 seriously detrimental to the Company to undertake such Underwritten Offering in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such offering for a period of not more than thirty (30) days.
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration or Underwritten Offering to permit the resale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and to the extent applicable:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission after the consummation of the Business Combination a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective in accordance with Section 2.1, including filing a replacement Registration Statement, if necessary, and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding (such period, the Effectiveness Period);
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 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 plan of distribution provided by the Holders and as set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;
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 or Underwritten Offering, 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 (including each preliminary Prospectus) and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commissions EDGAR system;
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3.1.4 prior to any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable 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 national securities exchange 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 or Underwritten Offering;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, as soon as reasonably practicable 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 commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 during the Effectiveness Period, furnish a conformed copy of each filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, promptly after such filing of such documents with the Commission to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commissions EDGAR system;
3.1.9 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 of this Agreement;
3.1.10 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 persons own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or
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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;
3.1.11 obtain a comfort letter from the Companys independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request ;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter;
3.1.13 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;
3.1.14 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 Companys 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);
3.1.15 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
3.1.16 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.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses in respect 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 one legal counsel representing the Holders not to exceed $50,000 per Registration or $100,000 per Underwritten Offering.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person or entity may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person or entity (i) agrees to sell such persons or entitys 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.
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3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains or includes 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 Registration Statement or 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 Registration Statement or Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration or Underwritten Offering at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Companys control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than sixty (60) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentences in this Section 3.4, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notices referred to in this Section 3.4, their use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with any resale or other disposition of Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
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 Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. 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 resell or otherwise dispose of shares of Registrable Securities 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 customary 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.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (collectively, the Holder Indemnified Persons) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and inclusive of all
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reasonable attorneys fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained or included in any information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use therein.
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, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the Holder so furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use therein. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
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 persons right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified partys reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, 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, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, 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, employee, advisor, agent, representative, member or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
13
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to 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 to the extent permitted by law 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 a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the Misstatement or alleged Misstatement relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the indemnifying partys and indemnified partys 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 of this Agreement, any reasonable 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
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service or sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, in each case providing evidence of delivery or (iii) transmission by facsimile or email. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third (3rd) business day following the date on which it is mailed, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, or overnight mail at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation, and in the case of notices delivered by facsimile or email, at such time as it is successfully transmitted to the addressee. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to 240 East Hacienda Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008, or by email at: rex.jackson@chargepoint.com, or if to any Holder, to the address of such Holder as it appears in the applicable register for the Registrable Securities or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder (including on the signature pages hereto). Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
14
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 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.
5.2.2 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors.
5.2.3 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
5.2.4 No assignment by any party hereto of such partys 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 as provided in Section 5.1 of this Agreement 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). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders (other than Additional Holders) of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (other than such Registrable Securities held by Additional Holders) at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects any 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 each such Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
15
5.6 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a Holder and (b) the parties to those certain Subscription Agreements, dated as of September 23, 2020, by and between the Company and certain investors, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person.
5.7 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date as of which such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV shall survive any termination.
[Signature page follows.]
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
CHARGEPOINT HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation |
By: |
/s/ Pasquale Romano |
|
Name: | Pasquale Romano | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS: | ||
NGP SWITCHBACK, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: |
/s/ Jim Mutrie |
|
Name: | Jim Mutrie | |
Title: |
Chief Commercial Officer, General Counsel and Secretary |
|
/s/ Joseph B. Armes |
||
Joseph B. Armes | ||
/s/ Zane W. Arrott |
||
Zane W. Arrott | ||
/s/ Ray Kubis |
||
Ray Kubis |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
BRAEMAR ENERGY VENTURES III, L.P. | ||
By: | Braemar Power and Communications | |
Management III, LP, its General Partner | ||
By: | Braemar Partners, LLC, its General Partner | |
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: Neil Suslak | ||
Title: Managing Partner | ||
BRAEMAR CP INVESTMENTS 2019 LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: Neil Suslak | ||
Title: Managing Partner | ||
BRAEMAR CP INVESTMENTS II 2020, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: Neil Suslak | ||
Title: Managing Partner |
Address: | 350 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor | |
New York, NY 10017 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
BRAEMAR CHARGEPOINT INVESTMENTS III, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: | Neil Suslak | |
Title: | Managing Partner |
Address: | 350 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor | |
New York, NY 10017 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
CHARGEPOINT INVESTMENTS, LLC | ||
By: | Braemar Energy Ventures III, L.P., | |
its manager | ||
By: | Braemar Power and Communications | |
Management III, LP, its General Partner | ||
By: | Braemar Partners, LLC, its General Partner | |
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: |
Neil Suslak |
|
Title: |
Managing Partner |
|
CHARGEPOINT INVESTMENTS II, LLC | ||
By: | Braemar Energy Ventures III, L.P., | |
its manager | ||
By: | Braemar Power and Communications | |
Management III, LP, its General Partner | ||
By: | Braemar Partners, LLC, its General Partner | |
By: |
/s/ Neil Suslak |
|
Name: |
Neil Suslak |
|
Title: |
Managing Partner |
Address: | 350 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor | |
New York, NY 10017 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
DAIMLER TRUCKS & BUSES US HOLDING LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Roger Nielsen |
|
Name: | Roger Nielsen | |
Title: | President & CEO | |
By: |
/s/ Amer Diab |
|
Name: | Amer Diab | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Address: | 4555 N. Channel Avenue | |
Portland, OR 97217 | ||
Fax: 503-745-5999 | ||
Email: |
Andrew.centybear@daimler.com |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Trust dated 7/13/1989, as amended and restated 10/19/2018
|
||
By: |
/s/ G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. |
|
Name: | G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. | |
Title: | Trustee |
Email: | grwagonerjr@gmail.com | |
Address: |
|
|
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
BRUCE CHIZEN 2009 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, DATED JANUARY 24, 2009 | ||
By: |
/s/ Bruce Chizen |
|
Name: | Bruce Chizen, Trustee | |
By: |
/s/ Gail B. Chizen |
|
Name: | Gail B. Chizen, Trustee |
Address: |
|
|
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
GAIL CHIZEN 2009 IRREVOCABLE TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Bruce Chizen |
|
Name: |
Bruce Chizen |
|
Title: |
Trustee |
|
By: |
/s/ Gail Chizen |
|
Name: |
Gail Chizen |
|
Title: |
Trustee |
Address: |
|
|
|
||
Fax |
|
|
Email: |
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
ICONICA LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Leschly |
|
Name: |
Mark Leschly |
|
Title: |
Managing Member |
Address: |
|
|
|
||
Fax: |
|
|
Email: |
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
Jackson 1997 Trust Dated November 6, 1997 | ||
By: |
/s/ Rex Jackson |
|
Name: | Rex Jackson | |
Title: | Trustee | |
Email: |
|
|
Address: |
|
|
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
LINSE CAPITAL CP, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Name: | Michael Linse | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
LINSE CAPITAL CP II, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Name: | Michael Linse | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
LINSE CAPITAL CP III, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Name: | Michael Linse | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
LINSE CAPITAL CP IV, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Name: | Michael Linse | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
LINSE CAPITAL CP V, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Name: | Michael Linse | |
Title: | Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
LINSE CAPITAL CP VI LLC | ||
By: |
Linse Capital CP VI GP LP, its Manager |
|
By: |
Linse Capital Management LLC, its General Partner |
|
By: |
/s/ Michael Linse |
|
Michael Linse | ||
Managing Director |
Address: |
Linse Capital CP VI LLC 3610 Wade Street |
|
Los Angeles CA 90066 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
MERCEDES-BENZ INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC |
By: | /s/ Ramasami Muthaiyah | |
Name: |
Ramasami Muthaiyah |
|
Title: |
Treasurer |
|
By: | /s/ Eduardo Arnaut | |
Name: |
Eduardo Arnaut |
|
Title: |
Assistant Treasurer |
Address: | 36455 Corporate Drive | |
Farmington Hills, MI 48331 | ||
Email: |
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
Q-GRG VII (CP) INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey Harris |
|
Name: | Jeffrey Harris | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
Address: | 800 Capitol Street | |
Houston, TX 77002 | ||
Email: | jharris@globalreservegroup.com |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS |
By: |
/s/ Richard Lowenthal |
Name: | Richard Lowenthal | |
Email: | richard@lowenthal.com | |
Address: | 21602 Villa Maria Court | |
Cupertino, CA 95014 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
CPP Investment Board (USRE) Inc.
