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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 15, 2023

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-40743   85-1863331
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

600 Travis Street, Suite 5050

Houston, TX 77002

 

 

 

(469) 398-2200

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

 

CENAQ Energy Corp.
4550 Post Oak Place Dr., Suite 300
Houston, TX 77027

(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 to 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
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   VGAS   The Nasdaq Capital Market
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   VGASW   The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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

 

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

 

As previously announced, Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Verde Clean Fuels”) (formerly, CENAQ Energy Corp. (“CENAQ”)), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among CENAQ, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CENAQ (“OpCo”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and, solely with respect to Section 6.18 thereto, CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). CENAQ’s stockholders approved the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement at a special meeting of stockholders held on January 4, 2023.

 

On February 15, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement:

 

CENAQ filed a Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Fourth A&R Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which CENAQ changed its name to “Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.” and the number of authorized shares of Verde Clean Fuels’ capital stock, par value $0.0001 per share, was increased to 376,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 350,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (ii) 25,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock”), and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share;

 

(A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (i) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their Redemption Rights (as defined below)) and (ii) 22,500,000 newly issued shares of Class C Common Stock (such shares, the “Holdings Class C Shares”) and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A common units of OpCo (the “Class A OpCo Units”) equal to the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (taking into account the PIPE Investment (as defined below) and following the exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their Redemption Rights) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”); and

 

Immediately following the SPAC Contribution, (A) Holdings contributed to OpCo 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo transferred to Holdings (i) 22,500,000 Class C common units of OpCo (the “Class C OpCo Units” and, together with the Class A OpCo Units, the “OpCo Units”) and (ii) the Holdings Class C Shares (such transactions, the “Holdings Contribution” and, together with the SPAC Contribution, the “Business Combination”).

 

In addition, pursuant to subscription agreements entered into with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”) in connection with the Business Combination, concurrently with the Closing, Verde Clean Fuels received $32,000,000 in proceeds from the PIPE Investors (the “PIPE Investment”), for which it issued 3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to the PIPE Investors.

 

Holders of 15,403,880 Class A Common Stock sold in CENAQ’s initial public offering (the “public shares”) properly exercised their right to have their public shares redeemed (the “Redemption Rights”) for a pro rata portion of the trust account (the “Trust Account”) which holds the proceeds from CENAQ’s initial public offering, funds from CENAQ’s payment to extend the time to consummate a business combination and interest earned, calculated as of two business days prior to the Closing, which was approximately $10.31 per share, or $158,797,475.52 in the aggregate. The remaining balance in the Trust Account (after giving effect to the Redemption Rights) was $19,031,516.47.

 

1

 

 

After giving effect to the Business Combination, the redemption of public shares as described above and the consummation of the PIPE Investment, there are currently (i) 9,358,620 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issued and outstanding and (iii) no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

The Class A Common Stock and Verde Clean Fuels warrants commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively, on February 16, 2023.

 

A more detailed description of the Business Combination can be found in the section titled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 103 of CENAQ’s definitive proxy statement dated November 10, 2022 (the “Proxy Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and such description is incorporated herein by reference. Further, 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 is included as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” refers to the registrant, which is Verde Clean Fuels after the Closing, and CENAQ prior to the Closing. All references herein to the “Board” refer to the board of directors of Verde Clean Fuels. Terms used in this Report but not defined herein, or for which definitions are not otherwise incorporated by reference herein, shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Certain Defined Terms” beginning on page ii thereof, and such definitions are incorporated herein by reference.

 

This Report incorporates by reference certain information from reports and other documents that were previously filed with the SEC, including certain information from the Proxy Statement. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this Report and the information contained in such prior reports and documents incorporated by reference herein, the information in this Report controls.

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

OpCo A&R LLC Agreement

 

In connection with the Closing, Verde Clean Fuels and Holdings entered into an amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo (the “OpCo A&R LLC Agreement”). The OpCo A&R LLC Agreement provides, among other things, that each Class C OpCo Unit is exchangeable, subject to certain conditions, for one share of Class A Common Stock, and a corresponding share of Class C Common Stock will be cancelled in connection with such exchange.

 

The material terms of the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement beginning on page 114 titled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Related Documents—OpCo A&R LLC Agreement.” Such description is incorporated by reference in this Report and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.7 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels is required to pay each TRA Holder 85% of the amount of net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that Verde Clean Fuels actually realizes (computed using certain simplifying assumptions) or is deemed to be realized in certain circumstances in periods after the Closing as a result of, as applicable to each such TRA Holder, (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Verde Clean Fuels’ acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right (each as defined in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement) and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Verde Clean Fuels as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Verde Clean Fuels makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Verde Clean Fuels will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash savings.

 

The material terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement beginning on page 110 titled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Related Documents—Tax Receivable Agreement.” Such description is incorporated by reference in this Report and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Tax Receivable Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.5 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference. All capitalized words used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Tax Receivable Amendment.

 

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A&R Registration Rights Agreement

 

In connection with the Closing, that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 17, 2021 (the “IPO Registration Rights Agreement”), was amended and restated by Verde Clean Fuels, certain persons and entities holding securities of CENAQ prior to the Closing (the “Initial Holders”) and certain persons and entities receiving Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock pursuant to the Business Combination (together with the Initial Holders, the “Reg Rights Holders”) (as amended and restated, the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, within 60 days after Closing, Verde Clean Fuels shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC (at Verde Clean Fuels’ sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the Reg Rights Holders (the “Resale Registration Statement”), and Verde Clean Fuels will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. In certain circumstances, the Reg Rights Holders can demand Verde Clean Fuels’ assistance with underwritten offerings and block trades, and the Reg Rights Holders are entitled to certain piggyback registration rights. The A&R Registration Rights Agreement does not provide for the payment of any cash penalties by Verde Clean Fuels if it fails to satisfy any of its obligations under the A&R Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The material terms of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement beginning on page 110 titled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Related Documents—A&R Registration Rights Agreement.” Such description is incorporated by reference in this Report and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.6 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Charter

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, at Closing, Verde Clean Fuels filed the Fourth A&R Charter.

 

The material terms of the Fourth A&R Charter are described in the section of the Proxy Statement beginning on page 144 titled “Proposal No. 2—The Charter Proposal.” Such description is incorporated by reference in this Report and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Fourth A&R Charter, which is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These indemnification agreements require Verde Clean Fuels to indemnify its directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of Verde Clean Fuels’ directors or executive officers or out of any services they provide at Verde Clean Fuels’ request to any other company or enterprise.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Form of Verde Clean Fuels Indemnification Agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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. On January 4, 2023, CENAQ held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), at which the CENAQ stockholders considered and adopted, among other matters, a proposal to approve the Business Combination. The Business Combination was completed on February 15, 2023.

 

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FORM 10 INFORMATION

 

In accordance with Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K, the Company is providing below the information that would be required if the Company were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10. Please note that the information provided below relates to the combined company after the consummation of the Business Combination, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

The Company acknowledges that certain of the information referenced below is required to be updated for the year ended December 31, 2022, including the annual audits of CENAQ and Intermediate, and the Company will update such information through an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K once the annual audits of CENAQ and Intermediate are completed and related annual financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 is available which the Company expects by March 31, 2023.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this Report (including in the information that is incorporated by reference in this Report) may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. The Company’s forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s or the Company’s management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including those relating to the Business Combination. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include:

 

the financial and business performance of the Company;

 

the ability to maintain the listing of the Class A Common Stock and the Verde Clean Fuels warrants on Nasdaq, and the potential liquidity and trading of such securities;

 

the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees;

 

the Company’s ability to develop and operate new projects;

 

the reduction or elimination of government economic incentives to the renewable energy market;

 

delays in acquisition, financing, construction and development of new projects;

 

the length of development cycles for new projects, including the design and construction processes for the Company’s projects;

 

the Company’s ability to identify suitable locations for new projects;

 

the Company’s dependence on suppliers;

 

existing laws and regulations and changes to laws, regulations and policies that affect the Company’s operations;

 

decline in public acceptance and support of renewable energy development and projects;

 

demand for renewable energy not being sustained;

 

impacts of climate change, changing weather patterns and conditions, and natural disasters;

 

the ability to secure necessary governmental and regulatory approvals;

 

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the ability to qualify for federal and state level low-carbon fuel credits;

 

any decline in the value of carbon credits and the development of the carbon credit markets;

 

risks relating to the uncertainty of success or delays of the Company’s research and development efforts;

 

disruptions in the supply chain, fluctuation in price of product inputs, and market conditions and global and economic factors beyond the Company’s control;

 

the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors following the Business Combination;

 

the ability of the Company to execute its business model, including market acceptance of gasoline derived from renewable feedstocks;

 

litigation and the ability to adequately protect intellectual property rights;

 

competition from companies with greater resources and financial strength in the industries in which the Company operates;

 

the effect of legal, tax and regulatory changes; and

 

other factors detailed under the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 38 of the Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are based on the Company’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that the Company has anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described or incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” below. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. The Company will not and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

Business

 

The business of the Company is described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Information About Intermediate” beginning on page 167 thereof and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Risk Factors

 

The risks associated with the Company’s business are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 38 thereof and are incorporated herein by reference. A summary of the risks associated with the Company’s business are also described on page 34 of the Proxy Statement under the heading “Summary—Risk Factors” and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Financial Information

 

The consolidated financial statements of Intermediate as of September 30, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) and the related notes are included in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by CENAQ on December 19, 2022.

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of Intermediate as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (as restated), and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from July 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-14.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Verde Clean Fuels as of September 30, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Intermediate for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 is set forth in Exhibit 99.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Properties

 

The properties of the Company are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Information About Intermediate” beginning on page 167 thereof and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock immediately following consummation of the Business Combination by:

 

each person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

each of the Company’s named executive officers and directors; and

 

all of the Company’s executive officers and directors as a group.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes securities that the individual or entity has the right to acquire, such as through the exercise of warrants or stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units, within 60 days of the Closing Date. Shares subject to warrants or options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date or subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of the Closing Date are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such warrants, options or restricted stock units for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Shares issuable pursuant to the exchange of Class A OpCo Units listed in the table below are represented in shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Except as described in the footnotes below and subject to applicable community property laws and similar laws, the Company believes that each person listed above has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.

 

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The beneficial ownership of Verde Clean Fuels securities is based on (i) 9,358,620 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following consummation of the Business Combination, after giving effect to the Redemption Rights and the consummation of the PIPE Investment, and (ii) 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(1)

  Number of
Shares
   % 
Directors of officers:        
Curtis Hébert, Jr.        
Graham van’t Hoff        
Ron Hulme        
Duncan Palmer        
Jonathan Siegler        
Dail St. Claire        
Martijn Dekker        
Ernest Miller        
John Doyle        
           
All directors and officers after as a group (9 persons)         
           
Five Percent Holders:          
Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC(2)(3)   23,300,000    73.14%
CENAQ Sponsor LLC(4)(5)   

5,962,500

    17.37%
Cottonmouth Ventures LLC(6)    2,000,000    6.28%

 

 

(1)Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the directors and officers is 600 Travis Street, Suite 5050, Houston, Texas 77002.
(2)Consists of (1) 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock (and corresponding Class C OpCo Units) and (2) 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock purchased in the PIPE Investment. The beneficial ownership excludes 3,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock (and a corresponding number of Class C OpCo Units) issuable to Holdings upon certain vesting terms as described in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information—Introduction.” The business address of Holdings is 300 Crescent Court Suite 1860, Dallas, TX 75201.
(3)Holdings is the record holder of such shares. Holdings is a 100% owned subsidiary (portfolio company) of Bluescape Energy Recapitalization and Restructuring Fund IV LP (“BERR”), and Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC is the general partner of BERR. The BERR funds are managed by Bluescape Energy Partners LLC. Bluescape Resources Company LLC is the parent of Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC and Bluescape Energy Partners LLC and is principally owned and controlled by Mr. C. John Wilder. Mr. Wilder disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest he may have therein, directly or indirectly. The principal business address of each of the entities and persons identified in this paragraph is c/o Bluescape Resources Company LLC, 300 Crescent Court, Suite 1860, Dallas, TX 75201.
(4)

Consists of (i) 3,487,500 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Sponsor (which includes 253,125 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Sponsor upon conversion of a portion of its Class B common stock held prior to Closing and 3,234,375 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Sponsor that are subject to forfeiture, as further described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information—Introduction”) and (ii) 2,475,000 Private Placement Warrants, each exercisable (30 days after Closing) to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share).

(5)The Sponsor is the record holder of such shares. Messrs. John B. Connally III, J. Russell Porter and Michael J. Mayell are each a manager of CENAQ Sponsor LLC, and as such, each has voting and investment discretion with respect to the shares held directly by the Sponsor. Messrs. John B. Connally III, J. Russell Porter and Michael J. Mayell each disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than the extent of any pecuniary interest he may have therein, directly or indirectly.
(6)Cottonmouth Ventures LLC (“Cottonmouth”) is the record holder of such shares. Cottonmouth is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., and as such, has voting and investment discretion with respect to the shares held directly by Cottonmouth. The principal business address of each of the entities identified in this paragraph is c/o Diamondback Energy Inc., 500 West Texas, Suite 1200, Midland, TX 79701.

 

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Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Company’s directors and executive officers upon the Closing are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 195 thereof and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Directors

 

The following persons constitute the Company’s Board effective upon the Closing: Curtis Hébert, Jr., Graham van’t Hoff, Ron Hulme, Duncan Palmer, Jonathan Siegler, Dail St. Claire and Martijn Dekker. Mr. Hulme was appointed as the Chair of the Board. Biographical information for these individuals is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 195, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

The standing committees of the Company’s Board consist of an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) and a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”). The Audit Committee and Compensation Committee report to the Board.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board appointed Ms. St. Claire, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Hébert to serve on the Audit Committee, with Mr. Palmer serving as the chair. Mr. Palmer also serves as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules. As described below under “Directors Independence,” the Board has determined that Ms. St. Claire, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Hébert are “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Board appointed Mr. van’t Hoff, Mr. Siegler and Mr. Hulme to serve on the Compensation Committee, with Mr. Siegler serving as the chair. As described below under “Directors Independence,” the Board has determined that Mr. van’t Hoff, Mr. Siegler and Mr. Hulme are “independent” as that term is used under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq.

 

Executive Officers

 

Effective as of the Closing, the executive officers are:

 

Name

 

Position

 

Age

Ernest Miller   Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer   54
John Doyle   Chief Technology Officer   62

 

On February 15, 2023, Mr. Miller was appointed as Interim Chief Financial Officer to serve while Verde Clean Fuels conducts a search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer.

 

Biographical information for these individuals is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Executive Officers” beginning on page 198, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Executive Compensation

 

A description of the compensation of the executive officers and directors of CENAQ and the named executive officers and directors of Intermediate before the consummation of the Business Combination is set forth in the sections of the Proxy Statement titled “Information About CENAQ—Management,” beginning on page 184 thereof, and “Executive Compensation,” beginning on page 192 thereof, respectively, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

At the Special Meeting, CENAQ stockholders approved the Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference. A summary of the 2023 Plan is set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “Proposal No. 4—The 2023 Plan Proposal” beginning on page 148 thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of the Company’s executive officers currently serve, or in the past year have served, as members of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on the Board.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Director Independence

 

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

 

Certain relationships and related person transactions are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” beginning on page 218 thereof and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Directors Independence

 

After the Closing, Holdings will beneficially own a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result, the Company is a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements (1) that a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors, (2) that its board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and (3) that director nominees must either be selected, or recommended for the board’s selection, either by independent directors constituting a majority of the board’s independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or a nominating and corporate governance committee comprised solely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities. Notwithstanding the availability of such exemptions, all seven of the Company’s current Board members qualify as independent under applicable Nasdaq rules and the Compensation Committee of the Board is comprised of three directors, each of whom qualifies as an independent under applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules for compensation committee service.

 

Nasdaq rules generally require that independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors. Under the rules of Nasdaq, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each proposed director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, the Board has determined that Mr. van’t Hoff, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Hébert, Mr. Hulme, Mr. Siegler, Ms. St. Claire and Mr. Dekker are “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq.

 

9

 

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “Information About Intermediate—Legal Proceedings” beginning on page 176, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Market Information and Dividends

 

On February 16, 2023, the Verde Clean Fuels Class A Common Stock and Verde Clean Fuels public warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the new trading symbols of “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively, in lieu of the Class A common stock and warrants of CENAQ. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

Holders of Record

 

Following the completion of the Business Combination, including the redemption of public shares as described above, the consummation of the PIPE Investment, and the separation of the former CENAQ units, the Company had 9,358,620 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding that were held of record by 28 holders, 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding that were held of record by one holder, and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Proposal No. 4—The 2023 Plan Proposal” beginning on page 148 thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference. The 2023 Plan and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder, were approved by CENAQ’s stockholders at the Special Meeting.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under “Introductory Note” above and Item 3.02 below of this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Simultaneous with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, on August 17, 2021, the Company consummated the private placement to Sponsor of 4,500,000 private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, at a price of $1.00 per warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants”), and to CENAQ’s underwriters of 1,500,000 Private Placement Warrants. On August 19, 2021, CENAQ’s underwriters exercised their over-allotment in full and consummated the private placement of an additional 675,000 Private Placement Warrants. Pursuant to the Business Combination each of the outstanding Private Placement Warrants were converted into a warrant to acquire one share of Verde Clean Fuels Class A Common Stock. See the section titled “Description of Securities—Warrants” of the Proxy Statement beginning on page 210 thereof for a description of the Private Placement Warrants following the consummation of the Business Combination. The Private Placement Warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Description of Registrant’s Securities

 

The Class A Common Stock and the Verde Clean Fuels warrants are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Description of Securities” beginning on page 202 thereof and that information is incorporated herein by reference. As described below, the Company’s Fourth A&R Charter and Bylaws (as defined below) became effective as of the Closing.

 

10

 

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers is described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters” beginning on page 200 thereof and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

The information set forth under Item 4.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated herein by reference. The shares of Class A Common Stock offered and sold pursuant to the PIPE Investment and the shares of Class C Common Stock issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders

 

In connection with the Closing, the Company filed its Fourth A&R Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and adopted its amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”). Pursuant to the filing of the Fourth A&R Charter, the Company changed its name to “Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.”

 

Copies of the Fourth A&R Charter and the Bylaws are included as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The material terms of each of the Fourth A&R Charter and the Bylaws and the general effect upon the rights of the Company’s stockholders are included in the Proxy Statement under the sections titled “Proposal No. 2—The Charter Proposal,” and “Description of Securities” beginning on pages 144 and 202 of the Proxy Statement, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

 

(a)Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm

 

On February 15, 2023, the Audit Committee of the Company approved the dismissal of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon completion of Marcum’s audit of CENAQ’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the issuance of their report thereon (the “Auditor Change Effective Date”). The management of the Company communicated the Audit Committee’s decision to Marcum on February 15, 2023.

 

11

 

 

Marcum’s report on CENAQ’s financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and as of December 31, 2020 and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 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 included an explanatory paragraph as to CENAQ’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 and the subsequent period through February 15, 2023, there were no “disagreements” (as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures or audited scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to Marcum’s satisfaction would have caused Marcum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 and the subsequent period through February 15, 2023, there have been no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act), other than the material weakness in internal controls identified by management related to the lack of ability to account for complex financial instruments, including the reevaluation of the classification of the Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemptions, which resulted in the restatement of CENAQ’s audited balance sheet dated August 17, 2021. In addition, as part of such process, CENAQ identified a material weakness in internal control relating to the over-allotment option for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, and a material weakness for improper recording of accrued liabilities during the quarter ended June 30, 2022, which affected the quarter ended March 31, 2022. An amended and restated Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was filed with the SEC on August 26, 2022.

 

The Company has provided Marcum with a copy of the disclosures made by the Company in this Item 4.01 and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the registrant in this Item 4.01 and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A letter from Marcum is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1.

 

(b)Engagement of new independent registered public accounting firm

 

On February 15, 2023, the Board approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon the Auditor Change Effective Date. Deloitte previously served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Intermediate prior to the Business Combination. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from June 24, 2020 (CENAQ’s inception) to December 31, 2020 and the subsequent period through February 15, 2023, neither the Company, nor anyone on the Company’s behalf consulted with Deloitte, on behalf of the Company, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or a “reportable event,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

12

 

 

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of the Registrant.

 

The information set forth above under “Introductory Note” and Item 2.01 of this Report 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 “Directors and Executive Officers,” “Executive Compensation,” “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, Controlled Company Exception and Director Independence” and “Indemnification of Directors and Officers” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Further, in connection with the Business Combination, effective as of the Closing, John B. Connally III resigned from his position as CENAQ’s Chairman, J. Russell Porter resigned from his positions as CENAQ’s Chief Executive Officer and Director, Michael J. Mayell resigned from his position as CENAQ’s Chief Financial Officer and Director, and each of Benjamin Francisco Salinas Sada, Denise DuBard, Michael S. Bahorich and David Bullion resigned from their positions as directors of CENAQ.

 

In addition, the 2023 Plan became effective upon the Closing. The material terms of the plan are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Proposal No. 4—The 2023 Plan Proposal” beginning on page 148 thereof, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

 

The disclosure set forth in Item 3.03 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.06 Change in Shell Company Status

 

As a result of the Business Combination, the Company ceased to be a shell company. Reference is made to the disclosure in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—The Business Combination Agreement” beginning on page 103 thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On February 15, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Business Combination. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The disclosure set forth in Item 2.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

The Company acknowledges that the information required by Item 9.01(a) and (b) referenced below is required to be updated for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Company will update such information through an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K once the annual audits of CENAQ and Intermediate are completed and related unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 is available which the Company expects by March 31, 2023.

 

(a)Financial statements of businesses acquired.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Intermediate as of September 30, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) and the related notes are included in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by CENAQ on December 19, 2022.

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of Intermediate as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (as restated), and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from July 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-14.

 

The unaudited condensed financial statements of CENAQ as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and the related notes are included in Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by CENAQ on November 21, 2022.

 

The audited financial statements of CENAQ as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-50.

 

(b)Pro forma financial information.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Verde Clean Fuels as of September 30, 2022 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021 is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

13

 

 

(d)Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

     
2.1†   Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings, Intermediate and Sponsor (solely with respect to Section 6.18 thereto) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
     
2.2*   Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated February 14, 2023 by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings, Intermediate and Sponsor.
     
3.1*   Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
     
3.2*   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
     
4.1   Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253695 filed by the Registrant on June 21, 2021)).
     
4.2   Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and CENAQ Energy Corp., dated August 17, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 17, 2021).
     
10.1*   Form of Verde Clean Fuels Indemnification Agreement.
     
10.2*   2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
     
10.3   Letter Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2021, by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. and its officers and directors and CENAQ Sponsor, LLC (incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on August 17, 2021).
     
10.4   Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
     
10.5*   Tax Receivable Agreement, dated February 15, 2023, by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and the persons named therein.
     
10.6*   A&R Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 15, 2023, by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and the other persons named therein.
     
10.7*   OpCo A&R LLC Agreement.
     
10.8   Sponsor Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among Intermediate, CENAQ, Holdings, OpCo and Sponsor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
     
10.9*   Amendment No. 1 to the Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2022, by and among Intermediate, CENAQ, Holdings, OpCo and Sponsor.
     
10.10*   Amendment No. 2 to the Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2023, by and among Intermediate, CENAQ, Holdings, OpCo and Sponsor.
     
10.11   Underwriter Letter, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among Intermediate, CENAQ, Holdings and the underwriters (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
     
10.12   Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
     
10.13   Equity Participation Right Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and among CENAQ, OpCo and Cottonmouth (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023).
     
16.1*   Letter from Marcum LLP to the SEC dated February 15, 2023.
     
21.1*   List of subsidiaries.
     
99.1*   Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Intermediate as of September 30, 2022 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021.
     
99.2*   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Intermediate for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
     
99.3*   Press Release dated February 15, 2023.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

*Filed herewith.
Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.

 

14

 

 

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.

 

Date:  February 21, 2023 Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Ernest Miller
  Name:   Ernest Miller
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

 

15

 

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”), dated as of February 14, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) to the Business Combination Agreement (the “BCA”) by and among CENAQ Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of SPAC, Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the BCA.

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the BCA as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 8.04 of the BCA provides that the BCA may be amended by a written instrument executed by all parties thereto.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the undersigned each agree as follows:

 

1. Amendments.

 

(a) Effective as of the Effective Date, the first sentence of Section 2.03(b) of the BCA is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“In the event there is a Company Sale during the Earn Out Period pursuant to which SPAC or its stockholders have the right to receive consideration implying a value per share of SPAC Class A Common Stock (as agreed in good faith by the SPAC Board) that is greater than or equal to the applicable SPAC VWAP price specified in Triggering Event I or Triggering Event II, any Earn Out Equity that has not previously transferred in accordance with Section 2.03(a)(i) or Section 2.03(a)(ii), as applicable, shall be deemed to have been transferred immediately prior to the closing of such Company Sale (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Company Sale, such implied value per share of SPAC Class A Common Stock shall be calculated inclusive of the Earn Out Equity that would meet or exceed Triggering Event 1 and Triggering Event II, as applicable), and Holdings shall be eligible to participate in such Company Sale with respect to the Earn Out Equity deemed transferred pursuant to this Section 2.03(b) on the same terms, and subject to the same conditions, as apply to the holders of SPAC Class A Common Stock generally.”

 

2. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the BCA. The provisions set forth in Sections 8.05 (Waiver), 9.03 (Severability), 9.05 (Parties in Interest), 9.06 (Governing Law), 9.07 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 9.09 (Counterparts), 9.10 (Specific Performance) and 9.11 (No Recourse) of the BCA, as in effect as of the date hereof, are hereby incorporated by reference into, and shall be deemed to apply to, this Amendment, mutatis mutandis.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the Effective Date.

 

  CENAQ Energy Corp.
     