|
By: |
/s/ Leon Pederson |
Name: |
Leon Pederson |
|
Title: | Managing Director |
By: |
/s/ Etienne Middleton |
Name: | Etienne Middleton | |
Title: | Senior Principal |
Email: | emiddleton@cppib.com | |
Address: | 1 Queen St E, Suite 2500 | |
Toronto, ON M5C 2W5, Canada |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
AEP INVESTMENTS, INC. |
By: |
/s/ Stephan T. Haynes |
Name: | Stephan T Haynes | |
Title: |
SVP Strategy & Transformation |
Email: | sthaynes@aep.com | |
Address: | 1 Riverside Plaza, 25th Floor | |
Columbus, OH 43215 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||||
Clearvision Ventures Ecosystem Fund, LP | ||||
By: |
/s/ Daniel Ahn |
|||
Name: | Daniel Ahn | |||
Title: | Managing Member | |||
Clearvision Ventures Ecosystem Fund 2, LP
|
||||
By: |
/s/ Daniel Ahn |
|||
Name: | Daniel Ahn | |||
Title: | Managing Member |
Email: | dan@clearvisionventures.com | |||
Address: | 3000 Sand Hill Road, #1-140 | |||
Menlo Park, CA 94025 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
CTTV INVESTMENTS LLC
|
||
By: |
/s/ Luis Alcoser |
|
Name: | Luis Alcoser | |
Title: | Vice President |
Email: | Luis Alcoser@chevron.com | |
Address: |
1500 Louisiana St |
|
Houston, TX 77002 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
PURPLE GREEN INVESTMENT PTE. LTD. | ||
By: |
/s/ |
|
Name: | Arjun Khullar | |
Title: | Director | |
By: |
/s/ Manning Lea Doherty |
|
Name: | Manning Lea Doherty | |
Title: | Director |
Email: | GrpGICPEI_SPOMidOfficeInfra@gic.com.sg | |
Address: |
|
|
|
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
RHO VENTURES VI, L.P. | ||
By: |
RMV VI, L.L.C., its General Partner |
|
RHO Capital Partners LLC, its Managing Partner |
||
By: |
/s/ Peter Kalkanis |
|
Name: |
Peter Kalkanis |
|
Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |
Address: | 152 West 57th Street, 23rd Floor | |
New York, NY 10019 |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS | ||
FIVE PLUS NINE, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Lawrence Lee |
|
Name: | Lawrence Lee | |
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
ADDITIONAL HOLDERS |
/s/ Roxanne Bowman |
Roxanne Bowman |
/s/ Bruce Chizen |
Bruce Chizen |
/s/ Pasquale Romano |
Pasquale Romano |
/s/ Rick Wagoner |
Rick Wagoner |
/s/ Christopher Burghardt |
Christopher Burghardt |
/s/ Michael Hughes |
Michael Hughes |
/s/ Colleen Jansen |
Colleen Jansen |
/s/ Lawrence Lee |
Lawrence Lee |
/s/ William Loewenthal |
William Loewenthal |
/s/ Rex Jackson |
Rex Jackson |
/s/ Eric Sidle |
Eric Sidle |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Schedule A
Holders
NGP Switchback, LLC
Joseph Armes
Zane Arrott
Ray Kubis
AEP Investments, Inc.
BMW i Ventures SCS SICAV-RAIF
BRUCE CHIZEN 2009 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, DATED JANUARY 24, 2009
Braemar Chargepoint Investments III, LLC
Braemar CP Investments 2019 LLC
Braemar CP Investments II 2020, LLC
Braemar Energy Ventures III L.P.
CPP Investment Board (USRE) Inc.
ChargePoint Investments II, LLC
ChargePoint Investments LLC
Clearvision Ventures Ecosystem Fund, LP
Clearvision Ventures Ecosystem Fund 2, LP
CTTV Investments, LLC
Daimler Trucks & Buses Holding Inc.
Five Plus Nine LLC
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Trust dated 7/13/1989, as amended and restated 10/19/2018
Gail Chizen 2009 Irrevocable Trust
Iconica LLC
Iconica Partners F LLC
Jackson 1997 Trust Dated November 6, 1997
Linse Capital CP LLC
Linse Capital CP II LLC
Linse Capital CP III, LLC
Linse Capital CP IV, LLC
Linse Capital CP V, LLC
Linse Capital CP VI LLC
Mercedes-Benz Investment Company LLC
Next47 Services GmbH
Purple Green Investments Pte Ltd.
Q-GRG VII (CP) Investment Partners, LLC
Rho Ventures VI, L.P.
Richard Lowenthal
Additional Holders*
Roxanne Bowman
Bruce Chizen
Pasquale Romano
Rick Wagoner
Christopher Burghardt
Michael Hughes
Colleen Jansen
Lawrence Lee
William Loewenthal
Rex Jackson
Eric Sidle
*for the avoidance of doubt, such Additional Holders are included as Holders as used herein unless otherwise explicitly excluded.
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.14
DocuSign Envelope ID: 24CAF17C-1DC3-4970-B0B5-CF5C5F8FEBF1
DocuSign Envelope ID A12E438F-FF12-416B-9FC3-DAA38A91B254
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES:
1. |
The private limited company ChargePoint Europe Holdings B.V., having its registered seat in Amsterdam, office address: Zuidplein 126, ¥VIC, Toren H, 15e, 1077 XV in Amsterdam, hereinafter to be referred to as: the Employer, and |
2. |
Christopher Burghardt, residing in Sequoyaslaan 11, 1950 Kraainem (Belgium), hereinafter to be referred to as: the Managing Director; |
Hereinafter jointly to be referred to as: the Parties.
WHEREAS
a) |
Effective 6 Nov 2017 P.R. the Managing Director has been appointed as managing director (in Dutch: statutair diredeur) of the company of the Employer under the articles of association of the company of the Employer and in accordance with Dutch law by the sole shareholder the Employer, i.e. ChargePoint Inc. This appointment has been accepted by the Managing Director and tl1e acceptance by the Managing Director is confirmed by signing this employment agreement; |
b) |
The appointment of the Managing Director as managing director under the articles of association of the company of the Employer and in accordance with Dutch law will be registered as such in the trade registers of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce; |
c) |
The Employer and the Managing Director have signed a letter of intent for employment on 1 August 2017 and subsequently they have made further arrangements in respect of the employment of the Managing Director with the Employer and they wish to lay down these arrangements in this employment agreement; |
d) |
The Managing Director will not be entitled to any additional remuneration in connection wiili his position as managing director other than mentioned in this employment agreement. |
DECLARE TO HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1 - Commencement and Duration
1.1 |
The Managing Director will enter the employment of the Employer as of 6 Nov 2017 P.R. on the basis of an employment agreement for an indefinite period. |
1.2 |
The Managing Director confirms that he is allowed to enter into employment with the Employer and confirms that he is not bound by any restrictive covenants from previous employer(s) or others in this respect. |
1
DocuSign Envelope ID: 24CAF17C-1DC3-4970-B0B5-CF5C5F8FEBF1
DocuSign Envelope ID: A12E438F-FF12-416B-9FC3-DAA38A91B254
1.3 |
The employment agreement may be terminated by the Employer in writing with due observance of 6 months notice period. The employment agreement may be terminated by the Managing Director in writing with due observance of 3 months notice period. The notice period shall end on the last day of the last calendar month of the notice period. |
1.4 |
At the termination of this employment agreement, the Managing Director shall resign from any corporate or other position he holds within the company of the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies. |
1.5 |
The employment agreement shall end by operation of law, without prior notice of termination being required, on the day on which the Managing Director attains the fixed pensionable age (in Dutch: AOW-gerechtigde leeftijd) applicable to him. |
Article 2 - Position
2.1 |
The Managing Director shall hold the position of Managing Director for Europe. The Managing Director is a member of ChargePoints Leadership Team. A job description is attached to this employment agreement as Annex 1. |
2.2 |
As managing director of the company of the Employer, the Managing Director shall have all the powers and duties given to managing directors by or pursuant to law and by or pursuant to the Employers articles of association and its executive bylaws (as amended from time to time), the instructions determined or to be determined in board regulations and management regulations. The Managing Director will observe the powers of the other director or directors, if any, already in office or subsequently to be appointed. |
2.3 |
The Managing Director will devote his full time, energy and skills to the business of the Employer. The Managing Director is obliged to do or to refrain from doing all that directors in similar positions should do or should refrain from doing. |
2.4 |
As part of his position as managing director of the company of the Employer, the Managing Director will, within the boundaries of what can be considered reasonable, accept appointments on management and supervisory boards for any affiliated companies and he shall also perform the tasks reasonably assigned to him by the Employer for any affiliated companies, whereby the purpose for which this employment agreement was entered into with the Managing Director shall be taken into account. To the extent reasonable, such functions shall be governed by the terms and conditions contained in this employment agreement and shall not entitle the Managing Director to any further remuneration. |
2.5 |
The Managing Directors regular place of work shall be the office of the Employer in the Netherlands. He may perform no more than 24.9% of his work per calendar year from Belgium; provided that, in the event of a bona fide family emergency, ChargcPoint shall waive this requirement for the duration of the period for which such family emergency exists. The Parties may, at the request of the Managing Director, from time to time, revisit the work requirements described in the immediately preceding sentence, provided that neither Party shall be required to agree to any change in such requirements. The Managing Director will be required to travel worldwide to other locations and spend time abroad as may be necessary for the fulfilment of his position, international activities of the Employer and/ or requirements of his expected collaboration with affiliated companies activities. |
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2.6 |
The Managing Director is responsible for keeping a monthly written registration of his work location using the ChargePoint travel calendar (Annex 2) and he shall submit the registration on a once per two month basis to Head of People Operations of ChargePoint, Inc.; provided that, the timing of the registration shall be reviewed periodically to determine if a different reporting period is acceptable. |
2.7 |
Employer, at its sole cost and expense, will prepare, or cause to be prepared, all of the following: necessary A1, S1 and BSS filings and a Netherlands income tax return based on the Managing Directors sole source of income being his salary and benefits described in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.7, the Netherlands income tax return will be prepared by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, or an accounting firm of similar skills and reputation. |