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter
  Name:  J. Russell Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Business Combination Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed

as of the Effective Date:

 

  VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC
     
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter
  Name:  J. Russell Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Business Combination Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed

as of the Effective Date:

 

  BLUESCAPE CLEAN FUELS HOLDINGS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
  Name:  Ernest B. Miller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Business Combination Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed

as of the Effective Date:

 

  BLUESCAPE CLEAN FUELS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
  Name:  Ernest B. Miller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Business Combination Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed

as of the Effective Date:

 

  CENAQ SPONSOR LLC
     
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter
  Name:  J. Russell Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Office

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Business Combination Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
of
CENAQ Energy Corp.
(a Delaware Corporation)

 

CENAQ Energy Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. That the name of this corporation is CENAQ Energy Corp. and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “General Corporation Law”), on June 24, 2020 under the name CENAQ Energy Corp., the first amended and restated certificate of incorporation was filed on January 26, 2021, the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation was filed on June 17, 2021 and the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation was filed on August 5, 2021 (the “Previous Certificate”).

 

2. This Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Previous Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.

 

3. This Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the “Effective Date”).

 

4. The text of the Previous Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Article I
NAME

 

The name of the Corporation is Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.

 

Article II
REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is: The Corporation Trust Company.

 

Article III
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law.

 

Article IV
STOCK

 

Section 4.1 Authorized Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 376,000,000 shares, consisting of: (i) 375,000,000 shares of common stock, divided into (a) 350,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, with the par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (b) 25,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, with the par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock” and, together with Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with the par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 4.2 No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased, in each case by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law, and no vote of the holders of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class will be required therefor. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the number of authorized shares of any particular class may not be decreased below the number of shares of such class then outstanding, plus, in the case of Class A Common Stock, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in connection with (x) the exchange of all outstanding Class C LLC Units (together with the surrender for cancellation of all outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock), pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement, and (y) the exercise of outstanding options, warrants, exchange rights, conversion rights or similar rights for Class A Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

Section 4.3 Common Stock.

 

(a)Voting Rights.

 

(i)Each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, except that, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to Section 4.3(a)(ii), holders of shares of each class of Common Stock, as such, will have no voting power with respect to, and will not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock if the holders of such Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class thereon under this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or under the General Corporation Law.

 

(ii)(1) The holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class A Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class C Common Stock and (2) the holders of the outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class C Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class A Common Stock.

 

(iii)Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock).

 

(b)Dividends; Stock Splits or Combinations.

 

(i)Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference senior to or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, such dividends and other distributions of cash, stock or property may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor, at the times and in the amounts as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) in its discretion may determine.

 

(ii)Except as provided in Section 4.3(b)(iii) with respect to a Stock Adjustment (as defined below), dividends of cash or property may not be declared or paid on shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

(iii)In no event will any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of stock, reclassification or recapitalization be declared or made on any class of Common Stock (each, a “Stock Adjustment”) unless (a) a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other classes of Common Stock not so adjusted at the time outstanding is made in the same proportion and the same manner and (b) the Stock Adjustment has been reflected in the same economically equivalent manner with respect to all Class C LLC Units. Stock dividends with respect to each class of Common Stock may only be paid with shares of stock of the same class of Common Stock.

 

(c)Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock are entitled, if any, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive, pari passu, an amount per share equal to the par value thereof, and thereafter the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class C Common Stock to exchange their shares of Class C LLC Units (together with the surrender for cancellation of a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock) for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the OpCo LLC Agreement, the holders of shares of Class C Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares, any assets of the Corporation in excess of the par value thereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

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Section 4.4 Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series of any number of shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued and not retired of any and all such series shall not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock hereinabove authorized, and with such powers, including voting powers, if any, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as shall hereafter be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the designation and issue of such shares of Preferred Stock from time to time adopted by the Board pursuant to authority so to do which is hereby expressly vested in the Board. The powers, including voting powers, if any, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

 

Section 4.5 Class C Common Stock.

 

(a)Retirement of Class C Common Stock. No holder of Class C Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any Person unless such holder transfers a corresponding number of Class C LLC Units to the same Person in accordance with the provisions governing transfers of Class C LLC Units in the OpCo LLC Agreement. If any outstanding share of Class C Common Stock ceases to be held by a holder of a corresponding Class C LLC Unit, such share shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class C Common Stock be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration and retired.

 

(b)Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of the issuance in connection with the exchange of Class C LLC Units pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon exchange of all outstanding Class C LLC Units, pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement. The Corporation covenants that all the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon the exchange of such Class C LLC Units will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(c)Taxes. The issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise by holders of Class C LLC Units of their right under the OpCo LLC Agreement to exchange Class C LLC Units for shares of Class A Common Stock will be made without charge to such holders for any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties or other similar tax in respect of the issuance; provided, however, that if any such shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that of the then record holder of the Class C LLC Units being exchanged (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of such holder), then such holder and/or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that the tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(d)Preemptive Rights. To the extent Class C LLC Units are issued pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement to anyone other than the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, an equivalent number of shares of Class C Common Stock (subject to adjustment as set forth herein) shall be issued at par to the same Person to whom such Class C LLC Units are issued.

 

Article V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.1 Number of Directors.

 

(a)The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. Unless and except to the extent that the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (as such Bylaws may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”) shall so require, the election of the directors of the Corporation (the “Directors”) need not be by written ballot. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4 of this Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors, the total number of Directors constituting the entire Board shall, (a) as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation, be seven (7) and (b) thereafter, shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board.

 

(b)Until such time that the Corporation is no longer a “Controlled Company” pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(c)(1) (the “Trigger Date”), and subject to the succeeding provisions of this Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(d) of this Article V, the Directors shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Classes I and II shall initially consist of two (2) Directors each and Class III shall initially consist of three (3) Directors.  The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date; the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date; and the initial Class III Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date. Directors elected to replace initial Class I, Class II or Class III Directors shall serve terms expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the year of their election.  If the number of 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, but in no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director.  Prior to the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Trigger Date, the classification of the Board shall terminate, and each Director shall be elected to serve a term of one year, with each Director’s term to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next following the Director’s election.

 

(c)A Director shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Directors need not be stockholders.

 

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(d)During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional Directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4 (“Preferred Stock Directors”), upon the commencement, and for the duration, of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then-total authorized number of Directors shall automatically be increased by such specified number of Preferred Stock Directors, and the holders of the related Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the Preferred Stock Directors pursuant to the provisions of the Board’s designation for the series of Preferred Stock and (ii) each such Preferred Stock Director shall serve until such Preferred Stock Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such Preferred Stock Director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect Preferred Stock Directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such Preferred Stock Directors elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such Preferred Stock Directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total and authorized number of Directors shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 5.2 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law and the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors or any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board, and not by the stockholders. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified or until such Director’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any Director then in office.

 

Section 5.3 Resignations and Removal of Directors.

 

(a)Any Director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon delivery, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or time or an effective date or time determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

(b)Prior to the Trigger Date and subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors, the Board or any individual Director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of Directors, and following the Trigger Date, any Director, or the entire Board, may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon; provided, however, that in each case, whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more Directors pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Directors), with respect to the removal without cause of a Director or Directors so elected, the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole shall apply.

 

Article VI
STOCKHOLDER ACTION

 

Section 6.1 Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected (i) at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or (ii) until the Trigger Date, by the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class, in lieu of a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.2 Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(a)An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board shall determine.

 

(b)Subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Corporation, at the direction of the Board pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of Directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies, or, until the Trigger Date, pursuant to a written resolution adopted by holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class. Any 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.

 

(c)Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of Directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.3 No Cumulative Voting. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Directors.

 

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Article VII
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 7.1 No Personal Liability. No Director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director or officer, as applicable, except to the extent such an exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the General Corporation Law as presently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such Director or officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

Section 7.2 Right to Indemnification.

 

(a)To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such Directors, officers, employees, agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by such applicable law. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Section 9.2 shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights or protections or increase the liability of any Director under this Section 7.2(a) in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification.

 

(b)This Section 7.2 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.

 

(c)The Corporation shall maintain Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage, on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law covering, among other things, violations of federal or state securities laws. The Corporation will pay all premiums due thereon and will not make any material alteration to the terms thereof, or the coverage provided by, such insurance policy without the prior written consent of the Board.

 

Section 7.3 Amendment or Repeal. Any amendment, repeal or elimination of this Article VII, or the adoption of any provision of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation inconsistent with this Article VII, shall not affect its application with respect to an act or omission by a Director or officer occurring before such amendment, adoption, repeal or elimination.

 

Article VIII
AMENDMENT

 

Section 8.1 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to Sections 4.3 and 4.4, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the General Corporation 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 and held subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of Section 5.2, Section 5.3, Section 6.1, Section 6.2, Article VII, Section 8.2, Article IX or Article XI may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision or by-law inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

Section 8.2 Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of Directors. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class.

 

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Article IX
FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

 

Section 9.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any current or former Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, or a claim of aiding and abetting any such breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time), (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time), (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (vi) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the General Corporation Law and (b) 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, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article IX shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

 

Section 9.2 Enforceability. If any provision of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable), and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Article X
SEVERABILITY

 

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 to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

Article XI
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

Section 11.1 Corporate Opportunities.

 

(a)In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain Directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC (“Bluescape”) and its Affiliates may serve as Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation, (ii) Bluescape and its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article XI are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of Bluescape, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its Directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

 

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(b)None of (i) Bluescape or any of its Affiliates or (ii) any Non-Employee Director or his or her Affiliates (the Persons identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 11.1(c) of this Article XI. Subject to Section 11.1(c) of this Article XI, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, Director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.

 

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article XI, the Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Non-Employee Director solely in his or her capacity as a Director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 11.1(b) of this Article XI shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

 

(d)In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article XI, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 11.2 Amendments. Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article XI, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation) inconsistent with this Article XI, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article XI in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption. This Article XI shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any Director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate, the Bylaws or applicable law.

 

Article XII
DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, unless the context otherwise requires or as set forth in another Article or Section of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term:

 

(a)Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, provided that (i) neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries will be deemed an Affiliate of any stockholder of the Corporation or any of such stockholders’ Affiliates unless and during such time that such stockholder holds a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class, and (ii) no stockholder of the Corporation will be deemed an Affiliate of any other stockholder of the Corporation, in each case, solely by reason of any investment in the Corporation (including any representatives of such stockholder serving on the Board).

 

(b)Class C LLC Unit” means a unit of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC designated as a Class C Unit pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

(c)control” (including the terms “controlling” and “controlled”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of such subject Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(d)OpCo” means Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor thereto.

 

(e)OpCo LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC dated as of February 15, 2023, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified, from time to time.

 

(f)Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this 15th day of February, 2023.

 

  By: /s/ J. Russel Porter
  Name:  J. Russel Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)

 

Article I
CORPORATE OFFICES

 

Section 1.1 Registered Office. The registered office of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be fixed in the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

 

Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices, and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as otherwise required by law, at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Corporation may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1 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 come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.2 Special Meeting.

 

(a) Except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, and except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock (each hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”)), special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

 

Section 2.3 Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings.

 

(a) Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), of the meeting, which 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, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting 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.

 

 

 

 

(b) When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are (i) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (ii) displayed, during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxyholders to participate in the meeting by means or remote communication or (iii) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, 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 stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 7.5(a), and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 2.4 Organization.

 

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, by another person designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, a person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep a record of the proceedings thereof.

 

(b) The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders shall vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be announced at the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the authority to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders and the safety of those in attendance as, in the judgment of the chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the conduct of the meeting. Subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting may convene and, for any or no reason, from time to time, adjourn and/or recess any meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2.7. The chairman of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power to declare that a nomination or other business was not properly brought before the meeting if the facts warrant (including if a determination is made, pursuant to Section 2.10(c)(i) of these Bylaws, that a nomination or other business was not made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 2.10 of these Bylaws), and if such chairman should so declare, such nomination shall be disregarded or such other business shall not be transacted.

 

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Section 2.5 List of Stockholders. The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date. Such list shall be arranged in alphabetical order and shall show the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of 10 days ending on the day before the meeting date: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting; or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws, at any meeting of stockholders, a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the stock of such class or series or classes or series outstanding and entitled to vote on that matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such matter. If a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, then the chairman of the meeting, or a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, shall have power to adjourn or recess the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 2.7, until a quorum is present or represented. Subject to applicable law, if a quorum initially is present at any meeting of stockholders, the stockholders may continue to transact business until adjournment or recess, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum, but if a quorum is not present at least initially, no business other than adjournment or recess may be transacted.

 

Section 2.7 Adjourned or Recessed Meeting. Any annual or special meeting of stockholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned or recessed for any or no reason from time to time by the chairman of the meeting, subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.4(b). Any such meeting may be adjourned for any or no reason (and may be recessed if a quorum is not present or represented) from time to time by a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. At any such adjourned or recessed meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

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Section 2.8 Voting.

 

(a) Except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), each holder of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held of record by such holder that has voting power upon the subject matter in question.

 

(b) Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), these Bylaws or any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, at each meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, all corporate actions to be taken by vote of the stockholders shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter, and where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, if a quorum of such class or series or classes or series is present, such act shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.

 

Section 2.9 Proxies. Every stockholder entitled to vote for directors, or on any other matter, shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more persons authorized to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. 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 an executed new proxy bearing a later date.

 

Section 2.10 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

 

(a) Annual Meeting.

 

(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any authorized committee thereof); or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.10(a) is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (C) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose other business at an annual meeting of stockholders (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)).

 

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(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of the foregoing paragraph, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of business other than nominations, such business must be a proper subject for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 30 days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the date on which public announcement (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment or recess of an annual meeting, or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice of the meeting has already been given to stockholders or a public announcement of the meeting date has already been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of the beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: (1) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; and (2) such person’s written consent to serving as a director, if elected, for the full term for which such person is standing for election; provided, however, that, in addition to the information required in the stockholder’s notice pursuant to this ‎Section 2.10(a)(ii)(A), such person shall also provide the Corporation such other information that the Corporation may reasonably request and that is necessary to permit the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such person can be considered an independent director;

 

(B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

 

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(C) as to the stockholder of record giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed:

 

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

 

(2) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by the stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the record date for the meeting; and

 

(3) a representation that the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) intends to appear at the meeting to make such nomination or propose such business; and

 

(D) as to the stockholder of record giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed, as to such beneficial owner, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “control person”):

 

(1) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the meeting;

 

(2) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including, without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting;

 

(3) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class or series of the Corporation’s stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder, beneficial owner or control person with respect to securities of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting; and

 

(4) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will engage in a solicitation with respect to the nomination or other business and, if so, the name of each participant in such solicitation (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) and whether such person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of shares representing at least 50% of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors in the case of a nomination, or holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s stock required to approve or adopt the business to be proposed in the case of other business.

 

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(iii) Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.10(a)(ii) above or Section 2.10(b) below to the contrary, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders is different from the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall set forth a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, or by the opening of business on the date of the meeting (whichever is earlier), of the information required under clauses (ii)(C)(2) and (ii)(D)(1)-(3) of this Section 2.10(a), and such information when provided to the Corporation shall be current as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

(iv) This Section 2.10(a) shall not apply to a proposal proposed to be made by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present the proposal at an annual or special meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such meeting.

 

(v) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.10(a) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors 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 of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice in accordance with Section 2.10(a)(ii) above, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b) Special Meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any authorized committee thereof); (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.10(b) is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who delivers notice thereof in writing setting forth the information required by Section 2.10(a) above; or (iii) in the case of a stockholder-requested special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.2. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders (other than a stockholder-requested special meeting) for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the notice required by this Section 2.10(b) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, recess or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(c) General.

 

(i) Except as otherwise required by law, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10. Except as otherwise required by law, each of the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 (including whether a stockholder or beneficial owner solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(D)(4) of this Section 2.10). If any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with this Section 2.10, then except as otherwise required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such other business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law, or otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder does not provide the information required under clauses (a)(ii)(C)(2) and (a)(ii)(D)(1)-(3) of this Section 2.10 to the Corporation within the time frames specified herein, any such nomination shall be disregarded and any such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law, or otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other business (whether pursuant to the requirements of these Bylaws or in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act), such nomination shall be disregarded and such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. To be considered a qualified representative of a stockholder pursuant to the preceding sentence, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such nomination or proposal at such meeting (and in any event not fewer than five days before the meeting) stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(ii) For purposes of this Section 2.10, the “close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day, and a “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a 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. For purposes of clause (a)(ii)(D)(1) of this Section 2.10, shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both); (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others; and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.

 

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Section 2.11 Action by Written Consent.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or until such time as the Corporation is no longer a “Controlled Company” pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(c)(1), any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of the outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. To be effective, such a consent must be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with Section 228(d) of the DGCL; provided, however, that the Corporation has not designated, and shall not designate, any information processing system for receiving such consents. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.11 within 60 days of the first date on which a consent is so delivered to the Corporation. Any person executing a consent may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that such a consent shall be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made, if evidence of such instruction or provision is provided to the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided, any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

 

(b) Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.11.

 

Section 2.12 Inspectors of Election. Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. Inspectors may be employees of the Corporation. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Inspectors need not be stockholders. No director or nominee for the office of director at an election shall be appointed as an inspector at such election.

 

Such inspectors shall:

 

(a) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity of proxies and ballots;

 

(b) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors;

 

(c) count and tabulate all votes and ballots; and

 

(d) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots.

 

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Section 2.13 Meetings by Remote Communications. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication: (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that: (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder; (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

Section 2.14 Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of such document or information unless the document or information is in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

Article III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1 Powers. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities these Bylaws expressly confer upon it, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

Section 3.2 Number, Term of Office and Election.

 

(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then authorized (hereinafter referred to as the “Whole Board”). The election and term of director shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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(b) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present.

 

(c) Each director shall hold office until the next election of directors and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws, wherein other qualifications for directors may be prescribed.

 

Section 3.3 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to applicable law and the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, 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 in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.4 Resignations and Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

Section 3.5 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, on such date or dates and at such time or times, as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

Section 3.6 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the place, within or without the State of Delaware, date and time of such meetings. Notice of each such meeting shall be given to each director, if by mail, addressed to such director at his or her residence or usual place of business, at least five days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to such director by electronic transmission, or be delivered personally or by telephone, in each case at least 24 hours prior to the time set for such meeting. A notice of special meeting need not state the purpose of such meeting, and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

Section 3.7 Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 3.8 Quorum and Voting. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and the vote of a majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the meeting or a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting to another time and place whether or not a quorum is present. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

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Section 3.9 Board of Directors Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, provided that all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action shall be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

 

Section 3.10 Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of stockholders (unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors) and at meetings of directors and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, another director chosen by the Board of Directors shall preside.

 

Section 3.11 Rules and Regulations. The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws for the conduct of its meetings and management of the affairs of the Corporation as the Board of Directors shall deem proper.

 

Section 3.12 Fees and Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, directors may receive such compensation, if any, for their services on the Board of Directors and its committees, and such reimbursement of expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.13 Emergency Bylaws. This Section 3.13 shall be operative during any emergency condition as contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL (an “Emergency”), notwithstanding any different or conflicting provisions in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL. In the event of any Emergency, the director or directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors thereof shall constitute a quorum. Such director or directors in attendance may further take action to appoint one or more of themselves or other directors to membership on any standing or temporary committees of the Board of Directors as they shall deem necessary and appropriate. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, during any Emergency, the Corporation and its directors and officers, may exercise any authority and take any action or measure contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL.

 

Article IV
COMMITTEES

 

Section 4.1 Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4.2 Meetings and Action of Committees. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise by resolution, any committee of the Board of Directors may adopt, alter and repeal such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws for the conduct of its meetings as such committee may deem proper. A majority of the directors then serving on a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, and except as otherwise provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that in no case shall a quorum be less than one-third of the directors then serving on the committee. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or a resolution of the Board of Directors requires a greater number, the vote of a majority of the members of a committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

 

Article V
OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1 Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these Bylaws or as determined by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and until such person’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such person’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person; provided, however, that no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

 

Section 5.2 Compensation. The salaries of the officers of the Corporation and the manner and time of the payment of such salaries shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized officer and may be altered by the Board of Directors from time to time as it deems appropriate, subject to the rights, if any, of such officers under any contract of employment.

 

Section 5.3 Removal, Resignation and Vacancies. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized officer, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party. Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

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Section 5.4 Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his or her office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.5 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy, and shall report directly to the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws or determined by the Board of Directors, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, if present and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, preside at meetings of the stockholders.

 

Section 5.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine.

 

Section 5.7 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all monies and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer may from time to time determine.

 

Section 5.8 Secretary. The powers and duties of the Secretary are: (i) to act as Secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, of the committees of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (ii) to see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (iii) to act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of stock of the Corporation and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (iv) to have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (v) to perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine.

 

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Section 5.9 Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.10 Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.11 Contracts and Other Documents. The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the Secretary, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors or any other committee given specific authority in the premises by the Board of Directors during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

 

Section 5.12 Ownership of Equity Interests or other Securities of Another Entity. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.13 Delegation. The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.

 

Article VI
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Section 6.1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any 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 an 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, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, 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, agent or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 6.4 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such 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 of Directors.


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Section 6.2 Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 6.1, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in appearing at, participating in or defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VI (which shall be governed by Section 6.4) (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, 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 solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 or otherwise.

 

Section 6.3 Indemnification for Successful Defense. To the extent that an indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding (or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein), such indemnitee shall be indemnified under this Section 6.3 against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such defense. Indemnification under this Section 6.3 shall not be subject to satisfaction of a standard of conduct, and the Corporation may not assert the failure to satisfy a standard of conduct as a basis to deny indemnification or recover amounts advanced, including in a suit brought pursuant to Section 6.4 (notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein); provided, however, that, any indemnitee who is not a current or former director or officer (as such term is defined in the final sentence of Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) shall be entitled to indemnification under Section 6.1 and this Section 6.3 only if such indemnitee has satisfied the standard of conduct required for indemnification under Section 145(a) or Section 145(b) of the DGCL.

 

Section 6.4 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within (i) sixty (60) days after a written claim for indemnification has been received by the Corporation or (ii) twenty (20) days after a claim for an advancement of expenses has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or to obtain advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnitee is 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 be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) 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 adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by 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 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, 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 brought 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 VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

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Section 6.5 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, provisions of a certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or otherwise.

 

Section 6.6 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and 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.

 

Section 6.7 Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, and to the extent authorized from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.8 Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VI shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VI that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

Section 6.9 Settlement of Claims. Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify any indemnitee under this Article VI for any amounts paid in settlement of any proceeding effected without the Corporation’s written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 6.10 Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Article VI, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee (excluding insurance obtained on the indemnitee’s own behalf), and the indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

Section 6.11 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article VI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not by themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article VI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent of the parties that the Corporation provide protection to the indemnitee to the fullest extent set forth in this Article VI.

 

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Article VII
CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 7.1 Certificates of Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 7.2 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation upon authorization by the registered holder thereof or by such holder’s attorney thereunto authorized by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or a transfer agent for such stock, and if such shares are represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power and the payment of any taxes thereon; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer.

 

Section 7.3 Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new share certificate or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond (or other adequate security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it (including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares. The Board of Directors may adopt such other provisions and restrictions with reference to lost certificates, not inconsistent with applicable law, as it shall in its discretion deem appropriate.

 

Section 7.4 Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 7.5 Record Date for Determining Stockholders.

 

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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 adjourned meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the 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.

 

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(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 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 of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c) Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken was delivered to the Corporation in accordance with Section 2.11. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 7.6 Regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.7 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or 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 or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

Article VIII
GENERAL MATTERS

 

Section 8.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December of the same year, or shall extend for such other 12 consecutive months as the Board of Directors may designate.

 

Section 8.2 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Corporation. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 

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Section 8.3 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.4 Subject to Law and Certificate of Incorporation. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in these Bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are qualified by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and applicable law.

 

Section 8.5 Electronic Signatures, etc. Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including as otherwise required by any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws (including, without limitation, as otherwise required by Section 2.14), any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The terms “electronic mail,” “electronic mail address,” “electronic signature” and “electronic transmission” as used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

 

Article IX
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 9.1 Amendments. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation (including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation that provides for a greater or lesser vote) or these Bylaws, and in addition to any other vote required by law, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of these Bylaws.

 

The foregoing Bylaws were adopted by the Board of Directors on February 15, 2023.

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of February ___, 2023 by and between Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (formerly known as CENAQ Energy Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual identified as the Indemnitee on the signature page hereto.

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, (i) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended and/or restated, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company (ii) Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) and (iii) the 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, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended and/or restated, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, (i) Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, (ii) Indemnitee may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company without adequate protection, (iii) the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity, and (iv) Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service 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 and the Indemnitee’s agreement to provide services to the Company, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions.  

 

(a)As used in this Agreement:

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person shall mean any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such specified Person.

 

Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, partner, general partner, manager, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary of (i) the Company or (ii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

 

 

 

Delaware Court” shall mean the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware.

 

Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

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, non-profit entity or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, general partner, manager, managing member, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Expenses” shall mean all reasonable costs, expenses, fees and charges of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, 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 or expenses incurred 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, 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, without limitation, (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from, incurred by Indemnitee in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to, any Proceeding, 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, (ii) for purposes of Section 12(d) hereof only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and (iv) any interest, assessments or other charges in respect of the foregoing. “Expenses” shall not include “Liabilities.”

 

Indemnifiable Event” means any event or occurrence, whether occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any Enterprise or by reason of an action or inaction by Indemnitee in any such capacity (whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement).

 

Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm of national reputation in the United States, or a partner or member of such a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) 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 giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that 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 Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

Liabilities” shall mean all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, orders, fines, penalties and other amounts payable in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to any Proceeding, including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement in any Proceeding and all costs and expenses in complying with any judgment, order or decree issued or entered in connection with any Proceeding or any settlement agreement, stipulation or consent decree entered into or issued in settlement of any Proceeding.

 

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Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, governmental agency or body or any other legal entity.

 

Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, formal or informal hearing, inquiry or investigation, litigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed judicial, administrative or arbitration proceeding (including, without limitation, any such proceeding under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act or any other federal law, state law, statute or regulation), whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in each case, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be, or is threatened to be, involved as a party, potential party, witness (including as a 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 actual or alleged action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as 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 a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or 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 can be provided under this Agreement.