Article 3 - Working Hours
3.1 |
The Managing Director shall perform his work during 40 hours per week, and shall be prepared, if the performance of the position so requires, to perform work outside the established period of work, without receiving any extra remuneration for this work. |
Article 4 - Base Salary (including Holiday Allowance) and Car Allowance
4.1 |
The Managing Director shall receive a base salary of 350,000 gross per year including 8% holiday allowance, which equals 29,167,- gross per month including 8% holiday allowance. The salary shall be paid ultimately on the last day of each calendar month. |
4.2 |
An EV/PHEV company car or car allowance will be made available to the Managing Director as per agreement with Pat Romano, CEO. |
Article 5 - Illness
5.1 |
In the event of incapacity for work due to illness, the Managing Director shall be entitled during 104 weeks, but ultimately until the end of the employment agreement, to 70% of his gross salary including holiday allowance. |
5.2 |
During his illness the Managing Director shall comply with the regulations for checks in the event of illness. During the term of the employment agreement the Managing Director shall report ill in the manner set out by the Employer. The Managing Director shall also report ill to the Employer in the event that he is taken ill within four weeks after the end of the employment and is not employed by another employer or receiving unemployment benefits at that time. |
Article 6 - Holiday
6.1 |
The Managing Director is entitled to 30 holidays (based on a full-time employment) per year in addition to public holidays, which the Managing Director shall take in consultation with his superior. The Managing Director shall strive for it that all holidays are taken in the year in which they are accrued. |
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 24CAF17C-1DC3-4970-B0B5-CF5C5F8FEBF1
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Article 7 - Pension
7.1 |
The Managing Director shall not participate in any pension scheme. |
Article 8 Variable Compensation and Equity
8.1 |
The Managing Director shall be eligible for a variable compensation of up to 30% of the base salary (i.e. 105,000 gross). The variable compensation will be based on the achievement of specific financial and strategic goals which are agreed upon by the Employer and the Managing Director in writing and the attainment of the goals need to be approved by ChargePoints Inc. Compensation Committee for each fiscal year of the Employer. The eligibility for variable compensation will be determined within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year of the Employer. The variable compensation will be paid to the Managing Director on the next regularly schedule salary payment period after the variable compensation is determined. All payments of variable compensation to the Managing Director will be made net of applicable withholdings and deductions. |
8.2 |
The Managing Director recognizes that the goals may be adjusted from time to time and the award and amount of any variable compensation are dependent on the goals set, and that payment of a variable compensation in any one year does not imply any entidement to a variable compensation in any other year. The variable compensation shall not be paid out in the event that the employment agreement is terminated by the Employer for an urgent reason pursuant to Section 7:678 DCC or is terminated by the Managing Director. |
8.3 |
Subject to approval by ChargePoint Incs Board of Directors, the Managing Director will be awarded a stock option (the Options) grant authorizing him to purchase 761,580 shares of common stock of ChargePoint, Inc. Vesting shall begin on the date of employment and shall be subject to the following vesting schedule: 12/48 on the one year anniversary of the employment date and 1/12 on the completion of each month thereafter until the Management Director is fully vested in his Option. |
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8.4 |
In the event of termination of the employment agreement initiated by the Employer-other than on grounds of (i) article 7:669 sub 3 under b until h Dutch Civil Code, (ii) an urgent reason for dismissal as meant in Section 7:677 and 7:678 Dutch Civil Code, (iii) death, (iv) a conviction of a felony of the Managing Director- because of a ground for its account within the twelve (12) month period following transaction, event or state of affairs, that in the opinion of the management board of Chargepoint Inc, is likely to result in a change in the Control of Chargepoint Inc and/or the Employer or should otherwise be treated in accordance with this rule (a Change of Control Event), then, the management board of Chargepoint Inc may, in its absolute discretion and in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity plan, determine that, in addition to the Options which have already vested, you will receive accelerated vesting on an additional fifty percent (SO%) of unvested Options; provided, however, that the aggregate number of shares shall not exceed the number of the Options specified in Section 8.3 above; provided, further, that Employee execute a release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to the Employer and/ or Chargepoint Inc subject to any further terms and conditions as provided in the applicable equity plan or equity grant letter. |
Control as meant in this section means, with respect to the relevant person, (i) the direct or indirect ownership or control of more than SO% of the (a) economic or legal ownership interests or (b) voting power at the general meeting or a similar body of that person, or (ii) the right or ability to (a) appoint or remove or (b) direct the appointment or removal of, such number of the members of the management board or a similar body of that person with decisive voting power in such body.
Article 9 Insurances
9.1 |
Starting from the commencement date of the employment, the Employer shall take out accident insurance for the Managing Director. The premium shall be payable by the Employer. |
Article 10 - Extracurricular Activities and Gifts
10.1 |
Except with the prior written approval of the Employer, the Employee shall refrain from performing any other professional activities, paid or unpaid. |
10.2 |
The Managing Director shall not accept any money or other forms of remuneration or gifts from third parties in connection with his work for the Employer. |
Article 11 Other Conditions of Employment
11.1 |
Business expenses reasonably made by the Managing Director in the context of the performance of his position that cannot be considered as costs reimbursed otherwise, shall be reimbursed by the Employer to the Managing Director, in accordance with the Employers standard policies and procedures, and if and insofar as these costs are reasonable in the judgment of the Employer. |
11.2 |
The Employer shall provide the Managing Director with a laptop. The Managing Director shall take care of these/this item(s) in such manner as may be expected of a good employee. |
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Article 12 - (Intellectual) Property Rights
12.1 |
The Managing Director may be performing work in the scope of this employment agreement that directly or indirectly results in intellectual property rights, know-how (such as information, data and knowledge) or materials (such as research material, software, including source code, designs, plans, and texts), in the context of this article jointly to be referred to as the Results. Any and all of these Results shall accrue to the Employer, also where these are not explicitly mentioned in or anticipated by this employment agreement, and also where these Results are generated outside the Managing Directors official working hours. The Managing Director hereby assigns to the Employer all current and future Results that do not already accrue to the Employer in any other way. All Results thus assigned or otherwise accruing to the Employer shall comprise the Results in their most extensive form and application, including any and all future applications. The Managing Director will fully cooperate in the realization of the assignment of the Results and the realization of worldwide intellectual property protection for this purpose. To that end, the Managing Director hereby grants the Employer in advance an irrevocable and unconditional power of attorney to perform all relevant acts and to sign all documents in his name. |
12.2 |
The Managing Director waives his right to patent as set out in Article 12 (1) of the Patent Act 1995. The equitable remuneration contemplated by Article 12 (6) of the Patent Act 1995 is deemed by the parties to this employment agreement to be included in Managing Directors salary. The Managing Director shall not claim any further compensation for loss of patent. To avoid misunderstandings, the power of attorney mentioned in article 12 (1) also relates to the right of the Employer to submit patent applications in the Managing Directors name in jurisdictions where such is necessary. |
12.3 |
The equitable remuneration contemplated by Article 3 of the Neighbouring Rights Act is deemed by the parties to this employment agreement to be included in the Managing Directors salary; the Managing Director waives his right to any further compensation in this respect. |
12.4 |
In as far as the Managing Director would have any moral rights (such as an identification right or opposition to alteration) in respect of the Results, the Managing Director hereby waives these rights, to the extent permitted by law. |
12.5 |
The Managing Director shall not make any registrations (such as intellectual property registrations or domain registrations) in his own name or in the name of a third party with regard to the Results or any other activities of the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies. |
12.6 |
The Managing Director shall abstain from any act or omission which may harm or devalue the Results or any other intellectual property rights, know-how or materials of the Employer and/or its affiliated companies. |
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Article 13 - Non-disclosure
13.1 |
Both during and after the end of the employment agreement, the Managing Director shall observe strict confidentiality with regard to all company matters of the organization, affiliated companies and/ or relations of the Employer, the confidential nature of which information the Managing Director is or should be aware of, all in the broadest possible sense. |