 

Sponsor Entities” means Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC and any of its respective Affiliates; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be considered Sponsor Entities hereunder.

 

(b)For the purpose hereof, references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in the best interests 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 Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 2. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section 3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 3. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities actually suffered and Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, or any claim, issue or matter therein. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought 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. However, in the event that Indemnitee is ultimately determined not to be entitled to such indemnification or insurance recovery, as the case may be, then all amounts advanced under this Section 3 shall be repaid. Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse the Company in the event that a final judicial determination is made that such action brought by Indemnitee was frivolous or not made in good faith.

 

Section 4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, and without limiting the rights of Indemnitee under any other provision hereof, including any rights to indemnification pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to the extent that Indemnitee 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 indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 4 and without limitation, the termination of any Proceeding or 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.

 

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Section 5. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise a participant, including by a request to respond to discovery requests, receipt of a subpoena or similar demand for documents or testimony, in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party and is not threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (or, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 6. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 2, 3 or 4 hereof, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding. For purposes of this Section 6, “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(a)the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL; and

 

(b)the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 7. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (c), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

 

(a)for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy obtained by the Company, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, any other indemnity provisions or otherwise of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Company hereunder, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under such insurance policy or such other indemnity provision;

 

(b)for disgorgement of profits arising from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)except as provided in Section 12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee or, if Indemnitee was nominated or designated to the Board by one of more of the Sponsor Entities, such Sponsor Entity, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees and not by way of defense, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee);

 

(d)if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter that is not subject to appeal shall determine that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law or otherwise not lawful; for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending claim related to an Indemnifiable Event effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; or

 

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(e)for Indemnitee’s reimbursement to the Company of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation previously received by Indemnitee or payment of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with an accounting restatement of the Company or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).

 

Section 8. Advancement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with (i) any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) arising out of an Indemnifiable Event not initiated by Indemnitee or, if Indemnitee was nominated or designated to the Board by one of more of the Sponsor Entities, such Sponsor Entity, or (ii) any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) arising out of an Indemnifiable Event initiated by Indemnitee or, if Indemnitee was nominated or designated to the Board by one of more of the Sponsor Entities, such Sponsor Entity, with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 7(c). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding, the Company shall, in accordance with such request, (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay any amounts paid, advanced or reimbursed by the Company for such Expenses to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section 8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 12(d) of this Agreement. This Section 8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections 7(a) or (c) hereof.

 

Section 9. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.  

 

(a)Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “Submission Date”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any Liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement unless such failure materially prejudices the Company, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Proceeding relating to an Indemnifiable Event at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any Expenses subsequently directly incurred by Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of such Proceeding other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own legal counsel in such Proceeding, but all Expenses related to such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be at Indemnitee’s own expense; provided, however, that if (i) Indemnitee’s employment of its own legal counsel has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee has reasonably determined that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the defense of such Proceeding, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain its own separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any such Proceeding) and all Expenses related to such separate counsel shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

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Section 10. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.  

 

(a)In order to obtain indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including in such request such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Indemnification shall be made insofar as the Company determines Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification in accordance with this Agreement. Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company entitled to vote; and, 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 cooperate with the Person or Persons making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such Person or Persons 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 Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Person or Persons making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section 10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(b)In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the Person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

 

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12(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).

 

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Section 11. Presumptions, Defenses and Effect of Certain Proceedings.  

 

(a)Indemnitee’s Entitlement to Indemnification. In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Person or Persons making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption and establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its 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 its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to any legal proceedings brought by Indemnitee to secure indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)Subject to Section 12(e) hereof, if the Person or Persons empowered or selected under Section 10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(c)No Other Presumptions. The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) 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 Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information, opinions, reports or statements supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, managers, officers or employees of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member. The provisions of this Section 11(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e)Actions of Others. The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent, employee, or other representative of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 12. Remedies of Indemnitee.  

 

(a)Subject to Section 12(d) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section 10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections 2, 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s 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. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 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. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement, as the case may be.

 

(c)If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(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 12, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 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. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

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(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein; provided that, in absence of any such determination with respect to such Proceeding, the Company shall advance Expenses with respect to such Proceeding.

 

Section 13. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.  

 

(a)The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement 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 Certificate of Incorporation, 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 action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. The Company shall not adopt any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law relative to such rights prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement than would be afforded currently under 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 as of the effective date of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. 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.

 

(b)The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity). The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii) the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity). Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

 

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(c)The Company shall maintain an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance providing reasonable and customary coverage as compared with similarly situated companies (as determined by the Board in its discretion) for directors, officers, employees, trustees, or agents of any Enterprise, and 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, employee, trustee or agent under such policy or policies and such policies shall provide for and recognize that the insurance policies are primary to any rights to indemnification, advancement or insurance proceeds to which Indemnitee may be entitled from one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) to the same extent as the Company’s indemnification and advancement obligations set forth in this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement 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 shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, including rights of indemnification provided to Indemnitee from any other person or entity with whom Indemnitee may be associated; provided, however, that the Company shall not be subrogated to the extent of any such payment of all rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity). Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(e)The indemnification and contribution provided for in this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Indemnitee.

 

Section 14. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise and (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement relating thereto.

 

Section 15. Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor (and any direct or indirect parent of 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.

 

Section 16. Services to the Company; Not Employment Contract. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is no longer serving in such capacity. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with or service to the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

 

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Section 17. 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 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 applicable 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 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.

 

Section 18. Enforcement.  

 

(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 or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Enterprise, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Enterprise.

 

(b)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; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver thereof.

 

Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(i)If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(ii)If to the Company to:

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
600 Travis Street, Suite 5050

Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Board of Directors

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Notice of change of address shall be effective only when given in accordance with this Section 20.

 

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Section 21. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Liabilities or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and transaction(s).

 

Section 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 12(a) of this Agreement, 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) consent to service of process at the address set forth in Section 20 of this Agreement with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (d) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (e) 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.

 

Section 23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, 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.

 

Section 24. Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Sponsor Entities are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and shall have all of the rights afforded to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 25. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. 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.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.   INDEMNITEE
     
By:       By:        
Name:      Name:  
Title:     Title:  
    Address:  

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.

____________________________________

 

2023 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

____________________________________

 

Article I
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) is to promote the success of the Company’s business for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Individuals cash and stock-based incentives in order to attract, retain, and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders. This Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XIV.

 

Article II
DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

2.1 “Affiliate means a corporation or other entity controlled by, controlling, or under common control with the Company. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

2.2 “Applicable Lawmeans the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related shares under U.S. state corporate law, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares are listed or quoted, and any other applicable laws, including tax laws, of any U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdictions where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan.

 

2.3 “Award means any award under this Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award, or Cash Award. All Awards shall be evidenced by and subject to the terms of an Award Agreement.

 

2.4 “Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement, contract, certificate, or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

2.5 “Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.6 “Cash Award means an Award granted to an Eligible Individual pursuant to Section 9.3 of this Plan and payable in cash at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

 

 

 

2.7 “Causemeans, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Service, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such agreement in effect but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), the Participant’s (i) commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the person to whom the Participant reports; (iii) conduct that brings or is reasonably likely to bring the Company or an Affiliate negative publicity or into public disgrace, embarrassment, or disrepute; (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (v) material violation of the Company’s policies or codes of conduct, including policies related to discrimination, harassment, performance of illegal or unethical activities, or ethical misconduct; or (vi) any breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, or confidentiality covenant between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), “cause” as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “cause” only applies on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply until a change in control (as defined in such agreement) actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.

 

2.8 “Change in Control means and includes each of the following, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Committee:

 

(a) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding for purposes herein, acquisitions pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) that does not constitute a Change in Control as defined in Section 2.8b);

 

(b) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation of the Company or in which equity securities of the Company are issued (each, a “Business Combination”), other than a merger, reorganization or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its direct or indirect parent) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity (or, as applicable, a direct or indirect parent of the Company or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger, reorganization or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger, reorganization or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person (other than those covered by the exceptions in Section 2.8(a)) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control;

 

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(c) during the period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2.8(a) or (b) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two (2) year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(d) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a Person or Persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.8, acquisitions of securities of the Company by Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC or any member thereof, any of their respective affiliates, or any investment vehicle or fund controlled by or managed by, or otherwise affiliated with Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC or any member thereof shall not constitute a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under this Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.9 “Change in Control Price means the highest price per Share paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

2.10 “Codemeans the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any guidance and treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

2.11 “Committee means any committee of the Board duly authorized by the Board to administer this Plan; provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board who are each (a) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b), and (b) “independent” under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Common Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules. If no committee is duly authorized by the Board to administer this Plan, the term “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board for all purposes under this Plan. The Board may abolish any Committee or re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority from time to time, and will retain the right to exercise the authority of the Committee to the extent consistent with Applicable Law.

 

2.12 “Common Stock means the Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

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2.13 “Company means Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

 

2.14 “Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

2.15 “Disability means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Service, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, provided, however, for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined by the Committee, and the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan in which a Participant participates that is maintained by the Company or any Affiliate.

 

2.16 “Dividend Equivalent Rights means a right granted to a Participant under this Plan to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares.

 

2.17 “Effective Date means the effective date of this Plan as defined in Article XIV.

 

2.18 “Eligible Employee means each employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. An employee on a leave of absence may be an Eligible Employee.

 

2.19 “Eligible Individual means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Consultant who is designated by the Committee in its discretion as eligible to receive Awards subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

2.20 “Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

 

2.21 “Fair Market Value means, for purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (a) as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded, listed, or otherwise reported or quoted, the Committee shall determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate, taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if not a date on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open.

 

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2.22 “Family Member means “family member” as defined in Section A.1.(a)(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8.

 

2.23 “Incentive Stock Option means any Stock Option granted to an Eligible Employee who is an employee of the Company, its Parents, or its Subsidiaries under this Plan and that is intended to be, and is designated as, an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.24 “Non-Employee Director means a director on the Board who is not an employee of the Company.

 

2.25 “Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option granted under this Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.26 “Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted under Article IX of this Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Shares, but may be settled in the form of Shares or cash.

 

2.27 “Parent means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

2.28 “Participantmeans an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to this Plan.

 

2.29 “Performance Award means an Award granted under Article VIII of this Plan contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.

 

2.30 “Performance Goals means goals established by the Committee as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable.

 

2.31 “Performance Period means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.

 

2.32 “Person means any “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.33 “Restricted Stock means an Award of Shares granted under Article VII of this Plan.

 

2.34 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Committee to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

 

2.35 “Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.

 

2.36 “Section 409A of the Code means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.

 

2.37 “Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

 

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2.38 “Shares means shares of Common Stock.

 

2.39 “Stock Appreciation Right means a stock appreciation right granted under Article VI of this Plan.

 

2.40 “Stock Option or Option means any option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Article VI of this Plan.

 

2.41 “Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

2.42 “Ten Percent Stockholdermeans a Person owning stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Parent, or its Subsidiaries.

 

2.43 “Termination of Servicemeans the termination of the applicable Participant’s employment with, or performance of services for, the Company and its Affiliates. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (a) if a Participant’s employment or services with the Company and its Affiliates terminates but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be deemed a Termination of Service with the Company and its Affiliates and (b) a Participant employed by, or performing services for an Affiliate that ceases to be an Affiliate shall also be deemed to have incurred a Termination of Service provided the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee of the Company or another Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, with respect to any Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a Participant shall not be considered to have experienced a “Termination of Service” unless the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Article III
ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1 Authority of the Committee. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of this Plan and Applicable Law, the Committee shall have full authority to grant Awards to Eligible Individuals under this Plan. In particular, the Committee shall have the authority to:

 

(a) determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Individuals;

 

(b) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(c) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the Shares, if any, relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);

 

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(d) determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(e) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances grants of Options and other Awards under this Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of this Plan;

 

(f) determine whether and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash, Shares, other property, or a combination of the foregoing;

 

(g) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances, cash, Shares, or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant;

 

(h) modify, waive, amend, or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award, at any time or from time to time, including but not limited to Performance Goals;

 

(i) determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;

 

(j) determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award or Shares; and

 

(k) modify, extend, or renew an Award, subject to Article XI and Section 6.8(g) of this Plan.

 

3.2 Guidelines. Subject to Article XI of this Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter, and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines, and practices governing this Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Award issued under this Plan (and any agreements or sub-plans relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of this Plan. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of this Plan. The Committee may adopt special rules, sub-plans, guidelines, and provisions for persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to satisfy or accommodate applicable foreign laws or to qualify for preferred tax treatment of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions.

 

3.3 Decisions Final. Any decision, interpretation, or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board, or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with this Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding, and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns.

 

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3.4 Designation of Consultants/Liability; Delegation of Authority.

 

(a) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants, and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of this Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant, or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Committee, its members, and any person designated pursuant to the first sentence of this sub-section (a) or any person to whom authority is delegated pursuant to sub-section (b) below shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award granted under it.

 

(b) The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under this Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided, that such delegation does not (i) violate Applicable Law, or (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company. Upon any such delegation, all references in this Plan to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee. Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards; provided, however, that such subcommittee members and any such officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may also appoint employees or professional advisors who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering this Plan, provided, however, that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Shares.

 

3.5 Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such person, each current and former officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates and member or former member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of this Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officer’s, employee’s, member’s, or former member’s own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification that the current or former employee, officer, or member may have under Applicable Law or under the by-laws of the Company or any of its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to such individual under this Plan.

 

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Article IV
SHARE LIMITATION

 

4.1 Shares. The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under this Plan shall not exceed 4,727,112 Shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to this Article IV), which may be either authorized and unissued Shares or Shares held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both. The number of Shares that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under this Plan shall be subject to an annual increase on January 1 of each calendar year beginning in 2023 and ending and including 2033, equal to the lesser of (a) 4% of the aggregate number of Shares outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year and (b) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board. The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or used with respect to any Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed 4,727,112 Shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.3). Any Award under this Plan settled in cash shall not be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Shares subject to an Award under this Plan shall again be made available for issuance or delivery under this Plan if such Shares are (i) Shares tendered in payment of an Option, (ii) Shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, (iii) Shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award, or (iv) Shares subject to an Award that expires or is canceled, forfeited, or terminated without issuance of the full number of Shares to which the Award related.

 

4.2 Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or the Company’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Committee may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate (“Substitute Awards”). Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Committee deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in this Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Shares authorized for grant under this Plan (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under this Plan as provided under Section 4.1 above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under this Plan, as set forth in Section 4.1 above. Additionally, in the event that a Person acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grants pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under this Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under this Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under this Plan as provided under Section 4.1 above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Eligible Employees or Non-Employee Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

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4.3 Adjustments.

 

(a) The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization, or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, or preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Shares, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate, or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 10.1:

 

(i) If the Company at any time subdivides (by any split, recapitalization, or otherwise) the outstanding Shares into a greater number of Shares, or combines (by reverse split, combination, or otherwise) its outstanding Shares into a lesser number of Shares, then the respective exercise prices for outstanding Awards that provide for a Participant-elected exercise and the number of Shares covered by outstanding Awards shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under this Plan; provided, that the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine whether an adjustment is appropriate.

 

(ii) Excepting transactions covered by Section 4.3(b)(i), if the Company effects any merger, consolidation, statutory exchange, spin-off, reorganization or other change in corporate structure, sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event in such a manner that the Company’s outstanding Shares are converted into the right to receive (or the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive in exchange therefor), either immediately or upon liquidation of the Company, securities or other property of the Company or other entity, then, subject to the provisions of Section 10.1, (A) the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under this Plan, (B) the number or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan (including as a result of the assumption of this Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), or (C) the exercise or purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under this Plan.

 

(iii) If there shall occur any change in the capital structure of the Company other than those covered by Section 4.3(b)(i) or 4.3(b)(ii), any conversion, any adjustment, or any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of equity securities of the Company, then the Committee shall adjust any Award and make such other adjustments to this Plan to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under this Plan.

 

(iv) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the Share price, including any securities offering or other similar transaction, for administrative convenience, the Committee may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award for up to sixty (60) days before or after such transaction.

 

(v) The Committee may adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any Awards to reflect any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion, and analysis, or other Company public filing.

 

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(vi) Any such adjustment determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) shall be final, binding, and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.3(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.3 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no additional rights under this Plan by reason of any transaction or event described in this Section 4.3.

 

4.4 Annual Limit on Non-Employee Director Compensation. In each calendar year during any part of which this Plan is in effect, a Non-Employee Director may not receive Awards for such individual’s service on the Board that, taken together with any cash fees paid to such Non-Employee Director during such calendar year for such individual’s service on the Board, have a value in excess of $750,000 (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes); provided, that the Committee may make exceptions to this limit, except that the Non-Employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous decisions involving Non-Employee Directors; provided, further, that the limit set forth in this Section 4.4 shall be applied without regard to Awards or other compensation, if any, provided to a Non-Employee Director during any period in which such individual was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate or was otherwise providing services to the Company or to any Affiliate other than in the capacity as a Non-Employee Director.

 

Article V
ELIGIBILITY

 

5.1 General Eligibility. All current and prospective Eligible Individuals are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in this Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. No Eligible Individual will automatically be granted any Award under this Plan.

 

5.2 Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees who are employees of the Company, its Parents, or its Subsidiaries are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under this Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in this Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

5.3 General Requirement. The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Eligible Individual are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant, or Non-Employee Director, as applicable.

 

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Article VI
STOCK OPTIONS; STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

6.1 General. Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan. Each Stock Option granted under this Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations in this Plan, including any limitations applicable to Incentive Stock Options.

 

6.2 Grants. The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Individual one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, and/or Stock Appreciation Rights; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to an Eligible Employee who is an employee of the Company, its Parents or its Subsidiaries. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

6.3 Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value at the time of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per Share for such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, that, such exercise price is determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

6.4 Term. The term of each Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, five (5) years) after the date on which the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted.

 

6.5 Exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.5, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right within the permitted time periods is prohibited because such exercise would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other Applicable Law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, the Company’s insider trading policy (including any blackout periods) or a “lock-up” agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of securities by the Company, then the expiration of such Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be extended until the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right would be in violation of such registration requirement or other Applicable Law or rules, blackout period or lock-up agreement, as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall any such extension result in any Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right remaining exercisable after the ten (10)-year term of the applicable Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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6.6 Method of Exercise. Subject to any applicable waiting period or exercisability provisions under Section 6.5, to the extent vested, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term of the applicable Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, by giving written notice of exercise (which may be electronic) to the Company specifying the number of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, as applicable, being exercised. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price (which shall equal the product of such number of Shares to be purchased multiplied by the applicable exercise price). The exercise price for the Stock Options may be paid upon such terms and conditions as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may establish payment terms for the exercise of Stock Options pursuant to which the Company may withhold a number of Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Participant in connection with the exercise of the Stock Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, or that permit the Participant to deliver cash or Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price on the date of payment, or through a simultaneous sale through a broker of Shares acquired on exercise, all as permitted by Applicable Law. No Shares shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Shares (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share on the date that the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share on the date that the right was awarded to the Participant.

 

6.7 Non-Transferability. No Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not transferable pursuant to this Section 6.7 is transferable to a Family Member of the Participant in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) remains subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.8 Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement and this Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason, Stock Appreciation Rights may remain exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service as follows:

 

(a) Termination by Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; provided, however, that, in the event of a Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

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(b) Involuntary Termination Without Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(c) Voluntary Resignation. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.8(d) hereof), all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(d) Termination for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination of Service (as provided in Section 6.8(c)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination of Service for Cause, all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon immediately terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination of Service.

 

(e) Unvested Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not vested as of the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination of Service.

 

(f) Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under this Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Parent, or any Subsidiary at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three (3) months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by Applicable Law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of this Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend this Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

(g) Modification, Extension, and Renewal of Stock Options. The Committee may (i) modify, extend, or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under this Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participant’s consent and provided, further that such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Article IV), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

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6.9 Automatic Exercise. The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right on the date of expiration of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, subject to Section 13.4.

 

6.10 Other Terms and Conditions. As the Committee shall deem appropriate, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be subject to additional terms and conditions or other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Plan.

 

Article VII
RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

7.1 Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan. The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall be made, the number of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 7.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee shall determine and set forth in the Award Agreement the terms and conditions for each Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this Plan, including any vesting or forfeiture conditions.

 

The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or such other factor as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

 

7.2 Awards and Certificates. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

(a) Restricted Stock.

 

(i) Purchase Price. The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee. The purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.

 

(ii) Legend. Each Participant receiving Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the Company’s transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by Applicable Law, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

 

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(iii) Custody. If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the shares subject to the Award of Restricted Stock in the event that such Award is forfeited in whole or part.

 

(iv) Rights as a Stockholder. Except as provided in Section 7.3(a) and this Section 7.2a) or as otherwise determined by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, the right to vote such shares, and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares; provided that the Award Agreement shall specify on what terms and conditions the applicable Participant shall be entitled to dividends payable on the Shares.

 

(v) Lapse of Restrictions. If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such Shares shall be delivered to the Participant. All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by Applicable Law or other limitations imposed by the Committee.

 

(b) Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i) Settlement. The Committee may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practical after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii) Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units.

 

(iii) Dividend Equivalent Rights. If the Committee so provides, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalent Rights. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares, and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the Dividend Equivalent Rights are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

7.3 Restrictions and Conditions.

 

(a) Restriction Period.

 

(i) The Participant shall not be permitted to transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan or vest in Restricted Stock Units during the period or periods set by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 7.3(a)(i), and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, the Committee may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

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(ii) If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or the lapse of restrictions or vesting schedule is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in the applicable Award Agreement prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Committee and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions), and other similar types of events or circumstances.

 

(b) Termination. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.

 

Article VIII
PERFORMANCE AWARDS

 

The Committee may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan. The Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award. The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of Performance Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Article IX
OTHER STOCK-BASED AND CASH AWARDS

 

9.1 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant to Eligible Individuals Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares, including but not limited to, Shares awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, Shares in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company, stock equivalent units, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Shares. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under this Plan.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also provide for the grant of Shares under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period. The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion.

 

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9.2 Terms and Conditions. Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article IX shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

(a) Non-Transferability. Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and this Plan, Shares subject to Other Stock-Based Awards may not be transferred prior to the date on which the Shares are issued or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance, or deferral period lapses.

 

(b) Dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of an Other Stock-Based Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and this Plan, the recipient of an Other Stock-Based Award shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or Dividend Equivalent Rights in respect of the number of Shares covered by the Other Stock-Based Award.

 

(c) Vesting. Any Other Stock-Based Award and any Shares covered by any such Other Stock-Based Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

(d) Price. Shares under this Article IX may be issued for no cash consideration. Shares purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded pursuant to an Other Stock-Based Award shall be priced as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

9.3 Cash Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant Cash Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by Applicable Law, as it shall determine in its sole discretion. Cash Awards may be granted subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions or may be awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, and if subject to vesting conditions, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of such Awards at any time in its sole discretion. The grant of a Cash Award shall not require a segregation of any of the Company’s assets for satisfaction of the Company’s payment obligation thereunder.

 

Article X
CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

10.1 Benefits. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, and except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or any applicable employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant, a Participant’s unvested Awards shall not vest automatically, and a Participant’s Awards shall be treated in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:

 

(a) Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, be assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution as other Shares on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1 (and any amendment thereto).

 

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(b) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price of the Shares covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards; provided, however, that if the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration.

 

(c) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant-elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participant’s Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control, and, provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions of an Award at any time.

 

Article XI
TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Board or the Committee may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any Applicable Law), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension, or termination may not be materially impaired without the consent of such Participant and, provided, further, that without the approval of the holders of the Shares entitled to vote in accordance with Applicable Law, no amendment may be made that would (i) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under this Plan (except by operation of Section 4.1); (ii) change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under this Plan; (iii) reduce the exercise price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (iv) grant any new Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, or other award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has the effect of reducing the exercise price thereof; (v) exchange any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right for Common Stock, cash, or other consideration when the exercise price per Share under such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share; or (vi) take any action that would be considered a “repricing” of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the applicable listing standards of the national exchange on which the Common Stock is listed (if any). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board or the Committee may amend this Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participant’s consent to comply with Applicable Law, including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall materially impair the rights of any Participant without the Participant’s consent.

 

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Article XII
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN

 

This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which is not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

Article XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

13.1 Lock-Up; Legend. The Committee may require each person receiving Shares pursuant to a Stock Option or other Award under this Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. The Company may, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Participants from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any Shares or other Company securities during any period determined by the underwriter or the Company. In addition to any legend required by this Plan, the certificates for such Shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for Shares delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders, and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national securities exchange system upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, and any Applicable Law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. If the Shares are held in book-entry form, then the book-entry will indicate any restrictions on such Shares.

 

13.2 Other Plans. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

13.3 No Right to Employment/Directorship/Consultancy. Neither this Plan nor the grant of any Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director any right with respect to continuance of employment, consultancy, or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate such employment, consultancy, or directorship at any time.

 

13.4 Withholding of Taxes. A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any income tax, social insurance contribution, or other applicable taxes that are required to be withheld in respect of an Award. The Committee may (but is not obligated to), in its sole discretion, permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the applicable taxes that are required to be withheld with respect to an Award by (a) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) that have been both held by the Participant and vested for at least six (6) months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment under applicable accounting standards) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability (or portion thereof); (b) having the Company withhold from the Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting, or settlement of the Award, as applicable, a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such withholding liability; or (c) by any other means specified in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee.

 

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13.5 Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards, or other securities or property shall be used or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited, or otherwise eliminated.

 

13.6 No Assignment of Benefits. No Award or other benefit payable under this Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Plan or under Applicable Law or permitted by the Committee, be transferable in any manner, and any attempt to transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.