13.2 |
The duty of confidentiality by the Managing Director will, in any event, include the following Confidential Information. The Confidential Information shall mean information or material (i) that is proprietary to the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies or considered confidential by the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies, whether or not designated or labelled as such, and (ii) that the Managing Director creates, discovers or develops in whole or in part, or of which the Managing Director obtains knowledge of or access to in the course of the Managing Directors relationship with the Employer. Furthermore, Confidential Information may include, but is not limited to, designs, works of authorship, formulae, ideas, concepts, techniques, inventions, devices, improvements, know-how, methods, processes, drawings, specifications, models, data, diagrams, flow charts, research, procedures, computer programs, marketing techniques and materials, business, marketing, development and product plans, financial information, customer lists and contact information, personnel information, and other confidential business or technical information. |
Article 14 - Non-competition
14.1 |
Except with the prior written approval of the Employer, the Managing Director shall not be permitted, both during the employment agreement and until one year after its end, |
a) |
to be working for or involved with any person, organization or company Northern and Western Europe, including the United Kingdom (as it exists as of August 2017) and Ireland (the Region) in any way, either directly or indirectly, paid or unpaid, that engages in similar, related and/ or otherwise EVSE competitive activities as the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies, or to have any interest therein including in any case the list of competitors attached as Annex 3 or any additional competitor that may arise in the Region; |
b) |
to develop activities for his own account in any way, directly or indirectly, paid or unpaid, the Region that are similar, related or otherwise competitive activities as the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies; |
c) |
to have or maintain business contacts in any way, directly or indirectly, with relations of the Employer with whom the Employer and/ or the Managing Director has been in contact on a business level during the last two years prior to the end of the employment agreement of the Managing Director; |
d) |
to induce employees who have an employment agreement with the Employer and/ or with its affiliated companies to terminate this employment agreement, to employ these employees or deploy them in any other way. |
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14.2 |
The Managing Director recognizes and confirms that he is bound by this Non-competition clause and that his total employment benefits package under this employment agreement is not only a compensation for his work done but is also a compensation for his agreement with this Non-competition clause. |
Article 15 - Return of Property
15.1 |
Upon the end of the employment agreement, or upon the first request by the Employer, the Managing Director shall immediately make available to the Employer all business items belonging to the Employer and/ or its affiliated companies and/ or relations. This includes, for example, the laptop, the documents or other data carriers, all apparatus, computers, computer files and media, notes, data, documents, reference materials, sketches, memoranda, records, drawings, engineering logbooks, equipment, lab/inventor notebooks, programs, prototypes, samples, equipment, tangible embodiments of information, and other physical property, whether or not pertaining to Confidential Information, furnished to the Managing Director or produced by the Managing Director or others in connection with the Managing Directors employment. The Managing Director may not retain any such property or any reproduction of such property after the end of the employment agreement. The Managing Director further agrees that any property situated on the Employers premises and owned, leased, maintained or otherwise contracted for by the Employer, including, but not limited to, computers, computer files, e-mail, voicemail, disks and other electronic storage media, filing cabinets, desks or other work areas, are subject to inspection by the Employers representatives at any time with or without notice. |
15.2 |
After the Managing Director has been suspended and/or has been incapacitated for work for two months, the Employer shall have the right to claim back the laptop upon one weeks notice and to discontinue the reimbursement of expenses and/ or travel/ car allowance. |
Article 16 - Breach
16.1 |
In the event of any act in breach of the obligations set out in Articles 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the employment agreement, the Managing Director shall (in deviation of Section 7:650, subsections 3, 4 and 5 DCC) immediately and without further notice of default or judicial intervention forfeit a penalty of 50,000 per breach, to be increased by 10,000 for each day on which such breach continues. The penalty shall be credited to the Employer. |
16.2 |
As far as the breach referred to in the previous paragraph relates to obligations of the Managing Director during the term of the employment agreement, the Employer reserves the right to claim compensation of the loss actually suffered instead of the forfeited penalty. As far as the breach referred to in the previous paragraph relates to obligations of the Managing Director in respect of the termination of the employment agreement, or to obligations after the end of the employment agreement, the Employer reserves the right to claim compensation of the loss actually suffered in addition to the penalty. |
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Article 17 - No collective bargaining agreement
17.1 |
No collective bargaining agreement is applicable to this employment agreement. |
Article 18 - [Reserved]
Article 19 Severance compensation
19.1 |
In the event of termination of the employment agreement initiated by the Employer-other than on grounds of (i) article 7:669 sub 3 under b until h Dutch Civil Code, (ii) an ·urgent reason for dismissal as meant in Section 7:677 and 7:678 Dutch Civil Code, (iii) death, (iv) a conviction of a felony of the Managing Director - because of a ground for its account as, such as merger, acquisition, transfer of an undertaking, a fundamental change in the management structure of the Employer organization or a redundancy on the basis of article 7:669 sub 3 under a Dutch Civil Code, the Employer shall pay the Managing Director the severance compensation described in article 19.2 below (the Severance Compensation). |
19.2 |
The Severance Compensation meant in article 19.1 is equal to a lump-sum payment of 6 months of the Managing Directors then current base salary as referred to in article 4.1 of this employment agreement, less all applicable deductions and withholdings. |
19.3 |
If the Managing Director is entided to the statutory transition payment as laid down in article 7:673 Dutch Civil Code, the Employer will pay the Managing Director the statutory transition payment, but the statutory transition payment will be deducted from the Severance Compensation and so in that case the Employer will only pay out the remainder of the Severance Compensation to the Managing Director. |
19.4 |
The Managing Director will not lay claim to any other compensation in connection with the termination of the employment agreement, including in any case, but not limited to, compensation under a collective bargaining agreement or other collective arrangement than the compensation described in this article 19. He shall not apply to the court with the request to allow an additional and/or so-called reasonable compensation (in Dutch: billijke vergoeding). In the event the court nevertheless allows compensation to the Managing Director in connection with the termination of the employment agreement (other than the statutory transition payment which is covered by article 19.3 above), in whatever form, this compensation shall be deducted from the Severance Compensation specified in this article 19.2. |
Article 20 Final Provisions
20.1 |
Unless the Parties have expressly agreed otherwise, the reimbursements mentioned in this agreement shall be gross amounts. Any withholdings in connection with wage tax shall be for the account of the Managing Director. |
20.2 |
This employment agreement shall be governed by Dutch law. |
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20.3 |
This employment agreement, when signed by both the Parties, supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein. Likewise, the terms of the employment agreement shall constitute the full, complete and exclusive agreement between the Employee and the Employer with respect to the subject matters herein. |
20.4 |
In the event that any provision of this employment agreement will be declared non-binding by a court, the Parties will replace it with another, legally valid provision, which corresponds as much as possible to the provision that was declared non-binding. If any provision is declared non-binding, this shall not affect the validity of the other provisions. |
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In witness whereof, this employment agreement was agreed and signed in duplicate on 9/13/2017.
Read and approved: | Read and approved: | |||
ChargePoint, Inc., on behalf of |
|
|||
ChargePoint Europe Holdings B.V. | Christopher Burghardt |
Name: Pasquale Romano
Position: Chief Executive Officer
11
Exhibit 10.15
DocuSign Envelope ID: 596E0C98-7983-4307-B20A-0B7C22C90370
ChargePoint, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue | Campbell, CA 95008 USA
+1.408.841.4500 or US toll-free +1.877.370.3802
May 21, 2018
Michael Hughes
Dear Michael,
On behalf of ChargePoint, Inc. (the Company), I am pleased to offer you the full-time position of Chief Revenue Officer and you shall report to the Chief Executive Officer. It is expected that you will be working out of our Campbell headquarters office unless traveling on company business. As explained in more detail below, your employment is contingent upon your assent to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter and the attachments hereto. If, after careful review, the terms discussed below and in the attachments hereto are acceptable to you, please sign this confirmation letter and the attached Acknowledgement of At-Will Employment, Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and Agreement to Arbitrate where indicated and return them to us.
1. Compensation.
a. Salary. You will be paid a salary of $300,000 per year, paid on a semi-monthly basis, less applicable withholdings and deductions. All reasonable business expenses that are documented by you and incurred in the ordinary course of business will be reimbursed in accordance with the Companys standard policies and procedures.
b. Variable Compensation Your variable compensation on target shall be $300,000 annually and shall be based on a variety of factors including Billings. It is anticipated that your variable compensation will be based partially on quantitative metrics, and partially based on qualitative Executive metrics, including achievement of annual corporate priorities. We will work together during your first 30 days to define the specific targets and deliverables to achieve this plan. Any variable compensation for the fiscal year in which your employment begins will be prorated, based on the number of days you are employed by the Company during that fiscal year
c. Incentive Stock Plan. Subject to approval by the Companys Board of Directors, you will be granted an option to purchase approximately 1,596,262 shares (equivalent to 1% of outstanding capital as of the date of this offer) of the Companys common stock (the Options) pursuant to the Companys 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan). Such grant of stock options shall be subject to the vesting restrictions and other terms and conditions of the Notice of Stock Option Award and Stock Option Agreement to be entered into between you and the Company and the Plan. The above grant of stock options shall have an acceleration of vesting clause as follows:
Acceleration in the Event of a Corporate Transaction
In the event your employment is terminated (as defined below) by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or by you for good reason (as defined below) within the twelve (12) month period following a Corporate Transaction, then, in addition to Options which have already vested, you will receive accelerated vesting on an additional fifty percent (50%) of unvested Options; provided, however,
1 | Page | Michael Hughes - Offer of Employment - May, 2018 |
DocuSign Envelope ID: 596E0C98-7983-4307-B20A-0B7C22C90370
ChargePoint, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue | Campbell, CA 95008 USA
+1.408.841.4500 or US toll-free +1.877.370.3802
that the aggregate number of shares shall not exceed the number of Options specified in Section l(c) above; provided, further, that you execute a release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.
By execution of this letter, you acknowledge that you have no right to receive any stock options unless the grant is approved by the Board of Directors.
d. Flexible Time Away, Holidays and Sick-Leave. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for flexible time away in accordance with the Companys standard policies and procedures. Holidays and sick-leave will likewise be provided in accordance with the Companys standard policies and procedures.
e. Benefits. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to participate in and to receive benefits under such plans and benefits as may be adopted by the Company. The eligibility criteria and amount and extent of benefits to which you are entitled shall be governed by the specific benefit plan as it may be amended from time to time.
2. Severance
a) General Terms. In no way limiting the Companys policy of employment at-will, if your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or by you for Good Reason, and other than as a result of your death or disability, the Company will offer certain severance benefits to you. As a condition to your receipt of such benefits, you are required to comply with your continuing obligations (including the return of any Company property), resign from all positions you hold with the Company, and execute the Companys standard form of release agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A releasing any claims you may have against the Company. The Release must be executed and returned to the Company on or before the date specified in the form (i.e. 21 days after your termination date) unless the Company provides additional time, with the deadline in no event later than 45 days after your termination of employment. For purposes of the paragraphs below your role is defined as the Chief Revenue Officer.
i) A lump sum payment equal to six (6) months of your then current salary, less all applicable deductions and withholdings.
ii) A lump sum payment equal to six (6) months of your benefit premiums.
iii) All cash payments pursuant to this Subsection 2 shall be paid on the first day following the effective date of the Release and the expiration of any revocation period, and in any event within 60 days after your employment terminates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 60-day period described in the preceding sentence spans two calendar years, payment shall in any event, be made in the second calendar year
For purposes of this Agreement:
Cause means (a) you are convicted of a felony (including a plea of nolo contendere) which is to the Companys material economic detriment, or (b) intentional misconduct in the performance
2 | Page | Michael Hughes - Offer of Employment - May, 2018 |
DocuSign Envelope ID: 596E0C98-7983-4307-B20A-0B7C22C90370
ChargePoint, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue | Campbell, CA 95008 USA
+1.408.841.4500 or US toll-free +1.877.370.3802
by you of your duties for the Company that is materially detrimental to the Company after written notice thereof and failure to cure within thirty (30) days of such notice.
Corporate Transaction shall mean any of the following transactions whether accomplished through one or a series of related transactions:
(a) a merger or acquisition in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the State in which the Company is incorporated,
(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company whether through a single transaction or a series of transactions,
(c) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the Companys outstanding voting stock is transferred to holders different from those who held the stock immediately prior to such merger, or
(d) a transaction or series of related transactions in which any person or group (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly of securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company then outstanding.
Good Reason shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) there is a material diminution in your duties and responsibilities (other than a change of title), (b) your office is relocated more than fifty (50) miles from its current location, or (c) there is a material reduction in your salary or benefits. Provided, however, in order to terminate employment for Good Reason, you must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the one or more of the above conditions within ninety (90) days of its initial existence and the Company must be provided with thirty (30) days to cure the condition. If the condition is not cured within such thirty (30) day period, you must terminate employment within 30 days of the end of such cure period in order to qualify as a termination for Good Reason.
b) Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this agreement, all payments and benefits described in this agreement that are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and that are payable in connection with your termination of employment, termination of service or similar terms will not be considered due and payable unless and until you have a separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Company determines that you are a specified employee under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of your separation from service, then (i) any severance payments or benefits pursuant to Subsection 2 or otherwise, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A and would otherwise be paid during the first six months following your separation from service, will be paid or commence on the first business day following (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from your separation from service or (B) the date of your death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid prior to such date will be paid in a lump sum when the payments commence. It is intended that all payments pursuant to this agreement either be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities will be interpreted consistent with such intent.
3 | Page | Michael Hughes - Offer of Employment - May, 2018 |
DocuSign Envelope ID: 596E0C98-7983-4307-B20A-0B7C22C90370
ChargePoint, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue | Campbell, CA 95008 USA
+1.408.841.4500 or US toll-free +1.877.370.3802
3. Immigration Documentation. This offer is subject to your submission of an I-9 form on your first day of employment and satisfactory documentation respecting your identification and right to work in the United States on that same day.
4. At-Will Employment. Your employment with the Company is at-will. This means that your employment with the Company is not for a specific term, and can be terminated by yourself or by the Company at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without cause and with or without notice. Any contrary representations which may have been made or which may hereafter be made to you are superseded by this offer.
Your acceptance of this offer is contingent upon your execution of the Companys Acknowledgement of At-Will Employment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A for your execution. This offer letter and the attached Acknowledgement of At-Will Employment constitute the full and complete agreement between the parties regarding the at-will nature of your employment, and can only be modified by written agreement signed by you and the President or CEO of the Company.
5. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Your acceptance of this offer is contingent upon your execution of the Companys Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B for your execution.
6. Non-Compete and Outside Activities. As more fully set forth in the Companys Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit B, you agree that, while serving as a full-time employee of the Company, you will not engage in any activity which is competitive with the Company.
7. Arbitration. Your acceptance of this offer is contingent upon your execution of the Companys Agreement to Arbitrate, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C for your execution.
As more fully set forth in the Agreement to Arbitrate, both you and the Company agree that any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of, concerning or relating in any way to your employment with the Company or the termination thereof shall be submitted exclusively to final and binding arbitration.
8. Company Rules. As an employee of the Company, you will be expected to abide by the Companys rules and regulations. You will be required to sign an acknowledgment that you have read and understand the Company rules of conduct as provided in the Companys Employee Handbook, which the Company will distribute.
9. Integrated Agreement. This offer, if accepted, supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein. Likewise, the terms of this offer shall constitute the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matters herein. This Agreement may only be changed by writing, signed by you and an authorized representative of the Company.
10. Severability. If this offer is accepted, and any term herein is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected; and, the parties shall use their best efforts to find an alternative way to achieve the same result.
11. Background and Reference Check. This offer is contingent upon a successful background check and as well as reference checks with positive results.
4 | Page | Michael Hughes - Offer of Employment - May, 2018 |
DocuSign Envelope ID: 596E0C98-7983-4307-B20A-0B7C22C90370
ChargePoint, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue | Campbell, CA 95008 USA
+1.408.841.4500 or US toll-free +1.877.370.3802
If you wish to accept employment at the Company under the terms set out above and in the enclosed Acknowledgement of At-Will Employment, Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and Agreement to Arbitrate, please sign and date this letter and the enclosed documents, and return them to me. If you accept our offer, your first day of employment will be on or before September 4, 2018.
This offer will terminate if not accepted by you on or before May 24, 2018. Michael, we look forward to your favorable reply and to a productive and exciting work relationship.