 

13.7 Clawbacks.

 

(a) Clawbacks. All awards, amounts, or benefits received or outstanding under this Plan will be subject to clawback, cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback, reduction, or other similar action in accordance with any Company clawback or similar policy or any Applicable Law related to such actions. A Participant’s acceptance of an Award will constitute the Participant’s acknowledgement of and consent to the Company’s application, implementation, and enforcement of any applicable Company clawback or similar policy that may apply to the Participant, whether adopted before or after the Effective Date, and any Applicable Law relating to clawback, cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback, or reduction of compensation, and the Participant’s agreement that the Company may take any actions that may be necessary to effectuate any such policy or Applicable Law, without further consideration or action.

 

13.8 Listing and Other Conditions.

 

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of Shares pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such Shares being listed on such exchange or system. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such Shares unless and until such Shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such Shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

 

(b) If at any time counsel to the Company advises the Company that any sale or delivery of Shares pursuant to an Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under Applicable Law, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to Shares or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, based on the advice of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.

 

(c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 13.8, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all Shares available before such suspension and as to Shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.

 

(d) A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with certificates, representations, and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent, or approval that the Company deems necessary or appropriate.

 

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13.9 Governing Law. This Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Common Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Common Stock.

 

13.10 Construction. Wherever any words are used in this Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.

 

13.11 Other Benefits. No Award granted or paid out under this Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates or affect any benefit or compensation under any other plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.

 

13.12 Costs. The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering this Plan, including expenses of issuing Shares pursuant to Awards hereunder.

 

13.13 No Right to Same Benefits. The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.

 

13.14 Death/Disability. The Committee may, in its discretion, require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Committee may also require the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

13.15 Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. It is the intent of the Company that this Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of this Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 13.15, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

 

13.16 Deferral of Awards. The Committee may establish one or more programs under this Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares, or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules, and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

 

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13.17 Section 409A of the Code. This Plan and Awards are intended to comply with or be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed, and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary, or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in this Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and, to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith or be exempt therefrom, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under this Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under this Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employee’s separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, until the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.

 

13.18 Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 13.18 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates, for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Data”). In addition to transferring the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, the Company and its Affiliates may each transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. Recipients of the Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of Common Stock. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in this Plan, and in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

 

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13.19 Successor and Assigns. This Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator, or trustee of such estate.

 

13.20 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

 

13.21 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of this Plan.

 

13.22 Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Affiliate from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary, or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Affiliate as a result of any such action.

 

13.23 Facility of Payment. Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his or her financial affairs may be paid to the legal representative of such individual or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

 

13.24 Status under ERISA. The Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended.

 

Article XIV
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

This Plan shall become effective on February 15, 2023, which is the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of this Plan by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Article XV
TERM OF PLAN

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to this Plan on or after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of the date that this Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth (10th) anniversary, and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, may extend beyond that date until the final disposition of such Award.

 

* * * * *

 

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.,

 

CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN,

 

and

 

Agent

 

DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 2023

 

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 15, 2023, is hereby entered into by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (f/k/a CENAQ Energy Corp.), a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), the TRA Holders and the Agent.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is the managing member of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with any successor entity, “OpCo”), an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and currently holds membership interests in OpCo;

 

WHEREAS, OpCo and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code for each Taxable Year in which a Redemption occurs;

 

WHEREAS, after the closing of the Business Combination, the TRA Holders will hold Units and may transfer all or a portion of such Units in one or more Redemptions, and, as a result of such Redemption(s), the Corporate Taxpayer is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain tax benefits as further described herein;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreement among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of the Redemptions;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

Accrued Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (ii) without duplication, OpCo and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer; provided that the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

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Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

Agent” means Bluescape Holdings or such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6(b).

 

Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of SOFR plus 100 basis points.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) of this Agreement.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, (i) the sum of the following amounts for each state and local jurisdiction in which OpCo (or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership or disregarded entity) or the Corporate Taxpayer files an income or franchise tax return for the relevant Taxable Year: (A) the Corporate Taxpayer’s income and franchise tax apportionment factor(s) for such applicable state or local jurisdiction, multiplied by (B) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate(s) for such state or local jurisdiction, reduced by (ii) the product of (A) the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to the Corporate Taxpayer for the relevant Taxable Year (determined based on the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability for the relevant Taxable Year) and (B) the aggregate rate calculated under clause (i).

 

Attributable” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Basis Adjustment” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of a Redemption and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Redemption (as calculated under Section 2.1 of this Agreement), including, but not limited to: (i) under Sections 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code (including in situations where, following a Redemption, OpCo remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and (ii) under Sections 732(b), 734(b), 737 and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Redemptions, OpCo becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from a Redemption of Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Units prior to such Redemption and, further, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

 

Bluescape Holdings” means Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Board” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Business Combination” means the transactions completed under the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among PubCo, OpCo, Bluescape Holdings, Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC and for a limited purpose, CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

3 

 

 

Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events or series of related events after the Effective Date:

 

(i)any Person (excluding (A) any Qualifying Owner or any group of Qualifying Owners acting together that would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and (B) a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the stock of the Corporate Taxpayer) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(ii)there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporate Taxpayer with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (A) the members of the Board immediately prior to the merger or consolidation do not constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (B) all of the Persons who were the respective “beneficial owners” (as defined above) of the voting securities of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to beneficially own more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(iii)the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (ii)(A) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

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Class A Shares” means shares of Class A common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Corporate Taxpayer” means PubCo, and any successor corporation, and shall include any other member of any Tax consolidated group of which PubCo is a member. For the avoidance of doubt, this term as used in the definition of “Board” and “Change of Control” means only PubCo and any successor corporation.

 

Corporate Taxpayer Return” means the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer filed with respect to any Taxable Year.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

Default Rate” means a per annum rate of SOFR plus 500 basis points.

 

Determination” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a) of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice, or the date on which the Early Termination Notice is deemed to have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 or Section 4.3, for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

 

Early Termination Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b) of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate” means a per annum rate of SOFR plus 150 basis points.

 

Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Effective Date” means the closing date of the Business Combination.

 

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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Expert” means such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (ii) without duplication, OpCo and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return), but without taking into account (A) any Basis Adjustments, (B) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year, and (C) any Post-Effective Date TRA Benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest or any Post-Effective Date TRA Benefits. Furthermore, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Majority TRA Holders” means, at the time of any determination, TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date.

 

Mandatory Exchange Right” means the right of the Corporate Taxpayer to cause a Mandatory Exchange (as defined in the OpCo LLC Agreement) pursuant to Section 11.1(b) and Section 11.1(c) of the OpCo LLC Agreement, including any Mandatory Exchange effected directly with the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to Section 11.9 of the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

Market Value” means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the applicable Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided, that if the closing price is not reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the applicable Redemption Date, then the Market Value means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided further that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” means the fair market value of the Class A Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith.

 

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Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.

 

OpCo” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

OpCo LLC Agreement” means the limited liability company agreement of OpCo, as amended from time to time.

 

Payment Cap” means $50,000,000.00.

 

Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

Post-Effective Date TRA” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement) entered into by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries becomes entitled as a result of a transaction after the Effective Date.

 

Post-Effective Date TRA Benefits” means any tax benefits resulting from increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other tax attributes with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to make payments under a Post-Effective Date TRA.

 

Qualifying Owners” means (i) Bluescape Holdings, (ii) any affiliated funds, investment vehicles or special purpose entities managed by Bluescape Holdings, (iii) any general partner, managing member, principal or managing director of any of the Persons described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any Related-Party Transferee (as defined in the OpCo LLC Agreement) of any of the Persons described in clauses (i)-(iii) above.

 

Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability and (ii) the State and Local Tax Benefit. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

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Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability and (ii) the State and Local Tax Detriment. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Redemption” means any transfer of Units by a TRA Holder, or by a permitted transferee of such TRA Holder (as determined pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement), to OpCo or to the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to the Redemption Right or the Mandatory Exchange Right, as applicable.

 

Redemption Date” means each date on which a Redemption occurs.

 

Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to the term “Redemption Notice” in the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

Redemption Right” means the right of holders of Units to make an Elective Exchange (as defined in the OpCo LLC Agreement) pursuant to Section 11.1(a) of the OpCo LLC Agreement, including any Elective Exchange effected directly with the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to Section 11.9 of the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

Reference Asset” means, with respect to any Redemption, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held by OpCo, or by any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at the time of such Redemption. A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

 

Resolution of Disputes Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

 

Schedule” means any of the following: (i) a Tax Attribute Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule, or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

SOFR” means, during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) 0.25% and (b) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate reported, two Business Days prior to the first day of such period, by the Wall Street Journal (or if it shall cease to report such rate, as reported by any other publicly available source of such market rate). If the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ceases to be published or otherwise is not available, the Corporate Taxpayer will, in consultation with the Agent, select an alternate benchmark with similar characteristics that gives due consideration to the prevailing market conventions for determining rates of interest in the United States at such time.

 

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State and Local Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Benefit, each of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

State and Local Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Detriment, each of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

 

Tax Attribute Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Payment Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Receivable Agreements” means this Agreement and any Post-Effective Date TRA.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.

 

Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the Effective Date.

 

Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, including franchise taxes, and any interest imposed in respect of such Tax under applicable law.

 

Taxing Authority” means the IRS and any U.S. federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

 

TRA Holder” means each of those Persons set forth on Schedule A and their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6(a).

 

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Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant Taxable Year.

 

Units” has the meaning set forth in the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that:

 

(i) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available;

 

(ii) any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including any such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date will be utilized by the Corporate Taxpayer ratably in each Taxable Year over the five Taxable Years beginning with the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date; provided that, in any year in which the Corporate Taxpayer is prevented from fully using any net operating loss or credit carryover pursuant to Section 382 or Section 383 of the Code (or any successor provision), the amount utilized for purposes of this provision shall not exceed the amount that would otherwise be utilized under Section 382 or Section 383 of the Code (or any successor provision) and the five Taxable Year period described in this clause (ii) shall be extended with respect to such net operating loss or credit carryover to ten Taxable Years;

 

(iii) the U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;

 

(iv) any Reference Asset (other than a Reference Asset described in clause (v)) that is not subject to amortization, depletion, depreciation or other cost recovery deduction to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of in a fully taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the fifth anniversary of the Early Termination Date for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Reference Asset; provided that, in the event of a Change of Control which includes a taxable sale of such Reference Asset (including the sale of all of the equity interests in an entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity that directly or indirectly owns such Reference Asset), such Reference Asset shall be deemed disposed of at the time of the Change of Control;

 

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(v) any Reference Asset that is (A) stock or any other equity interest in a Subsidiary of OpCo that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (B) goodwill or going concern value (each within the meaning of Section 197(d)(1) of the Code and the associated Treasury Regulations) and subject to Section 197(f)(9) of the Code will not be deemed to be disposed of unless actually directly disposed of (or treated as actually directly disposed of for U.S. federal income tax purposes) in a taxable sale; and

 

(vi) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units (other than those held by the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries) that have not been transferred in a Redemption, then all such Units shall be deemed to be transferred pursuant to the Redemption Right effective on the Early Termination Date.

 

Section 1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.

 

ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS

 

Section 2.1 Tax Attribute Schedules. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return for each Taxable Year, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “Tax Attribute Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each applicable TRA Holder, (i) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Redemptions effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (ii) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.

 

Section 2.2 Tax Benefit Payment Schedules.

 

(a) Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to the Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is Attributable to each TRA Holder who has participated in any Redemption, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporate Taxpayer intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “Tax Benefit Payment Schedule”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Actual Tax Liability, (iv) a copy of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, and (v) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Payment Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10, any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections. The Tax Benefit Payment Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).

 

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(b) For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryovers or carrybacks of any U.S. federal income Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest and any Post-Effective Date TRA Benefits shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to any Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest or Post-Effective Date TRA Benefits and another portion that is not so attributable, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology such that the portion that is not attributable to a Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest or Post-Effective Date TRA Benefit is deemed utilized first. The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.

 

Section 2.3 Procedure; Amendments.

 

(a) An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”) made in good faith or (ii) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date the waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes Procedures under Section 7.9, as applicable.

 

(b) The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agent, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporate Taxpayer Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust a Tax Attribute Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to the Agent within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence and shall, at the reasonable request of the Agent, provide any other work papers relating to such Amended Schedule. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a), the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

 

Section 2.4 Section 754 Election. In its capacity as the sole managing member of OpCo, the Corporate Taxpayer will (i) ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, OpCo and any of its eligible Subsidiaries will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, any entity in which OpCo holds a direct or indirect interest that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that does not meet the definition of “Subsidiary” herein, will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).

 

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ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.1 Payments.

 

(a) Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule delivered to the Agent becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a), the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment in respect of such TRA Holder determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) for such Taxable Year. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the Corporate Taxpayer, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.

 

(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” in respect of a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Holder and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto. The “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over the sum of (i) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) and (ii) the total amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made under the corresponding provision of any Post-Effective Date TRA; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. Subject to Section 3.3, the portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year that is “Attributable” to a TRA Holder is the portion of such Net Tax Benefit that is derived from (x) any Basis Adjustment that was attributable, at the time of the relevant Redemption, to the Units acquired or deemed acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in a Redemption undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder or (y) any Imputed Interest with respect to Tax Benefit Payments made to such TRA Holder. The “Accrued Amount” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Units in a Redemption, unless otherwise required by law.

 

(c) The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Redemption, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Redemption, a TRA Holder may elect, by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing on or before the due date for providing the Redemption Notice with respect to such Redemption, to limit the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to be made to such TRA Holder with respect to such Redemption to (i) 50%, or such other percentage such TRA Holder elects to apply in its written notification, of (ii) the amount equal to the sum of (A) any cash, excluding any Tax Benefit Payments, received by such TRA Holder in such Redemption and (B) the aggregate Market Value of the Class A Shares received by such TRA Holder in such Redemption, provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that such amount shall not include any Imputed Interest with respect to such Redemption. An election made by a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) may not be revoked.

 

Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under the Tax Receivable Agreements. It is also intended that the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the Persons to whom payments are due pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreements. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.

 

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Section 3.3 Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits with Other Tax Receivable Agreements.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year to fully utilize available deductions and other attributes, the limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall be allocated as follows: (i) first among any Post-Effective Date TRAs (and among all Persons eligible for payments thereunder in the manner set forth in such Post-Effective Date TRAs) and (ii) to the extent of any remaining limitation on tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer after application of clause (i), among all Persons eligible for payments under this Agreement in proportion to the respective amounts of Net Tax Benefit that would have been determined under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income so that there was no such limitation.

 

(b) After taking into account Section 3.3(a), if for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each Person to whom a payment is due under this Agreement (provided that, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full) and (ii) after fulfilling the obligations set forth in clause (i) of this Section 3.3(b), the Corporate Taxpayer will then pay all amounts due under any Post-Effective Date TRA in respect of such Taxable Year (provided that, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full).

 

(c) To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.3(b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and any Accrued Amount attributable to such excess and (ii) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments (other than any foregone payments in respect of Accrued Amounts) to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements (or if no such payments are due, shall retain such amounts for future payments when they become due) in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a) or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), as applicable (in each case, taking into account Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.3(b) or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.

 

ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1 Early Termination at Election of the Corporate Taxpayer. The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(b) (such termination, an “Early Termination”); provided that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice of exercise of its termination rights under this Section 4.1 prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid. Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment to each TRA Holder by the Corporate Taxpayer, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for (a) any Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (b) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or as a payment under clause (a) of this Section 4.1, any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date. Upon payment of all amounts provided for in this Section 4.1, this Agreement shall terminate.

 

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Section 4.2 Early Termination upon Change of Control.

 

(a) In the event of a Change of Control, all payment obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (i) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of a Change of Control, (ii) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of a TRA Holder agreed to by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder as due and payable but unpaid as of the deemed Early Termination Notice, and (iii) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or as a payment under clause (ii) of this Section 4.2, payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the closing date of a Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date.” Procedures similar to the procedures of Section 4.4 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with respect to the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this Section 4.2.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the total amount payable to all TRA Holders pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) shall not exceed the Payment Cap. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payment Cap shall not be reduced or offset by any Tax Benefit Payments previously made or any amounts paid pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(ii) or Section 4.2(a)(iii). If the Corporate Taxpayer or its Affiliate makes a payment to the TRA Holders pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) in an amount equal to the Payment Cap, the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates shall not be required to pay any other amount pursuant to this Agreement (other than any amounts contemplated by Section 4.2(a)(ii) or Section 4.2(a)(iii)) and the obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate (other than with respect to any amounts contemplated by Section 4.2(a)(ii) or Section 4.2(a)(iii)).

 

Section 4.3 Breach of Agreement.

 

(a) In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer (i) breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment within three (3) months of the date when due, as a result of the failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder, or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise or (ii) (A) shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (1) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts or (2) seeking an appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or it shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (B) there shall be commenced against the Corporate Taxpayer any case, proceeding or other action of the nature referred to in clause (A) above that remains undismissed or undischarged for a period of sixty (60) calendar days, all obligations hereunder shall be automatically accelerated and shall be immediately due and payable, and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach. Procedures similar to the procedures of Section 4.4 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with respect to the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this Section 4.3(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this Agreement, the Majority TRA Holders shall be entitled to elect jointly on behalf of all TRA Holders for such TRA Holders to receive the amounts referred to in this Section 4.3(a) or to seek specific performance of the terms under this Agreement.

 

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(b) The parties agree that the failure of the Corporate Taxpayer to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment treated as an Early Termination Payment, it shall not be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer has insufficient funds to make, or to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer is contractually constrained from making, such payment in the Corporate Taxpayer’s sole judgement exercised in good faith; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any credit agreement to which OpCo or any Subsidiary of OpCo is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided further that it shall be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 4.3(a) shall apply as of the original due date of the Tax Benefit Payment, if the Corporate Taxpayer makes any distribution of cash or other property (other than Class A Shares or other equity interests of the Corporate Taxpayer) to its stockholders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable but unpaid.

 

Section 4.4 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a), the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver (i) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “Early Termination Schedule”) and (ii) any other work papers related to the calculation of the Early Termination Payment reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10, any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (y) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer (the “Early Termination Effective Date”). If the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes Procedures under Section 7.9, as applicable.

 

Section 4.5 Payment upon Early Termination.

 

(a) Subject to its right to withdraw any notice of Early Termination pursuant to Section 4.1, within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder.

 

(b) A TRA Holder’s “Early Termination Payment” as of the Early Termination Date shall equal, with respect to such TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

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ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment due under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries (such obligations, “Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries that are not Senior Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment or other payment under this Agreement when due is governed by Section 4.3(b). To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time such payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(b), at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable to the date of actual payment.

 

ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and OpCo’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the OpCo LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer shall (a) notify the Agent of, and keep the Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding of the Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the rights of the TRA Holders under this Agreement (a “Tax Proceeding”), (b) provide the Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding, and (c) use commercially reasonable efforts to not, without the consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), settle or otherwise resolve any part of a Tax Proceeding that relates to a Basis Adjustment or the deduction of Imputed Interest (and, in each case, that is reasonably expected to have a material effect on the amounts payable to the TRA Holders under this Agreement); provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo shall not be required to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that is inconsistent with any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement.

 

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Section 6.2 Consistency. Unless there is a Determination or written opinion, reasonably acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo, of legal counsel or a nationally recognized tax advisor to the contrary, the Corporate Taxpayer and each of the TRA Holders agree to report, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to report, for all U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment), but, for financial reporting purposes, only in respect of items that are not explicitly characterized as “deemed” or in a similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, in a manner consistent with the description of any Tax characterization herein (including as set forth in Section 2.2(b) and Section 3.1(b) and any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.3).

 

Section 6.3 Cooperation. Each TRA Holder, on the one hand, and the Corporate Taxpayer, on the other hand, shall (i) furnish to the other party in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as such TRA Holder or the Corporate Taxpayer may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any Tax Proceeding or other administrative or judicial proceeding by a Taxing Authority, (ii) make itself available to the other party and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as such TRA Holder or the Corporate Taxpayer and their respective representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. The requesting party shall reimburse the other party for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing, in English and by personal delivery (if signed for receipt), by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, transmitted via facsimile transmission or transmitted via electronic mail (following appropriate confirmation of receipt by return email, including an automated confirmation of receipt) and shall be deemed to have been made and the receiving party charged with notice, when received except that if received after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a Business Day or if received on a day that is not a Business Day, such notice, request or communication will not be effective until the next succeeding Business Day. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

If to the Corporate Taxpayer, to:

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.

4550 Post Oak Place Drive, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77027

Electronic mail: rporter@cenaqcorp.com
Attention: Mr. J. Russell Porter

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporate Taxpayer) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

845 Texas Avenue, Suite 4700

Houston, TX 77002

Facsimile: 1.713.615.5651

Electronic mail: mkelly@velaw.com; cscofield@velaw.com

Attention: Mark Kelly; Crosby Scofield

 

If to the Agent, to:

 

Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC

200 Crescent Court, Suite 1900

Dallas, TX 75201

Electronic mail: jsiegler@bluescapepartners.com

Attention: Jonathan Siegler

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporate Taxpayer) to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Sean Wheeler; Debbie Yee

Email: sean.wheeler@kirkland.com; debbie.yee@kirkland.com

 

If to a TRA Holder, other than the Agent, that is or was a partner in OpCo, to:

 

The address set forth in the records of OpCo.

 

Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or otherwise (including an electronically executed signature page) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.4 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

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Section 7.6 Successors; Assignment.

 

(a) No TRA Holder may assign this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer; provided, however, that:

 

(i) To the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the OpCo LLC Agreement, the transferring TRA Holder shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer, provided that, such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Units the rights of such TRA Holder under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments, if any, due hereunder with respect to, including any Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Redemption of, such Units.

 

(ii) The right to receive any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once a Redemption has occurred, arise with respect to the Units transferred in such Redemption, may be assigned to any Person or Persons with the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.13.

 

(b) The Person designated as the Agent for the TRA Holders may not be changed without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders.

 

(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporate Taxpayer shall cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 7.7 Amendments; Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such disproportionately affected TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Agent, in the case of provisions relating to the Agent, or in the case of any other provision, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

Section 7.8 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

Section 7.9 Resolution of Disputes.

 

(a) Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.10, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.9 and Section 7.10) (each a “Dispute”) shall be governed by this Section 7.9. The parties hereto shall attempt in good faith to resolve all Disputes by negotiation. If a Dispute between the parties hereto cannot be resolved in such manner, such Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association. If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the American Arbitration Association shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter, and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement. The arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute. The award shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal. Judgment upon any award may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction over a party or any of its assets. The parties involved in any Dispute shall each bear their own costs and expenses of such Dispute unless, in the event of an arbitration, otherwise determined by the arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.9(a), each TRA Holder, on the one hand, and the Corporate Taxpayer, on the other hand, may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this Section 7.9(b), each party to this Agreement (i) expressly consents to the application of Section 7.9(c) to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably consents to service of process by means of notice in the manner provided in Section 7.1.

 

(c) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION of any courts located in new york FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS Section 7.9 OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award. The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this Section 7.9(c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d) The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in Section 7.9(c) and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

Section 7.10 Reconciliation. In the event that the Agent and the Corporate Taxpayer are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.3, Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 (but not, for the avoidance doubt, with respect to any legal interpretation with respect to such provisions or schedules) within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the Agent or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association. The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Tax Attribute Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days, or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the Agent’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the Agent for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case the Agent shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.10 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries, the Agent, and the TRA Holders and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

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Section 7.11 Withholding. The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law; provided, that the Corporate Taxpayer shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts prior to effecting any withholding with respect to a TRA Holder to minimize any withholding tax imposed on any amounts payable hereunder to a TRA Holder and (ii) shall reasonably cooperate with any TRA Holder with respect to such TRA Holder’s efforts to obtain necessary and available information for such TRA Holder to make filings, applications or elections to obtain any exemption, exclusion, credit or refund associated with taxation (including withholding tax) on any amounts payable by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Holder. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder. Upon a TRA Holder’s request, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide evidence of any such payment to such TRA Holder.

 

Section 7.12 Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

 

(a) If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, then, subject to the application of the Valuation Assumptions upon a Change of Control: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b) If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any member of a group described in Section 7.12(a)) transfers or is deemed to transfer any Unit or any Reference Asset to a transferee that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than to a member of a group described in Section 7.12(a)) in a transaction in which the transferee’s basis in the property acquired is determined in whole or in part by reference to such transferor’s basis in such property, then the Corporate Taxpayer shall cause such transferee to assume the obligation to make payments hereunder with respect to the applicable Basis Adjustments or Imputed Interest associated with any Reference Asset or interest therein acquired (directly or indirectly) in such transfer (taking into account any gain recognized in the transaction) in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement as the transferee (or one of its Affiliates) actually realizes Tax benefits from the Basis Adjustments or Imputed Interest, as applicable.

 

(c) While OpCo is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if OpCo (or any of OpCo’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes)) transfers (or is deemed to transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes) any Reference Asset to a transferee that is treated as a corporation for U. S. federal income tax purposes (other than a member of a group described in Section 7.12(a)) in a transaction in which the transferee’s basis in the property acquired is determined in whole or in part by reference to such transferor’s basis in such property, OpCo (or such direct or indirect Subsidiary) shall be treated as having disposed of the Reference Asset in a wholly taxable transaction. The consideration deemed to be received by OpCo (or such direct or indirect Subsidiary) in a transaction contemplated in the prior sentence shall be equal to the fair market value of the Reference Asset, plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any such Reference Asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset, or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest.

 

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(d) If any member of a group described in Section 7.12(a) that directly or indirectly owns any Unit or other equity interest in OpCo ceases to be a member of such group (or the Corporate Taxpayer deconsolidates for U.S. federal income tax purposes from that group), then the Corporate Taxpayer shall cause such member (or the parent of the consolidated group in a case where the Corporate Taxpayer deconsolidates from the group) to assume the obligation to make payments hereunder with respect to the applicable Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest associated with any Reference Asset it owns (directly or indirectly) in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement as the member (or one of its Affiliates) actually realizes Tax benefits from the Basis Adjustments or Imputed Interest, as applicable.

 

(e) For purposes of this Section 7.12, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferor’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

 

(f) If a transferee or a member of a group described in Section 7.12(a) assumes an obligation to make payments hereunder pursuant to either Section 7.12(b) or (d), then the initial obligor is relieved of the obligation assumed.