Sincerely,
5/21/2018 | 9:52 AM PDT | ||||||
Heather Sullivan | ||||||
Chief People Officer |
Approved and Accepted: |
Michael Hughes |
5/23/2018 | 10:01 PM PDT |
Date |
5 | Page | Michael Hughes - Offer of Employment - May, 2018 |
Exhibit 16.1
February 26, 2021
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have read the statements of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (formally known as Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation) included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated February 26, 2021. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01, in which we were informed of our dismissal on February 26, 2021. We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC |
New York, New York |
Exhibit 99.1
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Exhibit 99.1 shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Current Report on Form 8-K (the Form 8-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on March 1, 2021 and, if not defined in the Form 8-K, the Proxy Statement.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, Pro Forma Financial Information, as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786, and presents the combination of the historical financial information of Switchback and ChargePoint adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and the other events contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
Switchback and ChargePoint have different fiscal years. Switchbacks fiscal year ends on December 31, whereas ChargePoints fiscal year ends on January 31. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 combines the historical audited condensed balance sheet of Switchback as of December 31, 2020 and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of ChargePoint as of October 31, 2020 on a pro forma basis as if the Business Combination and the other events contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, summarized below, had been consummated on December 31, 2020.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 combines the historical audited statement of operations of Switchback for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of ChargePoint for the twelve months ended October 31, 2020 on a pro forma basis as if the Business Combination and the other events contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, as summarized below, had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The historical unaudited financial information of ChargePoint for the twelve months ended October 31, 2020 was derived by adding the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of ChargePoint for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 to the historical audited consolidated statement of operations for the year ended January 31, 2020 and subtracting the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended October 31, 2019. Revenue and net loss for ChargePoint for the three months ended January 31, 2020 were $43.2 million and $33.8 million, respectively.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was derived from and should be read in conjunction with the following historical financial statements and the accompanying notes:
|
the historical audited financial statements of Switchback as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 included in Switchbacks Annual Report filed on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021 and incorporated by reference; |
|
the historical audited consolidated financial statements of ChargePoint as of and for the year ended January 31, 2020, and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of ChargePoint as of and for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 included in the Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference; |
|
other information relating to Switchback and ChargePoint included in the Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference, including the Business Combination Agreement and the description of certain terms thereof set forth under the section entitled The Business Combination. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should also be read together with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Switchback, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of ChargePoint and other financial information included elsewhere in the Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference.
Description of the Business Combination
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into ChargePoint, with ChargePoint surviving the Merger. ChargePoint became a wholly owned subsidiary of Switchback and was immediately renamed ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders received (or have the right to receive) shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock at a deemed value of $10.00 per share after giving effect to the Exchange Ratio. Accordingly, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, 217,021,368 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock were issued and outstanding, 68,896,726 shares were reserved for the potential future issuance of New ChargePoint Common Stock upon the exercise of New ChargePoint stock options and upon the exercise of ChargePoint warrants, and 27,000,000 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock were reserved for the potential future issuance of the Earnout Shares, based on the following transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement:
|
the conversion of all outstanding shares of ChargePoints redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of ChargePoint Common Stock at the conversion rate effective at the time of the Business Combination as calculated pursuant to the ChargePoint Charter; |
|
the cancellation of each issued and outstanding share of ChargePoint Common Stock (including shares of ChargePoint Common Stock resulting from the conversion of ChargePoints redeemable convertible preferred stock, but excluding shares of ChargePoint Restricted Stock) and the conversion into the right to receive a number of shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio; |
|
the conversion of all outstanding ChargePoint Warrants into warrants exercisable for shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock except for the number of shares exercisable therefor and the exercise price, each of which was adjusted using the Exchange Ratio; |
|
the conversion of all outstanding ChargePoint Options into options exercisable for shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock with the same terms except for the number of shares exercisable and the exercise price, each of which was adjusted using the Exchange Ratio; |
the conversion of all outstanding shares of ChargePoint Restricted Stock, which shares are excluded from the determination of the Exchange Ratio, into shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock at the Exchange Ratio, which shares will continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and repurchase terms) effective immediately prior to the Effective Time; and
|
during the Earnout Period, New ChargePoint may issue to Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders up to 27,000,000 shares of additional New ChargePoint Common Stock, comprised of three separate tranches of 9,000,000 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock each, issuable upon the occurrence of each Earnout Triggering Event. The issuance of the Earnout Shares would dilute all New ChargePoint Common Stock outstanding at that time. Based on the capital structure as of the close of Business Combination, the 9,000,000 shares issued in connection with each Earnout Triggering Event, would represent approximately 3.2%, 6.5% and 9.7% of shares outstanding. |
Other Events in connection with the Business Combination
Other events that took place in connection with the Business Combination are summarized below:
|
the issuance and sale of 22,500,000 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share pursuant to the PIPE Financing; |
|
the repayment and settlement of all amounts outstanding under ChargePoints term loan following the Closing Date; |
|
pursuant to the terms of the Founders Stock Letter, the initial stockholders surrendered 984,706 Founder Shares to Switchback for no consideration, whereupon such Founder Shares were immediately cancelled, while an additional 900,000 Founder Earn Back Shares remain subject to potential forfeiture until the closing volume weighted average price per share of New ChargePoint Common Stock achieves $12.00 for any ten trading days within any twenty consecutive trading day period during the five-year period following the Closing (the Founder Earn Back Triggering Event); and |
|
at the Closing, the Sponsor exercised its right to convert a portion of the working capital loans made by the Sponsor to Switchback into an additional 1,000,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant in satisfaction of $1.5 million principal amount of such loans of which $1.3 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2020. |
Accounting for the Business Combination
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization under U.S. GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Switchback is treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. This determination is primarily based on ChargePoint stockholders comprising a relative majority of the voting power of New ChargePoint and having the ability to nominate the members of the New ChargePoint Board. ChargePoints operations prior to the acquisition comprising the only ongoing operations of New ChargePoint, and ChargePoints senior management comprising a majority of the senior management of New ChargePoint. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of New ChargePoint will represent a continuation of the financial statements of ChargePoint with the Business Combination being treated as the equivalent of ChargePoint issuing stock for the net assets of Switchback, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Switchback will be stated at historical costs, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be presented as those of ChargePoint in future reports of New ChargePoint.
The contingent obligations to issue Earnout Shares are expected to be accounted for as liability classified instruments because the Earnout Triggering Events that determine the number of Earnout Shares required to be issued include events that are not solely indexed to the fair value of common stock of New ChargePoint. The contingently forfeitable Founder Earn Back Shares are expected to be accounted for as an equity classified instrument to issue a fixed number of shares if the Founder Earn Back Triggering Event is achieved. The Founder Earn Back Triggering Event is not based on an observable market price or index other than ChargePoints own stock price. ChargePoint is in the process of finalizing its
accounting for the Business Combination, which closed on February 26, 2021, and will be reflected in New ChargePoints interim financial statements for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. ChargePoint is evaluating the accounting treatment of the Earnout Shares and Founder Earn Back Shares arrangements and assessing if the impacts of the arrangements should remain as a long term liability and in equity, respectively, or if a portion should be reclassified to equity and as a long term liability, respectively. Pro forma adjustments have been made for the liabilities related to the Earnout Shares. If arrangements are accounted for as a liability upon finalization of the accounting for the Business Combination, then the liability would be recognized at fair value upon the Closing and remeasured in future reporting periods through the statement of operations.
Basis of Pro Forma Presentation
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, Pro Forma Financial Information, as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786. The adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information in accordance with GAAP necessary for an illustrative understanding of New ChargePoint upon consummation of the Business Combination. Assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments set forth in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information are described in the accompanying notes.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results and financial position that would have been achieved had the Business Combination occurred on the dates indicated, and does not reflect adjustments for any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings or cost savings. Any additional Business Combination proceeds remaining after the outstanding borrowings under ChargePoints term loan are paid down are expected to be used for other general corporate purposes. Further, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not purport to project the future operating results or financial position of New ChargePoint following the completion of the Business Combination. The unaudited pro forma adjustments represent managements estimates based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed. Switchback and ChargePoint have not had any historical relationship prior to the transactions. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects Switchback stockholders approval of the Business Combination on February 25, 2021, and that Switchback public stockholders holding 33,009 shares have elected to redeem their shares prior to the Closing.