 

Section 7.13 Confidentiality.

 

(a) The Agent, each TRA Holder and each of such TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning OpCo and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, learned by the Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Agent may disclose information received by it in the ordinary course of its duties as Agent to the TRA Holder(s). This Section 7.13 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing such TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing such TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of such TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with such TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, financing, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to such TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) or its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates, auditors, accountants, employees, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of such TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.13, (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporate Taxpayer prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporate Taxpayer), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder or its direct or indirect owners to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo, the Agent, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the Agent or any TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

 

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(b) If the Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.13, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.13 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.14 No More Favorable Terms. None of the Corporate Taxpayer nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) if such agreement provides terms that are more favorable to the counterparty under such agreement than those provided to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer (or any of its Subsidiaries) may enter into such an agreement if this Agreement is amended to make such more favorable terms available to the TRA Holders.

 

Section 7.15 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement (a) could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Redemption that as of the date of this Agreement would be treated as capital gain to instead be treated as ordinary income or to be otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (b) would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then, in either case, at the election of such TRA Holder and to the extent specified by such TRA Holder, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to such TRA Holder, (ii) shall not apply to a Redemption by such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment. Further, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any TRA Holder may, at any time, elect for this Agreement to cease to have further effect in its entirety with respect to such TRA Holder, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall cease to have any further obligations in respect of such TRA Holder, in each case from and after the date specified by such TRA Holder.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the Agent, and the TRA Holders have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Corporate Taxpayer:
   
  VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
    Name:  Ernest B. Miller
    Title: Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

  AGENT:
   
  Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
    Name:  Ernest B. Miller
    Title: Chief Executive Officer


 

[The signatures of the TRA Holders are attached in Schedule A.]

 

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SCHEDULE A

TRA HOLDERS

 

Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC  
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller  
Name:  Ernest B. Miller  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Schedule A-1

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 15, 2023, is made and entered into by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a CENAQ Energy Corp.) (the “Company”), CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bluescape Holdings”), and the undersigned parties listed under Holders on the signature pages hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor, Bluescape Holdings 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”). Except as otherwise stated, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on August 17, 2021, the Company, the Sponsor and certain other security holders named therein (the “Existing Holders”) entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Sponsor and such other Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, on August 12, 2022, the Company, Bluescape Holdings, Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo”), and, solely with respect to Section 6.18 therein, the Sponsor, entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties to the Business Combination Agreement will undertake the transactions described therein (the “Business Combination”);

 

WHEREAS, after the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), the Holders (other than Bluescape Holdings) will own shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), the Sponsor will own warrants to purchase 2,475,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Private Placement Warrants”), and Bluescape Holdings will own common units of OpCo (“OpCo Units”) and shares of the Company’s Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class C Common Stock”), which together will be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo;

 

WHEREAS, following the Closing, Bluescape Holdings may receive OpCo Units and shares of Class C Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement (the “Earn Out Equity”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Existing 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) 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.

 

Additional Subscription Agreements” shall mean any subscription agreements entered into by the Company between the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the Closing, providing for the issuance to certain investors of Class A Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Block Trade” shall have the meaning given to it in subsection 2.3.1 of this Agreement.

 

Bluescape Holdings” 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.

 

Business Combination Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Class C Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement.

 

Demand Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement.

 

Earn Out Equity” shall meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

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 Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Financial Counterparty” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1 of this Agreement.

 

Holder Indemnified Persons” shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.1 of this Agreement.

 

Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.2.

 

Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.6 of this Agreement.

 

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.

 

OpCo” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

OpCo Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Opt-Out Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.5.

 

Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given to it in subsection 2.3.1 of this Agreement.

 

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Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) the members of a Holder’s immediate family (for purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean with respect to any natural person, any of the following: such person’s spouse, the siblings of such person and his or her spouse, and the direct descendants and ascendants (including adopted and step children and parents) of such person and his or her spouses and siblings), (b) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of a Holder or the immediate family of a Holder, (c) if a Holder is a trust, to the trustor or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust, (d) any officer, director, general partner, limited partner, shareholder, member or owner of similar equity interests in a Holder or (e) any affiliate of a Holder or the immediate family of such affiliate.

 

Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement.

 

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 2.1.6 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 Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants) held by the Sponsor immediately following the Closing, (b) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the shares of Class A 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, (c) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon exchange of OpCo Units and Class C Common Stock issued to a Holder under the Business Combination Agreement, including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon exchange of any Earn Out Equity held or acquired by a Holder, (d) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or to be issued to any Holders in connection with the Business Combination, (e) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or to be issued to the Sponsor in payment of the Promissory Note issued to Sponsor dated February 15, 2023 and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any Registrable Security 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 to a Person who is not entitled to the registration and other rights hereunder, 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 and Rule 145 (as applicable) 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 the 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, Inc. and any national securities exchange on which the shares of Class A 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 all independent registered public accountants 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 which the shares of Class A Common Stock is then listed;

 

(G) the fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any Underwritten Offerings or other offering involving an Underwriter; and

 

(H) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected jointly by the majority-in-interest of Registrable Securities held 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 2.1.5 of this Agreement.

 

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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.

 

Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Subscription Agreements” shall mean the several subscription agreements entered into by the Company, each dated as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement, providing for the issuance to certain investors of Class A Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

Suspension Period” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal or as broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Demand” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 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 thirty (30) calendar days after the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission (at the Company’s 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 Class A 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. The Shelf Registration shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. The Company shall maintain the Shelf Registration in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Shelf Registration on Form S-1, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.

 

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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 initial filing of the Registration Statement. 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. If at any time a Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 is effective and a Holder provides written notice to the Company that it intends to effect an offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such offering to take place in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.1.3 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or file an additional Registration Statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities from time to time (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form. The Company’s obligation under this subsection 2.1.3, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.

 

2.1.4 Additional Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of the Sponsor or a Holder, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered, at the Company’s option, by any then available Registration Statement (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Registration Statement or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered twice per calendar year for each of the Sponsor and the Holders.

 

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2.1.5 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.6, Section 2.4 and Section 3.4 of this Agreement, the Sponsor, a Holder or group of Holders (any of the Sponsor, Holder or group of Holders being in such case, a “Demanding Holder”) may make a written demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement (an “Underwritten Demand”); provided, that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) (the “Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold”). The Demanding Holder shall have the responsibility to engage an underwriter(s); provided that such selection shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, 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 Company’s receipt of the Underwritten Demand, notify, in writing (such notice, the “Demand Notice”), all other Holders of such demand, and each Holder who thereafter requests to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Underwritten Demand (each such 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 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 Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Underwritten Demand. In such event, the right of any Holder or Requesting Holder to register pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s or Requesting Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s or Requesting Holder’s Registrable Securities 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 2.1.5 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 one (1) Underwritten Offering demanded by the Sponsor and an aggregate of four (4) Underwritten Offerings demanded by Bluescape Holdings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5 and is not obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering, Block Trade or Coordinated Sale.

 

2.1.6 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering, pursuant to an Underwritten Demand, in good faith, advises or advise the Company, the Demanding Holders, the Requesting Holders and other persons or entities holding Registrable Securities or other equity securities of the Company that were requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, taken together with all other shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the shares of Class A 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: (a) 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; (b) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (a), the Registrable Securities of the Requesting Holders, 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 clauses (a) and (b), the shares of Class A 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 (d) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), the shares of Class A 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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2.1.7 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering; provided that the Sponsor, Bluescape Holdings or a Holder may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Offering if the Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Offering by the Sponsor, Bluescape Holdings or the Holders, as applicable. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Offering shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Offering by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of subsection 2.1.6, unless either (i) such Demanding Holder has not previously withdrawn any Underwritten Offering or (ii) such Demanding Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Offer (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering); provided that, if the Sponsor, Bluescape Holdings or a Holder elects to continue an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Offering shall instead count as an Underwritten Offering demanded by the Sponsor, Bluescape Holdings or such Holder, as applicable, for purposes of subsection 2.1.6. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Demand prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.7, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this subsection 2.1.7.

 

2.2 Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.2 and Section 2.4 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, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed action to all of the Holders as soon as practicable (the “Piggyback Notice”), which notice shall (a) 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 (b) 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 (one (1) day if such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering), 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 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 Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the shares of Class A 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 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 (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Class A 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;

 

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(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, the shares of Class A 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 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 clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Class A 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 (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Class A 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; or

 

(c)   If the Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in subsection 2.1.6.

 

2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Offering, and related obligations, shall be governed by subsection 2.1.7) 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 good faith 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 Company’s account at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Each Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving an Opt-Out Notice to the Company requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Piggyback Registration; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not, and shall not be required to, deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to Section 2.2 and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in any Piggyback Registration.

 

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2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to subsection 2.1.7, any Piggyback 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.

 

2.3 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.

 

2.3.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Registration Statement is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”) or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (i) $25 million or (ii) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then if such Demanding Holder requires any assistance from the Company pursuant to this Section 2.3, such Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters or brokers, sales agents or placement agents (each, a “Financial Counterparty”) prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.

 

2.3.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a written notification to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and Financial Counterparty (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.3.2.

 

2.3.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

 

2.3.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and Financial Counterparty (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering (in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).

 

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2.3.5 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings demanded by the Sponsor and an aggregate of five (5) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings demanded by Bluescape Holdings pursuant to this subsection 2.3.5 and is not obligated to effect a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.3.5 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering, Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Demanding Holder has used the maximum amount of Block Trades and Other Coordinated Offerings such Holder is entitled to under this Section 2.3.5 at a time in which it is entitled to demand an Underwritten Offering under Section 2.1.5, such Demanding Holder shall be entitled to demand the Company effect a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering in accordance with Section 2.3 in lieu of an Underwritten Offering (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall count towards the aggregate amount of Underwritten Offerings such Holder is entitled to demand pursuant to Section 2.1.5); provided that such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall not be within ninety (90) days of the closing of another Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or Underwritten Offering.

 

2.4 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 (any such period, a “Suspension Period”). In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such offering for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligations in this manner more than once in any twelve (12) month period.

 

2.5 Opt-Out Notices. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Company requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of the proposed filing of any Underwritten Offering, Piggyback Registration, the withdrawal of any Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration or any event that would lead to a Suspension Period as contemplated by Section 2.4provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing; provided, further, that if the Company has provided a Demand Notice or a Piggyback Notice at the time a Holder revokes its Opt-Out Notice, such revocation shall not extend the respective notice periods. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 2.4 or Section 3.4, as applicable, and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to the rights associated with any such notice and each time prior to a Holder’s intended use of an effective Registration Statement, such Holder will notify the Company in writing at least two business days in advance of such intended use, and if a notice of a Suspension Period was previously delivered (or would have been delivered but for the provisions of this Section 2.5) and the Suspension Period remains in effect, the Company will so notify such Holder, within one business day of such Holder’s notification to the Company, by delivering to such Holder a copy of such previous notice of such Suspension Period, and thereafter will provide such Holder with the related notice of the conclusion of such Suspension Period immediately upon its availability.

 

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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 including all manners of distribution in such Registration Statement as Holders may reasonably request in connection with the filing of such Registration Statement and as permitted by law, including distribution of Registrable Securities to a Holder’s members, securityholders or partners), 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 or Financial Counterparty, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering or Block Trade, 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 subsection 3.1.3 that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;

 

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3.1.4 prior to any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) 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 (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (b) 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 or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering;

 

3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it receives notice or obtains 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 subsection 3.1.8 that is available on the Commission’s 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 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering, or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the Holders), the Underwriters or other Financial Counterparty facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s or entity’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, Financial Counterparty, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters or Financial Counterparty agree to confidentiality arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

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3.1.11 obtain a comfort letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration (subject to such Financial Counterparty providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountants and the Company’s counsel), in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, 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 participating Holders, the Financial Counterparty, 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 participating Holders, Financial Counterparty or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such participating Holders, Financial Counterparty or Underwriter;

 

3.1.13 in the event of an Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade, or an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration to which the Company has consented, to the extent reasonably requested by such Financial Counterparty in order to engage in such offering, allow the Financial Counterparty to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Company;

 

3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or the Financial Counterparty of such offering or sale;

 

3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

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3.1.16 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or Financial Counterparty if such Underwriter or Financial Counterparty has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration as an Underwriter or Financial Counterparty, as applicable.

 

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 any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. 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 (a) agrees to sell such person’s or entity’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (b) 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.

 

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure.

 

3.4.1 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 Company’s 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, provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend a Registration Statement, Prospectus or Underwritten Offering on more than two (2) occasions, for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or more than one hundred-twenty (120) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve (12)-month period. 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. In addition, the Company may delay or suspend continued use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus in respect of a Registration or Underwritten Offering in order to file and make effective a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement in connection with the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.

 

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3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. 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 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 (the “Holder Information”) 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 all 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.

 

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4.1.3 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (b) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim 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 includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party 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 or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

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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 party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 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 (a) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (b) 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 (c) 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 219 Homestead Rd., Hillsborough, NJ 08844, Attention: Ernest B. Miller, or by email at: emiller@bluescapecleanfuels.com, if to the Sponsor, to 4550 Post Oak Place Dr. Suite 300, Houston, TX 77027, Attention: Michael J. Mayell, or by email at: mmayell@sydson.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.

 

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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 Subject to Section 5.2.4 and Section 5.2.5, this Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees to which it transfers Registrable Securities; provided that with respect to the initial Holders, the rights hereunder that are personal to such Holders may not be assigned or delegated in whole or in part, except that (i) each of the initial Holders shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the initial Holders to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of such Holder (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce or multiply any rights of such Holder or such transferees), and (ii) the Sponsor shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the Sponsor to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of the Sponsor, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include a transfer of its rights in connection with a distribution of any Registrable Securities held by Sponsor to its members (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce or multiply any rights of the Sponsor or such transferees).

 

5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

5.2.4 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.

 

5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 of this Agreement and (b) 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 TEXAS AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG TEXAS RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

 

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5.5 Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of (a) the Company and (b) the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities held by the 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, (i) 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, (ii) any amendment or waiver hereof that adversely affects the rights expressly granted to the Sponsor shall require the consent of the Sponsor and (iii) any amendment or waiver hereof that adversely affects the rights expressly granted to Bluescape Holdings shall require the consent of Bluescape Holdings; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof shall also require the written consent of Bluescape Holdings so long as Bluescape Holdings and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least twenty percent (20%) of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock of the Company. 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.

 

5.7 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a Holder, (b) the parties to the Subscription Agreements and the Additional Subscription Agreements and (c) holders of the Company’s warrants pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 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 filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement, including the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. Upon the Closing, the Existing Registration Rights Agreement shall no longer be of any force or effect.

 

5.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate, with respect to any Holder, on the date as of which such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

5.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.

 

5.10 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC., a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
  Name: Ernest B. Miller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial 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:
   
  CENAQ SPONSOR LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter
  Name: J. Russel Porter
  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:
   
  BLUESCAPE CLEAN FUELS HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
  Name: Ernest B. Miller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC

 

A Delaware limited liability company

 

dated as of February 15, 2023

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, AND HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT, AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE COMPANY AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
       
Article I GENERAL PROVISIONS 1
   
  Section 1.1 Formation 1
  Section 1.2 Name 1
  Section 1.3 Principal Place of Business; Other Places of Business 1
  Section 1.4 Designated Agent for Service of Process 2
  Section 1.5 Term 2
  Section 1.6 No State Law Partnership 2
  Section 1.7 Business Purpose 2
  Section 1.8 Powers 2
  Section 1.9 Certificates; Filings 2
  Section 1.10 Representations and Warranties by the Members 3
       
Article II UNITS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS 4
   
  Section 2.1 Units 4
  Section 2.2 Capital Contributions of the Members; No Deficit Restoration Obligation 5
  Section 2.3 No Interest; No Return 5
  Section 2.4 Issuances of Additional Units 5
  Section 2.5 Additional Funds and Additional Capital Contributions 6
       
Article III DISTRIBUTIONS 8
   
  Section 3.1 Distributions Generally 8
  Section 3.2 Tax Distributions 8
  Section 3.3 Distributions in Kind 9
  Section 3.4 Distributions to Reflect Additional Units 9
  Section 3.5 Other Distribution Rules 10
       
Article IV Management and OPERATIONS 10
   
  Section 4.1 Management 10
  Section 4.2 Tax Actions 13
  Section 4.3 Compensation and Reimbursement of Manager 13
  Section 4.4 Outside Activities 14
  Section 4.5 Transactions with Affiliates 14
  Section 4.6 Limitation on Liability 15
  Section 4.7 Indemnification 15
       
Article V BOOKS AND RECORDS 16
   
  Section 5.1 Books and Records 16
  Section 5.2 Financial Accounts 16
  Section 5.3 Inspection; Confidentiality 16
  Section 5.4 Information to Be Provided by Manager to Members 17
       
Article VI TAX MATTERS, ACCOUNTING, AND REPORTING 17
   
  Section 6.1 Tax Matters 17
  Section 6.2 Accounting and Fiscal Year 17

 

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Article VII UNIT TRANSFERS AND MEMBER WITHDRAWALS 17
     
  Section 7.1 Transfer Generally Prohibited 17
  Section 7.2 Conditions Generally Applicable to All Transfers 17
  Section 7.3 Substituted Members 19
  Section 7.4 Drag-Along Rights 20
  Section 7.5 Withdrawal 21
  Section 7.6 Restrictions on Termination Transactions 21
  Section 7.7 Incapacity 22
  Section 7.8 Legend 22
       
Article VIII ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS 23
     
  Section 8.1 Admission of Additional Members 23
  Section 8.2 Limit on Number of Members 23
       
Article IX DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION 23
     
  Section 9.1 Dissolution Generally 23
  Section 9.2 Events Causing Dissolution 24
  Section 9.3 Distribution upon Dissolution 24
  Section 9.4 Rights of Members 25
  Section 9.5 Termination 25
       
Article X PROCEDURES FOR ACTIONS AND CONSENTS OF MEMBERS; MEETINGS 25
     
  Section 10.1 Actions and Consents of Members 25
  Section 10.2 Procedures for Meetings and Actions of the Members 25
       
Article XI EXCHANGE RIGHTS 27
     
  Section 11.1 Elective and Mandatory Exchanges 27
  Section 11.2 Additional Terms Applying to Exchanges 28
  Section 11.3 Exchange Consideration; Settlement 28
  Section 11.4 Adjustment 29
  Section 11.5 Class A Common Stock to Be Issued in Connection with an Exchange 29
  Section 11.6 Tax Treatment 30
  Section 11.7 Contribution by Manager 30
  Section 11.8 Apportionment of Distributions 30
  Section 11.9 Right of Manager to Acquire Exchangeable Units 30
       
Article XII MISCELLANEOUS 31
     
  Section 12.1 Conclusive Nature of Determinations 31
  Section 12.2 Company Counsel 31
  Section 12.3 Appointment of Manager as Attorney-in-Fact 31
  Section 12.4 Entire Agreement 32
  Section 12.5 Further Assurances 32
  Section 12.6 Notices 32
  Section 12.7 Governing Law 33
  Section 12.8 Jurisdiction and Venue 33
  Section 12.9 Equitable Remedies 34
  Section 12.10 Construction 34
  Section 12.11 Counterparts 34
  Section 12.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries 34
  Section 12.13 Binding Effect 34
  Section 12.14 Severability 34
  Section 12.15 Survival 34
  Section 12.16 Effect on Other Obligations of Members or the Company 35
  Section 12.17 Confidentiality 35
       
Article XIII DEFINED TERMS 36
     
  Section 13.1 Definitions 36
  Section 13.2 Interpretation 44

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of February 15, 2023, is entered into by and among the Members that are party hereto, Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (f/k/a CENAQ Energy Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “Manager”), and each other Person as may become a Member from time to time, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. §§ 18-101, et seq. (as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute, the “Act”), under the name “Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC” by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (together with any amendments, the “Certificate of Formation”) of the Company in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2022;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the adoption of this Agreement, the Company was governed by the Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated July 26, 2022 (the “Initial Operating Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, by and among the Company, the Manager, Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, dated August 12, 2022 (as further amended or modified in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with such agreement, the “Combination Agreement”), the Initial Operating Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement, with this Agreement superseding and replacing the Initial Operating Agreement in its entirety.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

Article I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.1 Formation. The Company has been formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Certificate of Formation, pursuant to the Act on July 26, 2022.

 

Section 1.2 Name. The name of the Company is “Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC.” The Company may also conduct business at the same time under one or more fictitious names if the Manager determines that such is in the best interests of the Company. The Company may change its name, from time to time, in accordance with Law.

 

Section 1.3 Principal Place of Business; Other Places of Business. The principal business office of the Company shall be in Hillsborough, New Jersey or such other location as may be designated by the Manager from time to time. The Company may maintain offices and places of business at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Manager deems advisable.

 

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Section 1.4 Designated Agent for Service of Process. So long as required by the Act, the Company shall continuously maintain a registered office and a designated and duly qualified agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Formation. The Company’s registered agent for service of process at such address shall also be as set forth in the Certificate of Formation.

 

Section 1.5 Term. The term of the Company shall be perpetual unless and until the Company is dissolved in accordance with the Act or this Agreement. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Company, the existence of the Company shall continue until its termination pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise provided in the Act.

 

Section 1.6 No State Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member shall be an agent, partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purposes other than for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes, and this Agreement shall not be construed to suggest otherwise. Neither the Company nor any Member shall take action inconsistent with the express intent of the parties hereto as set forth in this Section 1.6. Other than in respect of the Company, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating a corporation, association, joint stock company, business trust, or organized group of Persons, whether incorporated or not, among or involving any Member or its Affiliates, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as creating or requiring any continuing relationship or commitment as between such parties other than as specifically set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 1.7 Business Purpose. The purpose of the Company is to carry on any and all lawful businesses and activities permitted from time to time under the Act. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Company is authorized to enter into, make and perform all contracts and other undertakings, and engage in all other activities and transactions as the Manager may deem necessary, advisable or convenient for carrying out the purposes of the Company.

 

Section 1.8 Powers. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Company will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act, any other Law, or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purposes of the Company set forth in ‎Section 1.7.

 

Section 1.9 Certificates; Filings. The Certificate of Formation was previously filed on behalf of the Company in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Act. The Manager shall take any and all other actions reasonably necessary to maintain the status of the Company under the Laws of the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company shall do business. If requested by the Manager, the Members shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the Manager to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing, and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited liability company under the Laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the Manager deems it advisable, the operation of the Company as a limited liability company, in all jurisdictions in which the Company proposes to operate, and (c) all other filings required (or determined by the Manager to be necessary or appropriate) to be made by the Company.

 

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Section 1.10 Representations and Warranties by the Members.

 

(a) Individual-Member-Specific Representations. Each Member (including each Additional Member or Substituted Member as a condition to becoming an Additional Member or a Substituted Member) that is an individual represents and warrants to, and covenants with, each other Member that (i) the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Member will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any material agreement by which such Member or any of such Member’s property is bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other Law to which such Member is subject and (ii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Member in accordance with its terms, except (A) to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (B) that the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding thereof may be brought.

 

(b) Non-Individual-Member-Specific Representations. Each Member (including each Additional Member or Substituted Member as a condition to becoming an Additional Member or a Substituted Member) that is not an individual represents and warrants to, and covenants with, each other Member that (i) the execution of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including that of its general partner(s), managing member(s), committee(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, directors and/or stockholder(s) (as the case may be) as required, (ii) the execution of this Agreement and consummation of such transactions will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its partnership or operating agreement, trust agreement, charter or bylaws (as the case may be), any material agreement by which such Member or any of such Member’s properties or any of its partners, members, beneficiaries, trustees or stockholders (as the case may be) is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other Law to which such Member or any of its partners, members, trustees, beneficiaries or stockholders (as the case may be) is or are subject, and (iii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Member in accordance with its terms, except (A) to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (B) that the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding thereof may be brought.

 

(c) Securities Laws. Each Member (including each Additional Member or Substituted Member as a condition to becoming an Additional Member or Substituted Member) represents and warrants that it has acquired and continues to hold its interest in the Company for its own account for investment purposes only and not for the purpose of, or with a view toward, the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof, and not with a view toward selling or otherwise distributing such interest or any part thereof at any particular time or under any predetermined circumstances. Each Member further represents and warrants that it is a sophisticated investor, able and accustomed to handling sophisticated financial matters for itself, and that it has a sufficiently high net worth that it does not anticipate a need for the funds that it has invested in the Company in what it understands to be a speculative and illiquid investment.

 

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(d) Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in Sections ‎1.10(a), ‎1.10(b), and ‎1.10(c) shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Member (and, in the case of an Additional Member or a Substituted Member, the admission of such Additional Member or Substituted Member as a Member in the Company), and the dissolution, liquidation, and termination of the Company.

 

(e) No Representations as to Performance. Each Member (including each Additional Member or Substituted Member as a condition to becoming an Additional Member or Substituted Member) hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Company or the Manager have been made by the Company or any Member or any employee or representative or Affiliate of the Company or any Member, and that projections and any other information, including financial and descriptive information and documentation, that may have been in any manner submitted to such Member shall not constitute any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied.

 

(f) Modification of Representations and Warranties. The Manager may permit the modification of any of the representations and warranties contained in Sections ‎1.10(a), ‎1.10(b), and ‎1.10(c), as applicable, to any Member (including any Additional Member or Substituted Member or any transferee of either); provided, that such representations and warranties, as modified, shall be set forth in either (i) a Unit Designation applicable to the Units held by such Member or (ii) a separate writing addressed to the Company.

 

Article II
UNITS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 2.1 Units.

 

(a) Generally. The interests of the Members in the Company are divided into, and represented by, the Units, each having the rights and obligations specified in this Agreement.

 

(b) Classes. The Units are initially divided into:

 

(i) Class A Units,” which are issuable solely to the Manager and such other persons as the Manager shall determine;

 

(ii) Class C Units,” which are issuable to the Members as set forth on the Register and as otherwise provided in this Agreement; and

 

(iii) Other Classes of Units. The Company may issue additional Units or create additional classes, series, subclasses, or sub-series of Units in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Section 2.2 Capital Contributions of the Members; No Deficit Restoration Obligation.

 

(a) Capital Contributions. The Members made, shall be treated as having made, or have agreed to make, Capital Contributions to the Company and were issued the Units indicated on the Register. Except as provided by Law or in this Agreement, the Members shall have no obligation or, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of the Manager, right to make any other Capital Contributions or any loans to the Company.

 

(b) No Deficit Restoration Obligation. No Member shall have an obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Company as the result of a deficit balance in its Capital Account, and any such deficit shall not be considered a Debt owed to the Company or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

 

Section 2.3 No Interest; No Return. No Member shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution or on such Member’s Capital Account balance. Except as provided by this Agreement, any Unit Designation, or by Law, no Member shall have any right to demand or receive a withdrawal or the return of its Capital Contribution from the Company. Except to the extent provided in this Agreement or in any Unit Designation, no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to distributions or the return of Capital Contributions.

 

Section 2.4 Issuances of Additional Units. Subject to Section 2.5 and the rights of any Member set forth in a Unit Designation:

 

(a) General. The Company may issue additional Units for any Company purpose at any time or from time to time to the Members (including, subject to ‎Section 2.4(b), the Manager) or any other Person and may admit any such Person as an Additional Member for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the Company. Any additional Units may be issued in one or more classes or one or more series of any of such classes with such designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, rights to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption (including rights that may be senior or otherwise entitled to preference over existing Units) as shall be determined by the Company and set forth in a written document attached to and made an exhibit to this Agreement, which exhibit shall be an amendment to this Agreement and shall be incorporated into this Agreement by reference (each, a “Unit Designation”). Upon the issuance of any additional Unit, the Manager shall amend the Register and the books and records of the Company as appropriate to reflect such issuance. Except to the extent specifically set forth in any Unit Designation, a Unit of any class or series other than a Common Unit shall not entitle the holder thereof to vote on, or consent to, any matter.

 

(b) Issuances to the Manager. No additional Units shall be issued to the Manager unless at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

(i) The additional Units are issued to all Members holding Common Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests in the Common Units;

 

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(ii) The additional Units are (x) Class A Units (A) issued in connection with an issuance of Class A Common Stock or (B) issued with appropriate adjustments to the Exchange Rate, in the case of clause (B), in accordance with Section 11.4, or (y) Equivalent Units (other than Common Units) issued in connection with an issuance of Preferred Stock, New Securities, or other interests in the Manager (other than Common Stock), and, in each case, the Manager contributes to the Company the net proceeds (if any) received in connection with the issuance of such Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock, New Securities, or other interests in the Manager;

 

(iii) There is a recapitalization of the Capital Stock of the Manager, including any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or similar transaction;

 

(iv)   The additional Units are issued upon the conversion, redemption or exchange of Debt, Units or other securities issued by the Company and held by the Manager; or

 

(v) The additional Units are issued in accordance with the express terms of Section 2.5(g) or any of the other provisions of this Article II (other than Section 2.4(a)).

 

(c) Issuances of Class C Units. No additional Class C Units shall be issued except in the event of a recapitalization of the Capital Stock of the Manager, including any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or similar transaction.

 

(d) No Preemptive Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or in any Unit Designation, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential, participation or similar right or rights to subscribe for or acquire any Unit.

 

Section 2.5 Additional Funds and Additional Capital Contributions

 

(a) General. The Company may, at any time and from time to time, determine that it requires additional funds (“Additional Funds”) for the acquisition or development of additional Assets, for the redemption of Units, or for such other purposes as the Company may determine. Additional Funds may be obtained by the Company in any manner provided in, and in accordance with, the terms of this ‎Section 2.5 without the approval of any Member or any other Person.

 

(b) Additional Capital Contributions. The Company may obtain any Additional Funds by accepting Capital Contributions from any Members or other Persons. In connection with any such Capital Contribution, the Company is hereby authorized from time to time to issue additional Units (as set forth in ‎Section 2.4) in consideration for such Capital Contribution.

 

(c) Loans by Third Parties. The Company may obtain any Additional Funds by incurring Debt payable to any Person upon such terms as the Company determines appropriate, including making such Debt convertible, redeemable, or exchangeable for Units; provided, however, that the Company shall not incur any such Debt if any Member would be personally liable for the repayment of all or any portion of such Debt unless that Member otherwise agrees in writing.

 

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(d) Issuance of Securities by the Manager.

 

(i) Unless otherwise agreed to by the Members, after the completion of the SPAC Transaction, except in the case of a Liquidity Offering for purposes of a Cash Settlement and subject to Section 2.5(d)(ii) and Article XI, the Manager shall not issue any additional Capital Stock or New Securities unless the Manager contributes the net proceeds received from the issuance of such additional Capital Stock or New Securities (as the case may be), and from the exercise of the rights contained in any such additional Capital Stock or New Securities to the Company in exchange for (i) in the case of an issuance of Class A Common Stock, Class A Units, or (ii) in the case of an issuance of Preferred Stock or New Securities, Equivalent Units. If at any time any Preferred Stock or New Securities are issued that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock or another security of the Manager, then upon any such conversion or exercise, the corresponding Equivalent Unit shall be similarly converted or exercised, as applicable, and an equal number of Class A Units or other Equivalent Units shall be issued to the Manager. It is the intent of the parties that the Manager will always own Units equivalent in number and rights to its outstanding Capital Stock, except as provided pursuant to Section 11.4, and the parties hereby acknowledge that the Manager may make reasonable adjustments to its own capitalization, subject to applicable Law and the terms of any such outstanding Capital Stock, in order to effect such parity.

 

(ii) New Securities that are derivative securities issued under any Incentive Compensation Plan of the Manager shall not require issuance of Equivalent Units by the Company until such time as such derivative securities are exercised for Capital Stock of the Manager.

 

(e) Reimbursement of Issuance Expenses. If the Manager issues additional Capital Stock or New Securities and contributes the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts and commissions) received from such issuance to the Company pursuant to ‎Section 2.5(d), the Company shall reimburse or assume (on an after-tax basis) the Manager’s expenses associated with such issuance.

 

(f) Repurchase or Redemption of Capital Stock. If any shares of Capital Stock, or New Securities are repurchased, redeemed or otherwise retired (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Manager, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately before such repurchase, redemption or retirement of such Capital Stock or New Securities, to redeem, repurchase or otherwise retire a corresponding number of Class A Units, Class C Units, or Equivalent Units held by the Manager, upon the same terms and for the same consideration as the Capital Stock or New Securities to be repurchased, redeemed, or retired.

 

(g) Reinvestment of Excess Cash. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Manager (i) receives Tax Distributions in an amount in excess of the amount necessary to enable the Manager to meet or pay its U.S. federal, state and local Tax obligations, its obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and any other operating expenses or (ii) holds any other excess cash amount, the Manager may, in its sole discretion, (A) distribute such excess cash amount to its shareholders or (B) contribute such excess cash amount to the Company in exchange for a number of Class A Units, and in the case of clause (B), the Manager may distribute to the holders of Class A Common Stock an amount of shares of Class A Common Stock corresponding to the Class A Units issued by the Company and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Class A Units of the Company that were issued to the Manager.

 

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Article III
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 3.1 Distributions Generally.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article III and subject to the terms of any Unit Designation, the Company shall distribute an amount of Available Cash if, when, and as determined by the Manager to the Members pro rata in accordance with the number of their Units.

 

Section 3.2 Tax Distributions.

 

(a) Generally. If the amount distributed to a Member pursuant to Section 3.1, in respect of a Fiscal Year is less than that Member’s Assumed Tax Liability in respect of such Fiscal Year, the Company shall distribute an amount of Available Cash to the Members, pro rata in accordance with the number of Units owned (subject to any Unit Designation), such that each Member receives distributions of Available Cash in respect of each Fiscal Year in an amount at least equal to the Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for such Fiscal Year (each such distribution, a “Tax Distribution”); provided that notwithstanding any distributions pursuant to Section 3.1 or any other provision of this Agreement, the amounts required to be distributed as Tax Distributions under this Section 3.2(a) shall be an amount such that the Manager receives at least an amount equal to the Manager Tax-Related Liabilities with respect to such Fiscal Year. Except as provided in ‎Section 3.2(d) and subject to any Unit Designation, all Tax Distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with Units.

 

(b) Calculation of Assumed Tax Liability. For purposes of calculating the amount of each Member’s Tax Distributions under ‎Section 3.2(a), a Member’s “Assumed Tax Liability” means an amount equal to the product of:

 

(i) the sum of (A) the net taxable income and gain allocated to that Member from the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the Fiscal Year and (B) to the extent (x) determined by the Company in its sole discretion and (y) attributable to the Company, the amount the Member is required to include in income by reason of Code Sections 707(c) (but not including guaranteed payments for services within the meaning of Code Sections 707(c)), 951(a), and 951A(a); multiplied by

 

(ii) unless otherwise determined by the Company, the combined effective U.S. federal, state, and local rate of tax applicable to the Manager for the Fiscal Year (such tax rate, the “Assumed Tax Rate”).

 

The calculation required by this Section 3.2(b) shall be made by taking into account (w) the character of the income or gain, (x) any allocations under Code Section 704(c), (y) any special basis adjustments resulting from any election under Section 754 of the Code, including adjustments under Code Sections 732, 734(b) or 743(b), and (z) any limitations on the use of deductions or credits allocable with respect to the Fiscal Year. In addition, the Company shall adjust a Member’s Assumed Tax Liability to the extent the Company reasonably determines is necessary or appropriate as a result of any differences between U.S. federal income tax law and the tax laws of other jurisdictions in which the Company has a taxable presence. The Company shall calculate the amount of any increase described in the preceding sentence by applying the principles of Section 3.2(b)(i) and (ii) replacing the words “U.S. federal” with a reference to the applicable jurisdiction.

 

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(c) Timing of Tax Distributions. If reasonably practicable, the Company shall make distributions of the estimated Tax Distributions in respect of a Fiscal Year on a quarterly basis to facilitate the payment of quarterly estimated income taxes, taking into account amounts previously distributed by reason of this ‎Section 3.2; provided that, if necessary for the Manager to timely satisfy any Manager Tax-Related Liabilities, the Company shall make Tax Distributions on a more frequent basis. Not later than sixty (60) Business Days after the end of the Fiscal Year, the Company shall make a final Tax Distribution in an amount sufficient to fulfill the Company’s obligations under ‎Section 3.2(a).

 

(d) Impact of Insufficient Available Cash. If the amount of estimated or final Tax Distributions to be made exceeds the amount of the Available Cash, the Tax Distribution to which each Member is entitled pursuant to Section 3.2(a) shall be reduced in accordance with the provisions of this ‎Section 3.2(d) (the amount of such reduction with respect to each Member, such Member’s “Tax Distribution Shortfall Amount”), and Available Cash shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

 

(i) First, to the Manager in an amount equal to the full amount of its Tax Distribution; and

 

(ii) Second, to the Members other than the Manager pro rata in accordance with their Units (subject to any Unit Designation) in an aggregate amount such that each such Member has received distributions pursuant to this Section 3.2(d)(ii) that is not less than its Assumed Tax Liability.

 

Any Tax Distribution Shortfall Amounts will be carried forward to subsequent Fiscal Years, and distributions will be made to resolve such amounts, in accordance with the foregoing order of priority when and to the extent that the Company has sufficient Available Cash (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any cash required to make Tax Distributions in respect of subsequent Fiscal Years). Any outstanding Tax Distribution Shortfall Amounts must be resolved prior to making (or must be taken into account in making) any distribution under ‎Section 3.1 or ‎Section 9.3(a).

 

(e) No Tax Distributions on Liquidation. No Tax Distributions shall be made in connection with a Liquidating Event or the liquidation of a Member’s Units in the Company.

 

Section 3.3 Distributions in Kind. No Member may demand to receive property other than cash as provided in this Agreement. The Company may make a distribution in kind of Assets to the Members, and if a distribution is made both in cash and in kind, such distribution shall be made so that, to the fullest extent practical, the percentage of the cash and any other Assets distributed to each Member entitled to such distribution is identical.

 

Section 3.4 Distributions to Reflect Additional Units. If the Company issues additional Units pursuant to the provisions of ‎Article II, subject to the provisions of any Unit Designation, the Manager is authorized to make such revisions to this ‎Article III and to ‎Annex C as it determines are reasonably necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of such additional Units, including making preferential distributions to certain classes of Units.

 

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Section 3.5 Other Distribution Rules.

 

(a) Transfers. From and after the Transfer of a Unit, for purposes of determining the rights to distributions (including Tax Distributions) under this Agreement, distributions (including Tax Distributions) made to the transferor Member, along with any withholding or deduction in respect of any such distribution, shall be treated as having been made to the transferee unless otherwise determined by the Company.

 

(b) Record Date for Distributions. The Company may designate a Record Date for purposes of calculating and giving effect to distributions. All distributions shall be made to the holders of record as of the applicable Record Date.

 

(c) Over-Distributions. If the amount of any distribution to a Member under the Agreement exceeds the amount to which the Member in entitled (e.g., by reason of an accounting error), the Member shall, upon written notice of the over-distribution delivered to the Member within one year of the over-distribution, promptly return the amount of such over-distribution to the Company.

 

(d) Reimbursements of Preformation Capital Expenditures. To the extent a distribution (or deemed distribution resulting from a reduction in a Member’s share of Company liabilities for federal tax purposes) otherwise would be treated as proceeds in a sale under Code Section 707(a)(2)(B), the Members intend such actual or deemed distribution to reimburse preformation capital expenditures under Treas. Reg. § 1.707-4(d) to the maximum extent permitted by Law.

 

(e) Limitation on Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member to the extent such distribution would violate the Act or other Law or would result in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries being in default under any material agreement.

 

Article IV
Management and OPERATIONS

 

Section 4.1 Management.

 

(a) Authority of Manager.

 

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Manager shall have full, exclusive, and complete discretion to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company, to make all decisions affecting the business and affairs of the Company and to do or cause to be done any and all acts, at the expense of the Company, as the Manager deems necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes and direct the affairs of the Company. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence and subject to Section 4.1, the Manager may cause the Company, without the consent or approval of any other Member, to enter into any of the following in one or a series of related transactions: (i) any merger, (ii) any acquisition, (iii) any consolidation, (iv) any sale, lease or other transfer or conveyance of Assets, (v) any recapitalization or reorganization of outstanding securities, (vi) any merger, sale, lease, spin-off, exchange, transfer or other disposition of a Subsidiary, division or other business, (vii) any issuance of Debt or equity securities (subject to any limitations expressly provided for in this Agreement), or (viii) any incurrence of Debt.

 

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(ii) The Manager shall have the exclusive power and authority to bind the Company and shall be an agent of the Company’s business. The actions of the Manager taken in such capacity and in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Company. Except to the extent expressly delegated in writing by the Manager, no Member or Person other than the Manager shall be an agent for the Company or have any right, power or authority to transact any business in the name of the Company or act for or on behalf of or to bind the Company.

 

(iii) Subject to the rights of any Member set forth in Section 4.1(f), any determinations to be made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the Manager, and such determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Company and every Member.

 

(iv)   The Manager shall constitute a “manager” (as that term is defined in the Act) of the Company.

 

(v) The Manager may not be removed by the Members, with or without cause, except with the consent of the Manager.

 

(b) Appointment of Officers. The Manager may, from time to time, appoint such officers and establish such management and/or advisory boards or committees of the Company as the Manager deems necessary or advisable, each of which shall have such powers, authority, and responsibilities as are delegated in writing by the Manager from time to time. Each such officer and/or board or committee member shall serve at the pleasure of the Manager. The initial Officers of the Company are set forth on ‎Annex D attached to this Agreement.

 

(c) No Participation by Members. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or required by any non-waivable provision of the Act or other Law and subject to ‎Section 4.1, no Member (acting in such capacity) shall (x) have any right to vote on or consent to any other matter, act, decision or document involving the Company or its business or any other matter, or (y) take part in the day-to-day management, or the operation or control, of the business and affairs of the Company. No Member, as such, shall have the power to bind the Company.

 

(d) Bankruptcy. Only the Manager may commence a voluntary case on behalf of, or an involuntary case against, the Company under a chapter of Title 11 U.S.C. by the filing of a “petition” (as defined in 11 U.S.C. 101(42)) with the United States Bankruptcy Court. Any such petition filed by any other Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, shall be deemed an unauthorized and bad faith filing, and all parties to this Agreement shall use their best efforts to cause such petition to be dismissed.

 

(e) Amendment of Agreement. All amendments to this Agreement must be approved by the Manager. Subject to the rights of any Member set forth in a Unit Designation and ‎‎Section 4.1(f) and ‎‎Section 4.1(g), the Manager shall have the power, without the consent or approval of any Member, to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

 

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(i) To add to the obligations of the Manager or surrender any right or power granted to the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager for the benefit of the Members;

 

(ii) To reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature or does not adversely affect the Members in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with Law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with Law or with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(iii) To satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency, or in federal or state Law;

 

(iv)   To reflect the admission, substitution, or withdrawal of Members, the Transfer of any Units, the issuance of additional Units, or the termination of the Company in accordance with this Agreement, and to amend the Register in connection with such admission, substitution, withdrawal, or Transfer;

 

(v) To set forth or amend the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any additional Units issued pursuant to Article II;

 

(vi)   If the Company is the Surviving Company in any Termination Transaction, to modify Section 10.1 or any related definitions to provide the holders of interests in the Surviving Company rights that are consistent with Section 7.6(b)(iii); and

 

(vii) To reflect any other modification to this Agreement as is reasonably necessary or appropriate for the business or operations of the Company or the Manager and that does not violate a Unit Designation, ‎‎Section 4.1(f), or Section 4.1(g).

 

(f)   Certain Amendments and Actions Requiring Member Consent.

 

(i) Notwithstanding anything in Section 4.1(e) or Article X to the contrary, this Agreement shall not be amended, and no action may be taken by the Manager or the Company without the consent of any Member holding Common Units that would be adversely affected by such amendment or action. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 4.1(f)(i), the Members holding Common Units will be deemed to be adversely affected by an amendment or action that would (A) adversely alter the rights of any Member to receive the distributions to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article III or Section 9.3(a)(iii), (B) convert the Company into a corporation or cause the Company to be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than in connection with a Termination Transaction), or (C) amend this Section 4.1(f)(i). Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two sentences of this Section 4.1(f)(i), but subject to Section 4.1(f)(ii), the consent of any Member holding Common Units that would be adversely affected by an amendment or action shall not be required for any such amendment or action that affects all Members holding the same class or series of Units on a uniform or pro rata basis if such amendment or action is approved by a Majority-in-Interest of the Members of such class or series. If some, but not all, of the Members consent to such an amendment or action, the Company may, in its discretion, make such amendment or action effective only as to the Members that consented to it, to the extent it is practicable to do so.

 

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(ii) This Agreement shall not be amended, and no action may be taken by the Manager without the consent of any Member holding Common Units that would be adversely affected by such amendment or action if such amendment or action would (A) modify the limited liability of a Member or increase the obligation of a Member to make a Capital Contribution to the Company or (B) amend this Section 4.1(f)(ii).

 

(g) Implementation of Amendments. Upon obtaining any Consent required under this Section 4.1 or otherwise required by this Agreement, and without further action or execution by any other Person, including any Member, (i) any amendment to this Agreement may be implemented and reflected in a writing executed solely by the Manager, and (ii) the Members shall be deemed a party to and bound by that amendment of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.2 Tax Actions. All tax-related actions, decisions, or determinations (or failure to take any available tax-related action, decision, or determination) by or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company not expressly reserved for the Members shall be made, taken, or determined by the Manager; provided, however, any action, decision, or determination that could reasonably be expected to have a material consequence to the Bluescape Members that is disproportionately adverse to them as compared to the Manager shall not be taken without the prior written consent of the Company Unitholder Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

Section 4.3 Compensation and Reimbursement of Manager.

 

(a) General. The Manager shall not receive any fees from the Company for its services in administering the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

 

(b) Reimbursement of Manager. The Company shall be liable for, and shall reimburse the Manager on an after-tax basis at such intervals as the Manager may determine, all:

 

(i) overhead, administrative expenses, insurance and reasonable legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of the Manager;

 

(ii) expenses of the Manager incidental to being a public reporting company;

 

(iii) reasonable fees and expenses related to the SPAC Transactions or any subsequent public offering of equity securities of the Manager (without duplicating any provisions of Section 2.5(e)) or private placement of equity securities of the Manager (including any reasonable fees and expenses related to the registration for resale of any such securities), whether or not consummated;

 

(iv) franchise and similar taxes of the Manager and other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of the existence of the Manager;

 

(v) customary compensation and benefits payable by the Manager, and indemnities provided by the Manager on behalf of, the officers, directors, and employees of the Manager; and

 

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(vi) reasonable expenses paid by the Manager on behalf of the Company; provided, however, that the amount of any reimbursement shall be reduced by any interest earned by the Manager with respect to bank accounts or other instruments or accounts held by it on behalf of the Company as permitted pursuant to Section 4.4. Such reimbursements shall be in addition to any reimbursement of the Manager as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 4.7.

 

Section 4.4 Outside Activities.

 

(a) Limitation on Outside Activities of Manager. The Manager shall not directly or indirectly enter into or conduct any business, other than in connection with (i) the ownership, acquisition, and disposition of Units, (ii) maintaining its legal existence (including the ability to incur and pay, as applicable, fees, costs, expenses and taxes relating to that maintenance), (iii) the management of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iv) its operation as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under the Exchange Act, (v) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement, or public offering of stock, bonds, securities, or other interests of the Manager, (vi) the financing or refinancing of any type related to the Company or its Assets or activities, (vii) receiving and paying dividends and distributions or making contributions to the capital of its Subsidiaries, (viii) filing tax reports and tax returns and paying taxes and other customary obligations in the ordinary course (and contesting any taxes), (ix) participating in tax, accounting, and other administrative matters with respect to its Subsidiaries and providing administrative and advisory services (including treasury and insurance services, including maintaining directors’ and officers’ insurance on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries) to its Subsidiaries, (x) holding any cash or property (but not operating any property), (xi) indemnifying officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants, or independent contractors of the Manager, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, (xii) entering into any Termination Transaction or similar transaction in accordance with this Agreement, (xiii) preparing reports to governmental authorities and to its shareholders, (xiv) holding director and shareholder meetings, preparing organizational records, and other organizational activities required to maintain its separate organizational structure, (xv) complying with applicable Law, (xvi) engaging in activities relating to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan of the Manager, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, and (xvii) engaging in activities that are incidental to clauses (i) through (xvi). The provisions of this ‎Section 4.4 shall restrict only the Manager and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) and shall not restrict the other Members or any Affiliate of the other Members (other than the Manager).

 

(b) Outside Activities of Members.

 

(i) Subject to (x) Article XI of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Manager, (y) any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 4.5, and (z) any other agreements (including any employment agreement) entered into by a Member or any of its Affiliates with the Manager, the Company or a Subsidiary, any Member (but, with respect to the Manager, subject to Section 4.4(a)), or any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate, member or stockholder of any Member shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities that are in direct or indirect competition with the Company or that are enhanced by the activities of the Company, and, in any such case, need not (A) first offer the Company or any of its Subsidiaries an opportunity to participate in such business interests or activities or (B) account to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such business interests or activities.

 

(ii) None of the Members, the Company or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Member or Person. Subject to any other agreements entered into by a Member or its Affiliates with the Manager, the Company or a Subsidiary, no Member (other than the Manager) or any such other Person shall have any obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Company, any Member, or any such other Person.

 

Section 4.5 Transactions with Affiliates. Subject to the provisions of ‎Section 4.1(f) and ‎Section 4.4, the Company may enter into any transaction or arrangement with the Manager or Subsidiaries of the Company or other Persons in which the Company has an equity investment on terms and conditions determined by the Manager. Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to ‎Section 4.4, (a) the Company may (i) lend funds to, or borrow funds from, the Manager or to Subsidiaries of the Company or other Persons in which the Company has an equity investment and (ii) transfer Assets to joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships, corporations, business trusts or other business entities in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or thereby becomes a participant, and (b) the Manager may (i) propose and adopt on behalf of the employee benefit plans funded by the Company for the benefit of employees of the Manager, the Company, Subsidiaries of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of the Manager, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and (ii) sell, transfer or convey any property to the Company, directly or indirectly.

 

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Section 4.6 Limitation on Liability.

 

(a) General. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, no Indemnitee, in such capacity, shall be liable to the Company, any Member or any of their respective Affiliates, for any losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of such Person if (i) either (A) the Indemnitee, at the time of such act or omission, determined in good faith that its, his or her course of conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or (B) in the case of omission by the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee did not intend its, his or her inaction to be harmful or opposed to the best interests of the Company and (ii) the act or omission did not constitute fraud or intentional misconduct by the Indemnitee.

 

(b) Action in Good Faith. An Indemnitee acting under this Agreement shall not be liable to the Company for its, his, or her good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they expand, restrict, or eliminate the duties and liabilities of such Persons otherwise existing at Law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace fully and completely such other duties and liabilities of such Persons. Whenever the Manager or the Company is permitted or required to make a decision or take an action under this Agreement (i) in making such decisions, such Person shall be entitled to take into account its own interests as well as the interests of the Members as a whole or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

 

(c) Outside Counsel. The Manager may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors, and any act or omission suffered or taken by the Manager on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the Manager will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

 

(d) Duties of Members. Other than obligations of Members explicitly set forth in this Agreement, no Member (other than the Manager in its capacity as a manager), including any Member who may be deemed to be a controlling Member under applicable Law (other than the Manager in its capacity as a manager), shall owe any duty (of loyalty, care or otherwise) to the Company or to any other Member solely by reason of being a Member. With respect to each matter requiring approval of a Majority-in-Interest of the Members, each Member having voting rights may grant or withhold such Member’s vote under this Agreement, in such Member’s sole judgment, as directed or otherwise determined by such Member, without regard to the interests of any other Member or of the Company, and no Member shall have any duty to represent or act in the best interests of the Company or any other Member.