The following summarizes the New ChargePoint Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Business Combination:
Pro Forma
Combined (Shares) |
% | |||||||
Switchback Class A stockholders |
31,378,754 | 11.3 | ||||||
Switchback Class B stockholders(1) |
6,868,235 | 2.5 | ||||||
Former ChargePoint stockholders(2)(3) |
217,021,368 | 78.1 | ||||||
PIPE Financing |
22,500,000 | 8.1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
277,768,357 | 100.0 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Amount excludes the 984,706 Founder Shares surrendered to Switchback and includes 900,000 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock subject to forfeiture until the Founder Earn Back Triggering Event has occurred. |
(2) |
Following the Closing, the Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders will have the right to receive up to 27,000,000 Earnout Shares in three equal tranches upon the occurrence of the Earnout Triggering Events during the Earnout Period. Because the Earnout Shares are contingently issuable based upon the share price of New ChargePoint reaching certain thresholds that have not yet been achieved, the pro forma New ChargePoint Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Business Combination excludes the 27,000,000 Earnout Shares. |
(3) |
Amount includes 345,689 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock subject to repurchase related to the conversion of all outstanding shares of ChargePoint Restricted Stock. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and statement of operations are based on the assumption that there are no adjustments for the outstanding Switchback Warrants issued in connection with its IPO as such securities are not exercisable until 30 days after the Closing. There are also no adjustments for the estimated 68,896,726 shares reserved for the potential future issuance of the New ChargePoint Common Stock upon the exercise of the options and warrants to be issued to holders of ChargePoint Options and ChargePoint Warrants upon the consummation of the business combination, as such events have not yet occurred.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2020
(in thousands)
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet (continued)
As of December 31, 2020
(in thousands)
As of
December 31, 2020 |
As of
October 31, 2020 |
|||||||||||||||||
Switchback
(Historical) |
ChargePoint,
Inc. (Historical) |
Transaction
Accounting Adjustments |
Pro Forma
Combined |
|||||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred stock |
| 615,756 | (615,756 | ) | H | | ||||||||||||
Common shares subject to possible redemption |
295,489 | | (295,489 | ) | G | | ||||||||||||
Stockholders equity (deficit): |
| |||||||||||||||||
Common Stock |
| | 2 | F | 28 | |||||||||||||
3 | G | |||||||||||||||||
22 | J | |||||||||||||||||
1 | I | |||||||||||||||||
Class B Common Stock |
1 | | (1 | ) | I | | ||||||||||||
ChargePoint Common Stock |
| 2 | 19 | H | | |||||||||||||
(21 | ) | J | ||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
9,210 | 57,618 | (34,903 | ) | D | 243,275 | ||||||||||||
(14,443 | ) | E | ||||||||||||||||
224,998 | F | |||||||||||||||||
295,486 | G | |||||||||||||||||
615,737 | H | |||||||||||||||||
(1 | ) | J | ||||||||||||||||
(4,211 | ) | K | ||||||||||||||||
21,019 | L | |||||||||||||||||
348 | M | |||||||||||||||||
1,130 | N | |||||||||||||||||
(333 | ) | O | ||||||||||||||||
1,500 | P | |||||||||||||||||
(929,880 | ) | Q | ||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
| 28 | | 28 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(4,211 | ) | (588,665 | ) | (348 | ) | M | (590,143 | ) | |||||||||
4,211 | K | |||||||||||||||||
(1,130 | ) | N | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total stockholders equity (deficit) |
5,000 | (531,017 | ) | 179,205 | (346,812 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders equity (deficit) |
$ | 317,341 | $ | 299,252 | $ | 122,231 | $ | 738,824 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended
December 31, 2020 |
Months
Ended October 31, 2020 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Switchback
(Historical) |
ChargePoint,
Inc. (Historical) |
Transaction
Accounting Adjustments |
Pro Forma
Combined |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||
Networked charging systems |
$ | | $ | 93,464 | $ | | $ | 93,464 | ||||||||||||
Subscriptions |
| 37,462 | | 37,462 | ||||||||||||||||
Other |
| 16,416 | | 16,416 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total revenue |
| 147,342 | | 147,342 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||
Networked charging systems |
| 89,462 | | 89,462 | ||||||||||||||||
Subscriptions |
| 19,272 | | 19,272 | ||||||||||||||||
Other |
| 5,726 | | 5,726 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total cost of revenue |
| 114,460 | | 114,460 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Gross profit |
| 32,882 | | 32,882 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
| 73,304 | 340 | AA | 73,644 | |||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing |
| 53,068 | 454 | AA | 53,522 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
5,749 | 24,639 | 2,668 | BB | 33,392 | |||||||||||||||
336 | AA | |||||||||||||||||||
Franchise tax expense |
200 | | | 200 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
5,949 | 151,011 | 3,798 | 160,758 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Loss from operations |
(5,949 | ) | (118,129 | ) | (3,798 | ) | (127,876 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
| 806 | | 806 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (3,305 | ) | 3,305 | CC | | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability |
| (18,520 | ) | 18,520 | DD | | ||||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net |
1,160 | (611 | ) | (1,160 | ) | EE | (611 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) before income taxes |
(4,789 | ) | (139,759 | ) | 16,867 | (127,681 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
202 | 329 | (202 | ) | FF | 329 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (4,991 | ) | $ | (140,088 | ) | $ | 17,069 | $ | (128,010 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Accretion of beneficial conversion feature of redeemable convertible preferred stock |
| (60,377 | ) | 60,377 | GG | | ||||||||||||||
Cumulative undeclared dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock |
| (3,960 | ) | 3,960 | GG | | ||||||||||||||
Deemed dividend for vested option and common stock warrant holders |
| | (182,443 | ) | HH | (182,443 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
$ | (4,991 | ) | $ | (204,425 | ) | $ | (101,037 | ) | $ | (310,453 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding of Common Stock |
276,522,668 | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per shareCommon Stock |
$ | (1.12 | ) |
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
1. Basis of Presentation
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization under U.S. GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Switchback is treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. This determination is primarily based on ChargePoint stockholders comprising a relative majority of the voting power of New ChargePoint and having the ability to nominate the members of the New ChargePoint Board, ChargePoints operations prior to the acquisition comprising the only ongoing operations of New ChargePoint, and ChargePoints senior management comprising a majority of the senior management of New ChargePoint. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of New ChargePoint will represent a continuation of the financial statements of ChargePoint with the Business Combination treated as the equivalent of ChargePoint issuing stock for the net assets of Switchback, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Switchback will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be presented as those of ChargePoint in future reports of New ChargePoint.
Switchback and ChargePoint have different fiscal years. Switchbacks fiscal year ends on December 31, whereas ChargePoints fiscal year ends on January 31. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 combines the historical audited condensed balance sheet of Switchback as of December 31, 2020 and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of ChargePoint as of October 31, 2020 on a pro forma basis as if the Business Combination and the other events contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement had been consummated on December 31, 2020.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement as if they had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The historical unaudited financial information of ChargePoint for the twelve months ended October 31, 2020 was derived by adding the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of ChargePoint for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 to the historical audited consolidated statement of operations for the year ended January 31, 2020, and subtracting the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended October 31, 2019. Revenue and net loss for ChargePoint for the three months ended January 31, 2020 were $43.2 million and $33.8 million, respectively.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was derived from and should be read in conjunction with the following historical financial statements and the accompanying notes:
|
the historical audited financial statements of Switchback as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 included in Switchbacks Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021; |
|
the historical audited consolidated financial statements of ChargePoint as of and for the year ended January 31, 2020, and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated financial statement of ChargePoint as of and for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 included herein; and |
|
other information relating to Switchback and ChargePoint included herein. |
Management has made significant estimates and assumptions in its determination of the pro forma adjustments based on information available as of the date of filing this Form 8-K. As the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared based on these preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded may differ materially from the information presented as additional information becomes available. Management considers this basis of presentation to be reasonable under the circumstances.
One-time direct and incremental transaction costs anticipated to be incurred prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing are reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as a direct reduction to New ChargePoints additional paid-in capital and are assumed to be cash settled.
2. Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
The transaction accounting adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(A) |
Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of $317.0 million of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents that becomes available for general use by New ChargePoint following the Closing, assuming no redemptions. See adjustment note 2 (O) below for actual redemptions in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. |
(B) |
Reflects the repayment and settlement of all amounts outstanding under ChargePoints term loan following the Closing. |
(C) |
Reflects the payment of $10.9 million of deferred underwriters fees incurred during Switchbacks IPO due upon the Closing. |
(D) |
Represents direct and incremental transaction costs of $34.5 million incurred by ChargePoint prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing. As of October 31, 2020, ChargePoint had deferred transaction costs incurred of $3.9 million, of which $3.5 million was unpaid. |
(E) |
Represents direct and incremental transaction costs of $14.5 million and other organizational costs of $4.1 million incurred by Switchback prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing that are to be cash settled upon Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement, excluding the $10.9 million of deferred underwriting fees related to the Switchback initial public offering as described in adjustment note 2 (C). As of December 31, 2020, Switchback had unpaid related costs of $4.1 million. |
(F) |
Reflects the proceeds of $225.0 million from the issuance and sale of 22.5 million shares of Common Stock at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Subscription Agreements entered into with New PIPE Investors in connection with the PIPE Financing. |
(G) |
Reflects the reclassification of Switchback common shares subject to possible redemption to permanent equity immediately prior to the Closing. |
(H) |
Reflects the conversion of ChargePoint redeemable convertible preferred stock into ChargePoint Common Stock pursuant to the conversion rate effective immediately prior to the Effective Time. |
(I) |
Reflects the conversion of 6,868,235 shares of Switchback Class B Common Stock into shares of Common Stock including the forfeiture of 984,706 shares of Class B Common Stock upon the Closing. |
(J) |
Represents the recapitalization of common shares between ChargePoint Common Stock and New ChargePoint Common Stock. |
(K) |
Reflects the elimination of Switchbacks historical accumulated deficit. |
(L) |
Reflects the reclassification of ChargePoint redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability to additional paid-in capital as a result of ChargePoint redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants being exchanged for New ChargePoint warrants. |
(M) |
Represents the stock-based compensation expense related to the stock option awards granted to ChargePoints Chief Executive Officer for which the performance-based vesting condition was satisfied upon the Closing of the Business Combination, calculated using the accelerated attribution method. The expense is booked as a cumulative catch up adjustment from September 15, 2020, the date of the awards modification when the performance-based vesting condition became contingent on the Closing, to the pro forma balance sheet date. The awards will vest in a single installment on January 31, 2024 subject to the Chief Executive Officers continuous employment through such date. |
(N) |
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the incremental compensation provided to holders of vested ChargePoint Options which, under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, have been modified to be allowed to participate as Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders with the right to contingently receive a pro rata portion of the ChargePoint Earnout Shares upon achievement of the Earnout Triggering Events. There are no future service requirements related to the Earnout Triggering Events. The preliminary estimate of the incremental compensation was calculated as the difference between the preliminary estimated fair value of the modified award and the preliminary estimated fair value of the original award immediately before it was modified, both determined using an option-pricing model. The preliminary estimated fair value was determined based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The actual fair value of the incremental compensation is subject to change as additional analyses are performed and such changes could be material once the final valuation as of the modification date is determined. |
(O) |
Represents the cash disbursed to redeem 33,009 shares of Switchbacks Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination at an assumed redemption price of approximately $10.09 per share based on funds held in the trust account as of December 31, 2020. |
(P) |
Represents the conversion of a portion of the working capital loans made by the Sponsor to Switchback into an additional 1,000,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant in satisfaction of $1.3 million principal amount of such loans as of December 31, 2020 and additional $0.2 million loan subsequent to December 31, 2020. |
(Q) |
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares contingently issuable to the Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders as of the Closing. The preliminary fair value was determined based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The actual fair value could change materially. Refer to Note 4 for more information. |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
The transaction accounting adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(AA) |
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the incremental compensation provided to holders of vested ChargePoint Options which, under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, have been modified to be allowed to participate as Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders with the right to contingently receive a pro rata portion of the ChargePoint Earnout Shares upon achievement of the Earnout Triggering Events. There are no future service requirements related to the Earnout Triggering Events. The preliminary estimate of the incremental compensation was calculated as the difference between the preliminary estimated fair value of the modified award and the preliminary estimated fair value of the original award immediately before it was modified, both determined using an option-pricing model. The preliminary estimated fair value was determined based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The actual fair value of the incremental compensation is subject to change as additional analyses are performed and such changes could be material once the final valuation as of the modification date is determined. |
(BB) |
Represents the annual amount of ongoing stock-based compensation expense related to the stock option awards granted to ChargePoints Chief Executive Officer for which the performance-based vesting condition was satisfied upon the Closing of the Business Combination, calculated using the accelerated attribution method. The awards will vest in a single installment on January 31, 2024 subject to the Chief Executive Officers continuous employment through such date. |
(CC) |
Reflects the elimination of interest expense on ChargePoints outstanding term loan that is to be repaid as described in adjustment note 2 (B). |
(DD) |
Reflects the elimination of the loss on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability as a result of ChargePoint redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants being exchanged for New ChargePoint warrants. |
(EE) |
Represents the elimination of investment income related to the investments held in the Switchback Trust Account. |
(FF) |
Represents the income tax impact of the elimination of investment income related to the investments held in the Switchback Trust Account. |
(GG) |
Reflects the elimination of the accretion of the beneficial conversion feature related to redeemable convertible preferred stock which is deemed to be converted into shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock as of January 1, 2020 and the elimination of the cumulative undeclared redeemable convertible preferred stock dividend (Series H-1). |
(HH) |
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares contingently issuable to holders of vested ChargePoint Options and common stock warrants accounted for as a one-time deemed distribution. The preliminary estimated fair value was determined based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The actual fair value of the incremental compensation is subject to change as additional analyses are performed and such changes could be material once the final valuation as of the modification date is determined. Refer to Note 4 for more information. |
3. Net Loss per Share
Represents the net loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2020 calculated using the historical basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the pro forma adjustments. As the Business Combination is being reflected as if it had occurred as of January 1, 2020, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share assumes the shares issued in connection with the Business Combination have been outstanding for the entire period presented.
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. The 900,000 Founder Earn Back Shares issued and outstanding are participating securities that contractually entitle the holders of such shares to participate in nonforfeitable dividends. The financial statements reflect a net loss in all periods presented and no loss amounts
have been allocated to the Founder Earn Back Shares because they do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. The Founder Earn Back Shares have been excluded from basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share as such shares are contingently recallable until the Founder Earn Back Triggering Event has occurred. The 27,000,000 Earnout Shares, issuable in three equal tranches to the Eligible ChargePoint Equityholders have been excluded from basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share as such shares are contingently issuable until the Earnout Triggering Events have occurred.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared based on the following information:
Year Ended
December 31, 2020 |
||||
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||
Pro forma net loss attributable to common stockholders |
$ | (310,453 | ) | |
Weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted |
276,522,668 | |||
Net loss per share basic and diluted |
$ | (1.12 | ) | |
Weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted |
||||
Switchback Class A stockholders |
31,378,754 | |||
Switchback Class B stockholders |
5,968,235 | |||
PIPE Investors |
22,500,000 | |||
Former ChargePoint stockholders(1) |
216,675,679 | |||
|
|
|||
Total weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted |
276,522,668 | |||
|
|
(1) |
Amount excludes 345,689 shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock subject to repurchase related to the conversion of all outstanding shares of ChargePoint Restricted Stock. |
The following outstanding shares of Common Stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of pro forma diluted net loss per share for the period presented above because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
Switchback warrants to purchase shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock |
15,992,155 | |||
ChargePoint options that will convert into a right to purchase shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock |
30,135,695 | |||
ChargePoint common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants that will convert into a right to purchase shares of New ChargePoint Common Stock |
38,761,031 | |||
Warrants to issue New ChargePoint Common Stock issued to Sponsor in satisfaction of the working capital loans |
1,000,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
85,888,881 | |||
|
|
The 27,000,000 Earnout Shares and the 900,000 Founder Earn Back Shares are excluded from the pro forma anti-dilutive table as the underlying shares are contingently issuable and contingently recallable, respectively, until the Earnout Triggering Events and Founder Earn Back Triggering Event have occurred.
4. Earnout Shares
The contingent obligations to issue Earnout Shares are expected to be accounted for as liability classified instruments because the Earnout Triggering Events that determine the number of Earnout Shares required to be issued include events that are not solely indexed to the common stock of New ChargePoint. The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares is $929.9 million.
The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model using a distribution of potential outcomes on a monthly basis over the Earnout Period using the most reliable information available. Assumptions used in the valuation were as follows:
Current stock price: the stock price was set at $34.49 per share for New ChargePoint Common Stock based on the closing price as of the valuation date of February 24, 2021, which was two business days prior to the Closing.
Expected volatility: the volatility rate was determined by using an average of historical volatilities of selected industry peers deemed to be comparable to ChargePoints business corresponding to the expected term of the awards.
Risk-free interest rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of issuance for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities corresponding to the expected five-year term of the Earnout Period.
Expected term: The expected term is the five-year term of the Earnout Period.
Expected dividend yield: The expected dividend yield is zero as ChargePoint has never declared or paid cash dividends and New ChargePoint has no current plans to do so during the expected term.
The actual fair value of the Earnout Shares is subject to change as additional information becomes available and additional analyses are performed and such changes could be material.