 

Section 4.7 Indemnification.

 

(a) General. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee (and such Person’s heirs, successors, assigns, executors or administrators) to the full extent permitted by Law and to the same extent and in the same manner provided by the provisions of Article VI of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Manager applicable to officers and directors as if such provisions were set forth herein, mutatis mutandis, and applied to each such Indemnitee.

 

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(b) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ‎Section 4.7 shall not be exclusive of any other right that any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, provisions of a certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or otherwise.

 

(c) Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this ‎Section 4.7 shall be contract rights and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be the Manager, an Affiliate of the Manager, the Tax Representative, the Designated Individual, or an officer or director of the Manager, the Company, or their respective Affiliates. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this ‎Section 4.7 or of Article VI of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Manager that would adversely affect any right of an Indemnitee or its successors shall apply prospectively only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place before such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

Article V
BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

Section 5.1 Books and Records.

 

(a) General. The Company shall maintain in its principal business office, or any other place as may be determined by the Company, the books and records of the Company.

 

(b) Specific Records. In particular, the Company shall maintain:

 

(i) A register containing the name, address, and number and class of Units (including Equivalent Units) of each Member, and such other information as the Manager may deem necessary or desirable and attached to this Agreement as Annex (A) (as may be amended or updated from time to time, the “Register”). The Manager shall from time to time update the Register as necessary to ensure the Register is accurate, including as a result of any sales, exchanges, or other Transfers, or any redemptions, issuances, or similar events involving Units. Except as required by Law, no Member shall be entitled to receive a copy of the Register or of the information set forth in the Register relating to any Member other than itself.

 

(ii) A copy of the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement and all amendments thereto.

 

Section 5.2 Financial Accounts. At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Company for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis, in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

 

Section 5.3 Inspection; Confidentiality. The Manager may keep confidential from the Members (or any of them) for such period of time as the Manager determines to be reasonable, any information (a) that the Manager believes to be in the nature of trade secrets, (b) the disclosure of which the Manager in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Company or the Manager, or (c) that the Company or the Manager is required by Law, agreement, or customary commercial practice to keep confidential. Subject to the provisions of the previous sentence, the Members (personally or through an authorized representative) may, for purposes reasonably related to their respective interests in the Company, examine and copy (at their own cost and expense) the books and records of the Company at all reasonable business hours upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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Section 5.4 Information to Be Provided by Manager to Members. The Company shall deliver (or otherwise make accessible) to each Member a copy of any information mailed or delivered electronically to all of the common stockholders of the Manager as soon as practicable after such mailing or electronic delivery.

 

Article VI
TAX MATTERS, ACCOUNTING, AND REPORTING

 

Section 6.1 Tax Matters.

 

(a) Tax Returns. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be prepared and timely filed (taking into account available extensions) all federal, state, and local, and non-U.S. tax returns of the Company for each year for which such returns are required to be filed and shall determine the appropriate treatment of each tax item of the Company and make all other determinations with respect to such tax returns.

 

(b) Other Tax-Related Matters. Each of the provisions of ‎Annex C, which address various tax-related matters, is incorporated into and shall constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.2 Accounting and Fiscal Year. Unless otherwise determined by the Company or required by Code Section 706, the fiscal year of the Company (the “Fiscal Year”) shall be the calendar year ending December 31st, or, in the case of the last Fiscal Year of the Company, the fraction thereof ending on the date on which the winding up of the Company is completed.

 

Article VII
UNIT TRANSFERS AND MEMBER WITHDRAWALS

 

Section 7.1 Transfer Generally Prohibited. No Units shall be Transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this ‎Article VII and ‎Article X. Any Transfer or purported Transfer of a Unit not made in accordance with this ‎Article VII or ‎Article X shall be null and void ab initio. Units shall not be subject to the claims of any creditor, spouse for alimony or support, or legal process and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily alienated or encumbered except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.2 Conditions Generally Applicable to All Transfers. All Transfers are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) Transfers by Members Other than the Manager.

 

(i) Consent of Manager. No Member other than the Manager shall Transfer any portion of its Units to any transferee without the prior written consent of the Manager unless the Transfer is a Related-Party Transfer.

 

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(ii) Assumption of Obligations; No Relief from Obligations. Any transferee of all or a portion of a Unit (whether or not admitted as a Substituted Member) shall take subject to and assume, by operation of Law or express agreement, all of the obligations of the transferor Member under this Agreement with respect to such Transferred Unit. No Transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation pursuant to which all obligations and liabilities of the transferor Member are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of Law) shall relieve the transferor Member of its obligations under this Agreement without the approval of the Manager.

 

(iii) No Rights as Member. No transferee, whether by a voluntary Transfer, by operation of Law or otherwise, shall have any rights under this Agreement unless admitted as a Substituted Member.

 

(b) Transfers by the Manager.

 

(i) Consent of Members. The Manager may not Transfer any of its Units without the consent of a Majority-in-Interest of the Members, except in connection with an Applicable Sale or Termination Transaction or to a wholly owned subsidiary in accordance with ‎Section 7.2(b)(ii).

 

(ii) Transfer to Subsidiary. Subject to compliance with the other provisions of this ‎Article VII, the Manager may Transfer all of its Units at any time to any Person that is, at the time of such Transfer, a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Manager without the consent of any Member and may designate the transferee to become the new Manager for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(c) Withholding with Respect to a Transfer of Units. A Member making a Transfer permitted by this Agreement shall comply with Section 4.10(b) of ‎Annex C.

 

(d) Other Restrictions on Transfer. In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer in this Agreement, no Member may Transfer a Unit (including by way of acquisition of Units by the Manager or any other acquisition of Units by the Company) if the Manager determines:

 

(i) Such Transfer (A) would result in the Company having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), or (B) would create an undue risk that the Company be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or a successor provision or otherwise classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state, or local income tax purposes; provided, that a Transfer by a Member shall not be prohibited under Section 7.2(d)(i)(B) if the Member obtains a tax opinion on which the Manager and the Company can rely from nationally recognized tax counsel that the Transfer will not result in the Company being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or a successor provision or otherwise classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state, or local income tax purposes;

 

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(ii) That the Transfer would be to any Person or entity that lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own a Unit;

 

(iii) That the Transfer would be in violation of Law;

 

(iv) That the Transfer would be of any fractional or component portion of a Unit or rights to distributions, separate and apart from all other components of a Unit;

 

(v) That the Transfer would create a material risk that the Company would become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in ERISA Section 3(14)) or a “disqualified Person” (as defined in Code section 4975(c));

 

(vi) That the Transfer would create a material risk that any portion of the Assets would constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Reg. § 2510.2-101;

 

(vii) That the Transfer would require the registration of such Unit pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities Laws;

 

(viii) That such Transfer would create a material risk that the Company would become a reporting company under the Exchange Act; or

 

(ix) That the Transfer would subject the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or ERISA, each as amended.

 

Section 7.3 Substituted Members.

 

(a) Admission as Member. A transferee of Units of a Member, other than a Related-Party Transferee, may be admitted as a Substituted Member only with the consent of the Company. A Related-Party Transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Member without the consent of the Company, subject to compliance with ‎Section 7.3(b). The failure or refusal by the Company to permit a transferee of Units to become a Substituted Member shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Company or the Manager. A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with this ‎Article VII shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Member under this Agreement.

 

(b) Documents to Be Provided by Transferee. No transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Member until and unless it furnishes to the Manager (i) evidence of acceptance, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, of all the terms, conditions and applicable obligations of this Agreement, (ii) a counterpart signature page to this Agreement executed by such transferee and (iii) such other documents and instruments as the Manager may require to effect such transferee’s admission as a Substituted Member, including a certification from the transferee or an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company in respect of any of the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 7.2(d) (which certification or opinion may be waived, in whole or in part, in the sole discretion of the Company).

 

(c) Amendment of Books and Records. In connection with, and as evidence of, the admission of a Substituted Member, the Manager or Company shall amend the Register and the books and records of the Company to reflect the name, address and number of Units of such Substituted Member and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and number of Units of the predecessor of such Substituted Member.

 

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Section 7.4 Drag-Along Rights.

 

(a) If at any time the Manager and/or its Affiliates (excluding, for purposes of this Section 7.4, the Company and its Subsidiaries) desire to Transfer in one or more transactions a sufficient portion of its and/or their Units (or any beneficial interest therein) to constitute a Change of Control to a bona fide third party that is not an Affiliate of the Manager (an “Applicable Sale”), the Manager may require each other Member either (i) to sell the same ratable share of its Units as is being sold by the Manager and such Affiliates (based upon the total Units held by the Manager and its Affiliates at such time) on the same terms and conditions and/or (ii) to exchange its Units pursuant to Section 10.2(b) (each, a “Drag-Along Right”). The Manager may in its sole discretion elect to cause the Manager and/or the Company to structure the Applicable Sale as a merger or consolidation or as a sale of the Company’s Assets.

 

(b) No Member shall have any dissenters’ rights, appraisal rights or similar rights in connection with any Applicable Sale, and no Member may object to any subsequent liquidation or other distribution of the proceeds from an Applicable Sale that is a sale of Assets. Each Member agrees to consent to, and raise no objections against, an Applicable Sale. In the event of the exercise by the Manager of its Drag-Along Right pursuant to this Section 7.4, each Member shall take all reasonably necessary and desirable actions approved by the Manager in connection with the consummation of the Applicable Sale, including the execution of such agreements and such instruments and other actions reasonably necessary to provide customary and reasonable representations, warranties, indemnities, covenants, conditions and other agreements relating to such Applicable Sale and to otherwise effect the transaction; provided, however, that (A) such Members shall not be required to give disproportionately greater or more onerous representations, warranties, indemnities, or covenants than the Manager or its Affiliates, (B) such Members shall not be obligated to bear any share of the out-of-pocket expenses, costs, or fees (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Company or its Affiliates in connection with such Applicable Sale unless and to the extent that such expenses, costs, and fees were incurred for the benefit of the Company or all of its Members, (C) such Members shall not be obligated or otherwise responsible for more than their proportionate shares of any indemnities or other liabilities incurred by the Company and the Members as sellers in respect of such Applicable Sale, (D) any indemnities or other liabilities approved by the Manager shall be limited, in respect of each Member, to such Member’s share of the proceeds from the Applicable Sale, and (E) such Members shall not be required to enter into any non-compete agreement in connection with such Applicable Sale.

 

(c) At least five (5) Business Days before consummation of an Applicable Sale, the Manager shall (i) provide the Members written notice (the “Applicable Sale Notice”) of the Applicable Sale, which notice shall contain (A) the name and address of the third-party purchaser, (B) the proposed purchase price, terms of payment, and other material terms and conditions of the purchaser’s offer, together with a copy of any binding agreement with respect to the Applicable Sale and (C) notification of whether the Manager has elected to exercise its Drag-Along Right and (ii) promptly notify the Members of all proposed changes to the material terms and keep the Members reasonably informed as to all material terms relating to the Applicable Sale or contribution, and promptly deliver to the Members copies of all final material agreements relating to the Applicable Sale not already provided in accordance with this Section 7.4(b) or otherwise. The Manager shall provide the Members written notice of the termination of an Applicable Sale within five (5) Business Days following such termination, which notice shall state that the Applicable Sale Notice served with respect to such Applicable Sale is rescinded.

 

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Section 7.5 Withdrawal.

 

(a) Permissible Withdrawals. Subject to any Unit Designation, no Member may withdraw from the Company other than:

 

(i) As a result of a Transfer of all of such Member’s Units in accordance with this Article VII or Article X with respect to which the transferee becomes a Substituted Member;

 

(ii) Pursuant to an acquisition by the Manager or Subsidiary of the Manager of all of its Units; or

 

(iii) With the prior written consent of the Company.

 

(b) Consequences of Withdrawal. Any Member who Transfers all of its Units in a Transfer (i) permitted pursuant to this ‎Article VII where such transferee was admitted as a Substituted Member or (ii) to the Manager, whether or not pursuant to ‎Section 10.1, shall cease to be a Member but shall continue to have the obligations of a former Member that are expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.6 Restrictions on Termination Transactions.

 

(a) General. Except as provided in ‎Section 7.6(b), neither the Company nor the Manager shall engage in, or cause or permit, a Termination Transaction.

 

(b) Consent. The Company or Manager may engage in, cause, or permit a Termination Transaction only if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

(i) A Majority-in-Interest of the Members give Consent;

 

(ii) In connection with any such Termination Transaction, each holder of Common Units (other than the Manager and its wholly owned Subsidiaries) will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, for each Common Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal to the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that the holder of Common Units would have received had it exercised its right to Exchange pursuant to Article X and received Class A Common Stock in exchange for its Common Units immediately before such Termination Transaction; or

 

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(iii) All of the following conditions are met: (1) substantially all of the Assets directly or indirectly owned by the Company before the announcement of the Termination Transaction are, immediately after the Termination Transaction, owned directly or indirectly by the Company or another limited partnership or limited liability company that is the survivor of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with the Company (in each case, the “Surviving Company”); (2) the Surviving Company is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and each of its Subsidiaries has the same classification for U.S. federal, state, and local tax purposes immediately after the Termination Transaction that each Subsidiary had immediately before the Termination Transaction; (3) the rights of such Members with respect to the Surviving Company (including pursuant to a Tax Receivable Agreement) are at least as favorable as those of Members holding Units immediately before the consummation of such Termination Transaction (except to the extent that any such rights are consistent with clause (4) of this Section 7.6(b)(iii)) and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the Surviving Company; and (4) such rights include the right to cause their interests in the Surviving Company to be redeemed at any time or times for cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such interest at the time of redemption, as determined at least once every calendar quarter by an independent appraisal firm of recognized national standing retained by the Surviving Company.

 

Section 7.7 Incapacity. If a Member is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator, or receiver of such Member’s estate (a “Member Representative”) shall have the same rights as the Incapacitated Member possessed to Transfer its Units. The Incapacity of a Member, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Company. Unless a Member or Member Representative informs the Company in writing of the Member’s Incapacity, the Company shall have the right to assume each Member is not Incapacitated. The Company shall have no obligation to determine whether or not a Member is Incapacitated.

 

Section 7.8 Legend. Each certificate representing a Unit, if any, will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

 

THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT.

 

THE TRANSFER AND VOTING OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF VERDE CLEAN FUELS OPCO, LLC DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 2023, AMONG THE MEMBERS LISTED THEREIN, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED AND/OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND NO TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES WILL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES.”

 

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Article VIII
ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS

 

Section 8.1 Admission of Additional Members.

 

(a) Requirements for Admission. A Person (other than a then-existing Member) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Company in exchange for Units and in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Company as an Additional Member only upon furnishing to the Manager (i) evidence of acceptance, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in ‎Section 11.1, (ii) a counterpart signature page to this Agreement executed by such Person, and (iii) such other documents or instruments as may be required by the Manager in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Member. In connection with, and as evidence of, the admission of an Additional Member, the Manager shall amend the Register and the books and records of the Company to reflect the name, address, number and type of Units of such Additional Member.

 

(b) Consent of Company Required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this ‎Section 8.1, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Member without the consent of the Company. The admission of any Person as an Additional Member shall become effective on the date determined by the Company (but in no case earlier than the satisfaction of all the conditions set forth in ‎Section 8.1(a)).

 

Section 8.2 Limit on Number of Members. Unless otherwise permitted by the Manager, no Person shall be admitted to the Company after the date of this Agreement as an Additional Member if the effect of such admission would be to cause the Company to have a number of Members (including as Members for this purpose those Persons indirectly owning an interest in the Company through another partnership, a limited liability company, a subchapter S corporation or a grantor trust) that would cause the Company to become a reporting company under the Exchange Act.

 

Article IX
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 9.1 Dissolution Generally.

 

(a) Dissolution Only in Accordance with This Agreement. The Company shall not be dissolved by the substitution of Members or the admission of Additional Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this ‎Article IX, and the Members hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Company or a sale or partition of any or all of the Company’s Assets.

 

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(b) Termination of Members. The death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, Bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company shall not in and of itself cause dissolution of the Company.

 

Section 9.2 Events Causing Dissolution.

 

(a) Actions by Members. No Member shall take any action to dissolve, terminate or liquidate the Company, or require apportionment, appraisal or partition of the Company or any of its Assets, or file a bill for an accounting, except as specifically provided in this Agreement, and each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, waives any rights to take any such actions under Law, including any right to petition a court for judicial dissolution under Section 18-802 of the Act.

 

(b) Liquidating Events. The Company shall dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating its affairs upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “Liquidating Event”):

 

(i) an election to dissolve the Company made by the Manager, with the Consent of a Majority-in-Interest of the Members;

 

(ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all Assets; or

 

(iii) any other event that results in a mandatory dissolution under the Act.

 

Section 9.3 Distribution upon Dissolution.

 

(a) Order of Distributions. Upon the dissolution of the Company pursuant to ‎Section 9.2, the Manager (or, in the event that the Manager has dissolved, become Bankrupt or ceased to operate, any Person elected by a Majority-in-Interest of the Members (the Manager or such other Person, the “Liquidator”)) shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Company and shall take full account of the Company’s Assets and liabilities, and the Company’s Assets shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the Manager, include shares of stock in the Manager) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

 

(i) First, to the satisfaction of all of the Company’s Debts and liabilities to creditors, including Members who are creditors (other than with respect to liabilities owed to Members in satisfaction of liabilities for previously declared distributions), whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof;

 

(ii) Second, to the satisfaction of all of the Company’s liabilities to the Members in satisfaction of liabilities for previously declared distributions, whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof; and

 

(iii) The balance, if any, to the Members, in accordance with Section 3.1(a).

(b) Discretion of Liquidator and Manager.

 

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.3(a) that require liquidation of the Assets, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if before or upon dissolution of the Company, the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s Assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members, the Liquidator may, in its sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any Assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Company (including to those Members as creditors) and/or distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, as tenants-in-common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3(a), undivided interests in such Company Assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and any agreements governing the operation of such properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

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(ii) In the sole discretion of the Manager, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the Members pursuant to this Article IX may be:

 

(A) Distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the Manager and the Members for the purpose of liquidating Company Assets, collecting amounts owed to the Company, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company or of the Manager arising out of or in connection with the Company and/or Company activities. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the Members, from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Manager, in the same proportions and amounts as would otherwise have been distributed to the Members pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

(B) Withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve for Company liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Company, provided, that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall be distributed to the Members in the manner and order of priority set forth in Section 9.3(a) as soon as practicable.

 

Section 9.4 Rights of Members. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to the rights of any Member set forth in a Unit Designation, (a) each Member shall look solely to the Assets for the return of its Capital Contribution, (b) no Member shall have the right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the Company, and (c) no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to the return of its Capital Contributions or distributions.

 

Section 9.5 Termination. The Company shall terminate when all of the Assets, after payment of or due provision for all Debts, liabilities, and obligations of the Company, have been distributed to the Members in the manner provided for in this ‎Article IX and the Certificate of Formation shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

 

Article X PROCEDURES FOR ACTIONS AND CONSENTS
OF MEMBERS; MEETINGS

 

Section 10.1 Actions and Consents of Members. The actions requiring Consent of any Member pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to Law are subject to the procedures set forth in this ‎Article X.

 

Section 10.2 Procedures for Meetings and Actions of the Members.

 

(a) Time; Quorum; Consent. Meetings of the Members may be called only by the Manager and shall state the nature of the business to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Members entitled to act at the meeting not less than two (2) days nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of such meeting. Members may vote in Person or by proxy at such meeting. Unless approval by a different number or proportion of the Members is required by this Agreement or any Unit Designation, the affirmative vote of a Majority-in-Interest of the Members shall be sufficient to approve such proposal at a meeting of the Members. Whenever the Consent of any Members is permitted or required under this Agreement, such Consent may be given at a meeting of Members or in accordance with the procedure prescribed in ‎Section 10.2(b).

 

(b) Written Consents. Any action requiring the Consent of any Member or a group of Members pursuant to this Agreement or that is required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if a Consent in writing or by electronic transmission and filed with the Manager setting forth the action so taken or consented to is given by Members whose affirmative vote would be sufficient to approve such action or provide such Consent at a meeting of the Members. Such Consent may be in one or several instruments and shall have the same force and effect as the affirmative vote of such Members at a meeting of the Members. An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified. For purposes of obtaining a Consent in writing or by electronic transmission, the Manager may require a response within a reasonable specified time, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a Consent that is consistent with the Manager’s recommendation with respect to the proposal.

 

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(c) Proxy. Each Member entitled to act at a meeting of Members may authorize any Person or Persons to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Each proxy must be signed by the Member or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy (or there is receipt of a proxy authorizing a later date). Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Member executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Company’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Member executing such proxy, unless such proxy states that it is irrevocable and is coupled with an interest.

 

(d) Record Date for Meetings and Other Purposes.

 

(i) The Manager may set, in advance, a Record Date (x) for the purpose of determining the identities of the Members entitled to Consent to any action or entitled to receive notice of or vote at any meeting of the Members or (y) to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose. Any such date shall not be before the close of business on the day the Record Date is fixed and shall be not more than ninety (90) days and, in the case of a meeting of the Members, not less than two (2) days, before the date on which the meeting is to be held.

 

(ii) If no Record Date is set, the Record Date for the determination of Members entitled to notice of or vote at a meeting of the Members shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of the meeting is sent, and the Record Date for any other determination of Members shall be the effective date of such Member action, distribution or other event. When a determination of the Members entitled to vote at any meeting of the Members has been made as provided in this Section 10.2(d)(ii), such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

(e) Conduct of Meetings. Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by the Manager or such other Person as the Manager may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the Manager or such other Person deems appropriate.

 

(f) Waivers. Any time period for notice with respect to meetings or consents of the Members may be waived by a Member as to such Member.

 

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Article XI
EXCHANGE RIGHTS

 

Section 11.1 Elective and Mandatory Exchanges.

 

(a) Elective Exchanges. Subject to the Policy Regarding Exchanges set forth in Annex E, as amended from time to time by the Company (the “Policy Regarding Exchanges”), an Exchangeable Unit Member shall have the right, from time to time, to surrender Exchangeable Units, along with an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock (in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal and similar restrictions, except for those arising under this Agreement), to the Company and to thereby cause the Company to deliver to such Exchangeable Unit Member (or its designee) the Exchange Consideration as set forth in ‎Section 11.3 (an “Elective Exchange”).

 

(b) Mandatory Exchange Events. Units are subject to Mandatory Exchange in each of the following circumstances:

 

(i) pursuant to Section 7.4, if an Applicable Sale is determined to be a Mandatory Exchange event in the sole discretion of the Manager; or

 

(ii) in the discretion of the Manager, with the consent of Members whose Class C Units represent fifty percent (50%) of the Class C Units of all Members in the aggregate, all Members will be required to exchange all Exchangeable Units then held by the Members.

 

(c) Mandatory Exchange Notices and Dates. Upon the occurrence of any of the circumstances set out in ‎Section 11.1(b), the Manager may exercise its right to cause a mandatory exchange of a Member’s Exchangeable Units and an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock (a “Mandatory Exchange”) by delivering to each Member a written notice pursuant to the notice provisions in ‎Section 12.6 (a “Mandatory Exchange Notice”). A Mandatory Exchange Notice will specify the basis for the Mandatory Exchange, the Exchangeable Units of the Company to which the Mandatory Exchange applies, the Exchange Consideration and the effective date of such Mandatory Exchange (the “Mandatory Exchange Date”), which shall be no earlier than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of the Mandatory Exchange Notice. The Member receiving the Mandatory Exchange Notice shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver the Certificates, as applicable, representing the applicable Exchangeable Units and corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock (free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal and similar restrictions, except for those arising under this Agreement) no later than one (1) Business Day before the Mandatory Exchange Date. Upon the Mandatory Exchange Date, the Manager will effect the Mandatory Exchange.

 

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Section 11.2 Additional Terms Applying to Exchanges.

 

(a) Rights of Exchangeable Unit Member. On an Exchange Date, all rights of the Exchangeable Unit Member as a holder of the Exchangeable Units and, if the applicable Exchangeable Units are Class C Units, shares of Class C Common Stock held by the holder of the Class C Units that are subject to the Exchange, shall cease, and, unless the Company or Manager, as applicable, has elected Cash Settlement as to all Exchangeable Units tendered, the Manager shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the transfer agent or registrar of the Manager to update the stock register of the Manager such that such Exchangeable Unit Member (or its designee) becomes the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by the Exchangeable Unit Member in respect of such Exchange.

 

(b) Expenses. Except as otherwise agreed by the Company, the Manager and an Exchangeable Unit Member, the Company, the Manager, and each Exchangeable Unit Member shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Manager (or the Company, at the Manager’s direction) shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered pursuant to an Elective Exchange in a name other than that of the Exchangeable Unit Member that requested the Exchange (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of such Exchangeable Unit Member) or the Cash Settlement is to be paid to a Person other than the Exchangeable Unit Member that requested the Exchange, then such Exchangeable Unit Member or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered or to whom the Cash Settlement is to be paid shall pay to the Manager (or the Company, at the Manager’s direction) the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Manager that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(c) Concurrent Delivery of Class C Common Stock. No Exchange of Class C Units may be made without a concurrent delivery of an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock. Any shares of Class C Common Stock surrendered in an Exchange shall automatically be deemed retired without any action on the part of any Person, including the Manager. Any such retired shares of Class C Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding, all rights with respect to such shares shall automatically cease and terminate, and such shares shall return to the status of authorized but unissued shares of the Manager.

 

Section 11.3 Exchange Consideration; Settlement.

 

(a) Generally. The Manager (in the case of a Mandatory Exchange) or the Company (in the case of an Elective Exchange) shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to elect the form of Exchange Consideration with respect to any Exchange. On an Exchange Date, provided the Exchangeable Unit Member has satisfied its obligations under the Policy Regarding Exchanges and not validly retracted such proposed Exchange, the Manager or the Company, as applicable, shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Exchange Consideration to such Exchangeable Unit Member (or its designee), at the address set forth on the applicable Exchange Notice. If the Manager or the Company, as applicable, elects a Cash Settlement, the Manager shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company (or, if the Manager elects to settle directly pursuant to ‎Section 11.9, settle directly for an amount equal to) an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts and commissions, if applicable) from the sale by the Manager of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Exchangeable Units being Exchanged for such Cash Settlement. Except as otherwise required by Law, the Manager shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as paying an appropriate portion of the selling expenses described in the previous sentence as agent for and on behalf of the Exchangeable Unit Member. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager or the Company, as applicable, if (i) the Company or the Manager determines that some or all of the Exchange Consideration with respect to an Exchange will be Class A Common Stock and (ii) such Exchange would, but for this ‎Section 11.3(a), result in the Exchangeable Unit Member’s receipt of a fractional share of Class A Common Stock, then the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by the Exchangeable Unit Member shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares and the amount of the reduction shall be paid as a Cash Settlement.

 

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(b) Restriction on Cash Settlement of Class C Units. Except in connection with a payment in respect of a fractional share (as described in the final sentence of Section 11.3(a)), the Manager or the Company, as applicable, may elect Cash Settlement with respect to an Exchange of Exchangeable Units that are Class C Units only to the extent the Cash Settlement is funded by the proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of a Liquidity Offering with respect to that Exchange.

 

(c) Notice of Intended Exchange Consideration. At least two (2) Business Days before the Exchange Date, the Manager or the Company, as applicable, shall give written notice to the other (with a copy to the Exchangeable Unit Member) of its intended Exchange Consideration. If the Manager or the Company does not timely deliver such written notice, the Manager or the Company shall be deemed to have elected to settle the Exchange with shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

(d) Settlement through Depository Trust Company. To the extent the Class A Common Stock is settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Manager or the Company will, upon the written instruction of an Exchangeable Unit Member, deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to such Exchangeable Unit Member through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by such Exchangeable Unit Member in the Exchange Notice.

 

(e) Obligations of Manager and Company. Upon any Exchange, the Manager or the Company, as applicable, shall take such actions as (A) may be required to ensure that such Exchangeable Unit Member receives the shares of Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Settlement that such Exchangeable Unit Member is entitled to receive in connection with such Exchange pursuant to ‎Section 11.3(a), and (B) may be reasonably within its control that would cause such Exchange to be treated as a direct exchange between the Manager and the Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

 

Section 11.4 Adjustment. To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, then, upon any subsequent Exchange, an Exchangeable Unit Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Exchangeable Unit Member would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately before the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, this ‎Section 11.4 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.

 

Section 11.5 Class A Common Stock to Be Issued in Connection with an Exchange.

 

(a) Class A Common Stock Reserve. The Manager shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be deliverable under this Agreement upon all such Exchanges; provided, however, that the Manager may satisfy its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of unencumbered purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Manager or any subsidiary thereof). The preceding sentence shall not affect the Manager’s right, where applicable, to elect a Cash Settlement (for the avoidance of doubt the Manager cannot force a Cash Settlement to the extent there are not enough authorized or legally available Class A Common Stock).

 

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(b) Rule 16(b) Exemption. The Manager has taken and will take all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Manager (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities that may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Manager for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Manager (including directors-by-deputization) who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Manager upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Manager pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

(c) Validity of Class A Common Stock. The Manager covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Manager or any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.

 

Section 11.6 Tax Treatment. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Exchangeable Unit Member and the Manager, it is intended that, for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes, each Exchange be treated as direct exchange between the Manager and the Exchangeable Unit Member that is a taxable transaction to the Exchangeable Unit Member. All applicable parties shall treat each Exchange consistently with the intended treatment for all U.S. federal and applicable state and local tax purposes unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Code Section 1313(a) or a change in Law.

 

Section 11.7 Contribution by Manager. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.9, on the Exchange Date (i) the Manager shall contribute to the Company the shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Cash Settlement that the Manager has elected to deliver and that the Exchangeable Unit Member is entitled to receive in the applicable Exchange and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Manager a number of Class A Units equal to the number of Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock) surrendered by the Exchangeable Unit Member.

 

Section 11.8 Apportionment of Distributions. Distributions with a Record Date on or before the Exchange Date shall be made to the Exchangeable Unit Member.

 

Section 11.9 Right of Manager to Acquire Exchangeable Units. With respect to Units surrendered in an Elective Exchange or subject to a Mandatory Exchange, the Manager shall have the right but not the obligation to have the Manager (in lieu of the Company) acquire Exchangeable Units and, if the applicable Exchangeable Units are Class C Units, an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock held by the holder of those Class C Units, directly from an Exchangeable Unit Member for the elected Exchange Consideration. If the Manager acquires Exchangeable Units as described in the preceding sentence, those Exchangeable Units shall be automatically recapitalized into the same number of Class A Units as the Exchangeable Units. The applicable provisions of this Article XI shall apply to any such direct exchange, mutatis mutandis.

 

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Article XII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.1 Conclusive Nature of Determinations. All determinations, interpretations, calculations, adjustments and other actions of the Manager, the Company, the Board of Directors (or a committee to which the Board of Directors has delegated such authority), or a designee of any of the foregoing that are within such Person’s authority under this Agreement shall be binding and conclusive on a Member absent manifest error. In connection with any such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment, or other action, the Manager, the Company, the Board of Directors (or a committee to which the Board of Directors has delegated such authority), or the designee of any of the foregoing shall be entitled to resolve any ambiguity with respect to the manner in which such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action is to be made or taken, and shall be entitled to interpret the provisions of this Agreement in such a manner as such Person determines to be fair and equitable, and such resolution or interpretation shall be binding and conclusive on a Member absent manifest error.

 

Section 12.2 Company Counsel. THE COMPANY, THE MANAGER AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES MAY BE REPRESENTED BY THE SAME COUNSEL. THE ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS AND OTHER EXPERTS WHO PERFORM SERVICES FOR THE COMPANY MAY ALSO PERFORM SERVICES FOR THE MANAGER AND AFFILIATES THEREOF. THE MANAGER MAY, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE MEMBERS, EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY ANY CONSENT TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE COMPANY THAT COUNSEL MAY REQUEST PURSUANT TO THE NEW YORK RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OR SIMILAR RULES IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE COMPANY HAS INITIALLY SELECTED KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP (“COMPANY COUNSEL”) AS LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY. EACH MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT COMPANY COUNSEL DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY MEMBER IN ITS CAPACITY AS SUCH IN THE ABSENCE OF A CLEAR AND EXPLICIT WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO SUCH EFFECT BETWEEN SUCH MEMBER AND COMPANY COUNSEL (AND THEN ONLY TO THE EXTENT SPECIALLY SET FORTH IN SUCH AGREEMENT), AND THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SUCH AGREEMENT COMPANY COUNSEL SHALL OWE NO DUTIES TO ANY MEMBER. EACH MEMBER FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, WHETHER OR NOT COMPANY COUNSEL HAS IN THE PAST REPRESENTED OR IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTING SUCH MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO OTHER MATTERS, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY AGREED BY COMPANY COUNSEL, COMPANY COUNSEL HAS NOT REPRESENTED THE INTERESTS OF ANY MEMBER IN THE PREPARATION AND/OR NEGOTIATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

Section 12.3 Appointment of Manager as Attorney-in-Fact.

 

(a) Execution of Documents. Each Member, including each Additional Member and Substituted Member that is a Member, irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Manager, any Liquidator, and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to execute, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file and record at the appropriate public offices such documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, including:

 

(i) All certificates and other instruments (including counterparts of this Agreement), and all amendments thereto, that the Manager deems appropriate to form, qualify, continue or otherwise operate the Company as a limited liability company (or other entity in which the Members will have limited liability comparable to that provided in the Act) in the jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or in which such formation, qualification or continuation is, in the opinion of the Manager, necessary or desirable to protect the limited liability of the Members.

 

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(ii) All amendments to this Agreement adopted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and all instruments that the Manager deems appropriate in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(iii) All conveyances of Company Assets and other instruments that the Manager reasonably deems necessary in order to complete a dissolution and termination of the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b) Power and Interest. The appointment by all Members of the Manager as attorney-in-fact shall be deemed to be a power coupled with an interest in recognition of the fact that each of the Members under this Agreement will be relying upon the power of the Manager to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing and other action by it on behalf of the Company, shall survive the Incapacity of any Person hereby giving such power and the Transfer of all or any portion of such Person’s Units, and shall not be affected by the subsequent Incapacity of the Person.

 

Section 12.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the certificate of incorporation of the Manager, in each case, as amended, supplemented or restated in accordance with its terms, and the other documents contemplated hereby and thereby, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and fully supersede any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings between the parties to this Agreement pertaining to the subject matter hereof, including the Initial Operating Agreement.

 

Section 12.5 Further Assurances. Each of the parties to this Agreement does hereby covenant and agree on behalf of itself, its successors, and its assigns, without further consideration, to prepare, execute, acknowledge, file, record, publish, and deliver such other instruments, documents and statements, and to take such other action as may be required by Law or reasonably necessary to effectively carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.6 Notices. Any notice, consent, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (a) delivered personally to the Person or an officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, (b) sent by facsimile, overnight mail or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (c) (except with respect to notice to the Company or the Manager) sent by email, with electronic, written or oral confirmation of receipt, in each case addressed as follows:

 

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  (i) if to the Company or the Manager:
     
    c/o Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
    600 Travis Street, Suite 5050
    Houston, Texas 77002
    Attn: Ernest B. Miller, Chief Executive Officer
    E-mail: emiller@bluescapecleanfuels.com
     
    with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
     
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    609 Main Street
    Houston, TX 77002
    Attn: Sean Wheeler, Debbie Yee
    E-mail: sean.wheeler@kirkland.com,
      debbie.yee@kirkland.com

 

or to such other address as the Company may from time to time specify by notice to the Members

 

  (ii) if to any Member, to:

 

the address, email, or facsimile number of such Member set forth in the records of the Company.

 

Any such notice shall be deemed to be delivered, given and received for all purposes as of: (A) the date so delivered, if delivered personally, (B) upon receipt, if sent by facsimile or email, or (C) on the date of receipt or refusal indicated on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage and charges prepaid and properly addressed.

 

Section 12.7 Governing Law. This Agreement, including its existence, validity, construction, and operating effect, and the rights of each of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to otherwise governing principles of conflicts of Law.

 

Section 12.8 Jurisdiction and Venue. The parties to this Agreement agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (whether brought by any party or any of its Affiliates or against any party or any of its Affiliates) shall be brought in the Delaware Chancery Court, or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in the State of Delaware or other Delaware state court (the “Selected Courts”), and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the Selected Courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any Selected Court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party in the manner provided for notice in ‎Section 12.6 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

 

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Section 12.9 Equitable Remedies. The parties to this Agreement agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties to this Agreement. Each party further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at Law would be adequate.

 

Section 12.10 Construction. This Agreement shall be construed as if all parties to this Agreement prepared this Agreement.

 

Section 12.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

Section 12.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in ‎Section 4.7, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement (or their respective legal representatives, successors, heirs and distributees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of any agreement or provision contained herein, it being the intention of the parties to this Agreement that this Agreement is for the sole and exclusive benefit of such parties (or such legal representatives, successors, heirs and distributees) and for the benefit of no other Person.

 

Section 12.13 Binding Effect. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the Members, their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and all other Persons hereafter holding, having or receiving an interest in the Company, whether as Substituted Members or otherwise.

 

Section 12.14 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement as applied to any party or any circumstance shall be adjudged by a court to be void, unenforceable or inoperative as a matter of Law, then the same shall in no way affect any other provision in this Agreement, the application of such provision in any other circumstance or with respect to any other party, or the validity or enforceability of the Agreement as a whole.

 

Section 12.15 Survival. The provisions of ‎Section 4.6 (Limitation on Liability), ‎Section 4.7 (Indemnification), ‎Section 12.1 (Conclusive Nature of Determinations), ‎Section 12.3 (Appointment of Manager as Attorney-in-Fact), ‎Section 12.4 (Entire Agreement), ‎Section 12.5 (Further Assurances), ‎Section 12.6 (Notices), ‎Section 12.7 (Governing Law), ‎Section 12.8 (Jurisdiction and Venue), ‎Section 4.8 (Survival of Obligations) of ‎Annex C, and this ‎Section 12.15 (Survival) (and any other provisions of this Agreement necessary for the effectiveness of the enumerated sections) shall survive the termination of the Company and/or the termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 12.16 Effect on Other Obligations of Members or the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall modify, amend, terminate or supersede any obligations or rights of any Member or the Company under any agreement between or among Member(s) and/or the Company (other than the Initial Operating Agreement) that is in effect as of the date hereof.

 

Section 12.17 Confidentiality. Each Member recognizes and acknowledges that it has and may in the future receive certain confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of the Company (including its predecessors), including confidential information of the Company (and its predecessors) regarding identifiable, specific and discrete business opportunities being pursued by the Company (the “Confidential Information”). Except as otherwise consented to by the Manager in writing, each Member (other than the Manager), on behalf of itself (and, to the extent that such Member would be responsible for the acts of the following Persons under principles of agency Law, its managers, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees, representatives and agents) agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, whether directly or indirectly through an Affiliate or otherwise, it (a) will use the same degree of care as it uses to protect its own confidential information to keep confidential any Confidential Information furnished to such Member; (b) will not intentionally use any of the Confidential Information for any purpose other than monitoring its investment in the Company; and (c) will not disclose such Confidential Information to any third party for any reason or purpose whatsoever, except that each Member may disclose such information (i) to authorized directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents of the Company or the Manager and as otherwise may be proper in the course of performing such Member’s obligations or enforcing its rights under this Agreement and the agreements expressly contemplated hereby; (ii) to such Member’s (or any of its Affiliates’) Affiliates, auditors, accountants, attorneys or other agents who are informed of the Member’s obligations hereunder; (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of such Member or its Affiliates or the Units held by such Member, or prospective merger partner of such Member or its Affiliates, provided that such purchaser or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 12.17 or other confidentiality agreement approved by the Manager; or (iv) as is required to be disclosed by any Law, by any governmental authority or stock exchange or by any listing or trading agreement concerning a Member or its Affiliates; provided that the Member required to make such disclosure pursuant to clause (iv) above shall provide to the Company prompt notice of such disclosure to enable the Company to seek an appropriate protective order or confidential treatment. It is acknowledged and agreed that a Member’s review of Confidential Information will inevitably enhance its knowledge and understanding of the Company’s industry in a way that cannot be separated from its other knowledge, and it shall not be a violation of Section 12.17(b) if such Member’s overall knowledge and understanding are used for purposes other than monitoring its investment in the Company. For purposes of this Section 12.17, the term “Confidential Information” shall not include any information which (x) such Person learns from a source other than the Company or the Manager, or any of their respective representatives, employees, agents or other service providers, and in each case who is not bound by a confidentiality obligation, (y) is disclosed in a prospectus, in other documents or in any other manner for dissemination to the public (in each case, not in violation of this Section 12.17), or (z) is independently developed by the disclosing Member without violating any requirement hereunder. Nothing in this Section 12.17 shall in any way limit or otherwise modify any confidentiality covenants entered into by any Member pursuant to any other agreement entered into with the Company or the Manager.

 

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Article XIII
DEFINED TERMS

 

Section 13.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement:

 

Act” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Additional Funds” is defined in ‎Section 2.5(a).

 

Additional Member” means a Person who is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to the Act and ‎Section 8.1, who is shown as such on the books and records of the Company, and who has not ceased to be a Member pursuant to the Act and this Agreement.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person; provided, however, that (i) none of the Members or their parent companies or Affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any other Member or its parent company or Affiliates and (ii) none of the Members or their parent companies or Affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Affiliates. With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliate” shall also include, without limitation, any Family Member of such Person.

 

Applicable Sale” is defined in ‎Section 7.4(a).

 

Applicable Sale Notice” is defined in ‎Section 7.4(b).

 

Asset Value” is defined in Annex C.

 

Assets” means any assets and property of the Company.

 

Assumed Tax Liability” is defined in ‎Section 3.2(b).

 

Assumed Tax Rate” is defined in ‎Section 3.2(b)(ii).

 

Available Cash” means, after taking into account amounts determined by the Manager to be reasonably necessary or advisable to be retained by the Company to meet actual or anticipated, direct or indirect, expenses, capital investments, working capital needs or liabilities (actual, contingent or otherwise) of the Company, including the payment of any Imputed Underpayment or for the operation of the business of the Company, or to create reasonable reserves for any of the foregoing, cash (in United States dollars) of the Company that the Manager determines is available for distribution to the Members.

 

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Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any event specified in Section 18-304 of the Act with respect to such Person, and the term “Bankrupt” has a correlative meaning.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Manager.

 

Combination Agreement” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

Capital Account” is defined in ‎Annex C.

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the aggregate amount of money and the initial Asset Value of property (other than money) in such form as may be permitted by the Act that the Member contributes (or is treated as contributing) to the Company.

 

Capital Stock” means a share of any class or series of stock of the Manager now or hereafter authorized.

 

Cash Settlement” means immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would otherwise be delivered to a Member in an Exchange, multiplied by (y) the price per share of Class A Common Stock. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in an Exchange of Class C Units, the price per share of Class A Common Stock shall only be determined by a private sale or underwritten offering (including a “bought” deal or “overnight” public offering) undertaken by the Manager in connection with or anticipation of the Exchange (a “Liquidity Offering”). For purposes of this definition, the price per share of Class A Common Stock shall be determined net of any underwriting discounts and commissions and shall be subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. For purposes of determining Cash Settlement to be paid in settlement of a fractional share of Class A Common Stock, the price per share of Class A Common Stock shall be determined as the arithmetic average of the volume-weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by The Wall Street Journal or its successor, for each of the three (3) consecutive full Business Days ending on and including the last full Business Day immediately before the Exchange Date, in each case subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If, at the time of determination, the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the price per share of Class A Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by a committee of the Board of Directors composed of a majority of the directors of the Manager that do not have an interest in the Exchangeable Units.

 

Certificate of Formation” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Certificates” means (A) if certificated, any certificates representing Exchangeable Units, (B) if certificated, any stock certificates representing the shares of Class C Common Stock required to be surrendered in connection with an Exchange of Class C Units, and (C) such other information, documents or instruments as either the Manager (or the Manager’s transfer agent) or the Company may reasonably require in connection with an Exchange. If any certificate or other document referenced in the immediately preceding sentence is alleged to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchangeable Unit Member shall cooperate with and respond to the reasonable requests of the Manager (or the Manager’s transfer agent) and the Company and, if required by the Manager or the Company, furnish an affidavit of loss and/or an indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Manager or the Company on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate or other document.

 

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Change of Control” means, as of any date of determination, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, the Transfer of Units (or any beneficial interest therein) of the Company representing more than fifty (50) percent of the outstanding Common Units as of such date of determination.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Manager, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

Class A Unit” is defined in ‎Section 2.1(b)(i).

 

Class C Common Stock” means a non-economic voting share in the Manager, with each share having non-economic rights equivalent to one share of Class A Common Stock.

 

Class C Unit” is defined in ‎Section 2.1(b)(ii).

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references in this Agreement to sections of the Code shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding Law.

 

Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock or the Class C Common Stock (and shall not include any additional series or class of the Manager’s common stock created after the date of this Agreement).

 

Common Unit” means a Class A Unit, a Class C Unit, and any other Unit designated as a Common Unit by the Company.

 

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Counsel” is defined in ‎Section 11.2.

 

Consent” means the consent to, approval of, or vote in favor of a proposed action by a Member given in accordance with ‎Article X.

 

control,” including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, as general partner or managing member, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

 

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de minimis” shall mean an amount small enough as to make not accounting for it commercially reasonable or accounting for it administratively impractical, in each case as determined by the Manager.

 

Debt” means, as to any Person, as of any date of determination, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services; (ii) all amounts owed by such Person to banks or other Persons in respect of reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments guaranteeing payment or other performance of obligations by such Person; and (iii) obligations of such Person as lessee under capital leases.

 

Designated Individual” is defined in Annex C.

 

Drag-Along Right” is defined in Section 7.4(a).

 

Elective Exchange” is defined in ‎Section 11.1(a).

 

Elective Exchange Date” means the effective date of an Elective Exchange.

 

Elective Exchange Notice” is defined in Annex (B).

 

Equivalent Units” means Units with preferences, conversion and other rights (other than voting rights), restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, terms and conditions of redemption (the “Terms”) that are (a) relative to the Common Units and the other classes and series of Units that correspond to classes and series of Capital Stock, and (b) substantially the same as (or corresponding to) the Terms that any new Capital Stock or New Securities have relative to the Common Stock and other classes and series of Capital Stock or New Securities. The foregoing shall not apply to matters such as voting for members of the Board of Directors that are not applicable to the Company. In comparing the economic rights of any Preferred Stock with the economic rights of any Units, the effect of taxes may be taken into account.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Exchange” means any Elective Exchange or Mandatory Exchange.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Consideration” shall mean, in the case of any Exchange, (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Exchangeable Units surrendered in the Exchange multiplied by the Exchange Rate (the “Stock Consideration”), (y) the Cash Settlement, plus, in the case of an Exchange of Class C Units under either subclause (x) or (y), an amount that is equal to $0.0001 multiplied by the number of shares of Class C Common Stock included in the Exchange, or (z) a combination of the Stock Consideration and the Cash Settlement.

 

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Exchange Date” means an Elective Exchange Date or Mandatory Exchange Date.

 

Exchange Rate” means, in respect of any Exchange, subject to ‎Section 11.4, a ratio, expressed as a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Exchange and the denominator of which shall be the number of Class A Units owned by the Manager immediately before the Exchange. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1.

 

Exchangeable Unit” means each Class C Unit and any other Unit designated as an Exchangeable Unit by the Company.

 

Exchangeable Unit Member” means (i) each Member, other than the Manager and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, that holds an Exchangeable Unit or (ii) each holder of an interest in a Member that holds an Exchangeable Unit pursuant to ‎Article X.

 

Fair Market Value” of Units or other property, means the cash price that a third party would pay to acquire all of such Units (computed on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the exercise of any and all outstanding conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants and options) or other property, as the case may be, in an arm’s-length transaction. Unless otherwise determined by the Company, the following assumptions will be made when determining the Fair Market Value of Units:

 

(a)   that the Company was being sold in a manner reasonably designed to solicit all possible participants and permit all interested Persons an opportunity to participate and achieve the best value reasonably available to the Members at the time; and

 

(b)   that all existing circumstances are taken into account, including the terms and conditions of all agreements (including this Agreement) to which the Company is then a party or by which it is otherwise benefited or affected, determined.

 

Family Members” means, as to a Person that is an individual, such Person’s spouse, ancestors (whether by blood or by adoption), descendants (whether by blood or by adoption), brothers and sisters (whether by blood or by adoption) and inter vivos or testamentary trusts of which only such Person and his spouse, ancestors (whether by blood or by adoption), descendants (whether by blood or by adoption), brothers and sisters (whether by blood or adoption) are beneficiaries.

 

Fiscal Year” is defined in ‎Section 6.2.

 

Incapacity” or “Incapacitated” means, (i) as to any Member who is an individual, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating such Member incompetent to manage his or her Person or his or her estate; (ii) as to any Member that is a corporation or limited liability company, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter; (iii) as to any Member that is a partnership, the dissolution and commencement of the winding up of the partnership; (iv) as to any Member that is an estate, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate’s entire interest in the Company; (v) as to any trustee of a trust that is a Member, the termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee); or (vi) as to any Member, the Bankruptcy of such Member.

 

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Incentive Compensation Plan” means any plan, agreement or other arrangement that provides for the grant or issuance of equity or equity-based awards and that is now in effect or is hereafter adopted by the Company or the Manager for the benefit of any of their respective employees or other service providers (including directors, advisers and consultants), or the employees or other services providers (including directors, advisers and consultants) of any of their respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

Indemnitee” means the Manager, each Affiliate of the Manager, the Tax Representative, the Designated Individual and each officer or director of the Manager, the Company or their respective Affiliates, in all cases in such capacity.

 

Initial Operating Agreement” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service, or, if applicable, a state or local taxing agency.

 

Law” means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or order of any governmental authority. The term “Lawful” has a correlative meaning.

 

Liquidating Event” is defined in ‎Section 9.2(b).

 

Liquidator” is defined in ‎Section 9.3(a).

 

Liquidity Offering” is defined in the definition of Cash Settlement.

 

Majority-in-Interest of the Members” means Members (excluding the Manager in its capacity as a Member) entitled to vote on or consent to any matter holding more than fifty percent (50%) of all outstanding Common Units held by all Members (excluding the Manager in its capacity as a Member) entitled to vote on or consent to such matter.

 

Manager” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Manager Tax-Related Liabilities” means (a) any U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax obligations (including any Imputed Underpayment Share for which the Manager is liable hereunder) owed by the Manager (other than any obligations to remit any withholdings withheld from payments to third parties) and (b) any obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement payable by the Manager.

 

Mandatory Exchange” is defined in ‎Section 11.1(c).

 

Mandatory Exchange Date” is defined in ‎Section 11.1(c).

 

Mandatory Exchange Notice” is defined in ‎Section 11.1(c).

 

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Member” means any Person named as a member of the Company on the Register of this Agreement (as amended from time to time) and any Person admitted as an Additional Member of the Company or a Substituted Member of the Company, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a member of the Company, until such time as such Person has ceased to be a Member.

 

Member Representative” is defined in ‎Section 7.7.

 

New Securities” means any equity security as defined in Rule 3a11-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, excluding grants under the Incentive Compensation Plans, including (i) rights, options, warrants, or convertible or exchangeable securities that entitle the holder thereof to subscribe for or purchase, convert such securities into, or exchange such securities for, Common Stock or Preferred Stock and (ii) any Debt issued by the Manager that provides any of the rights described in clause (i).

 

Percentage Interest” means, with respect to each Member, as to any class or series of relevant Units, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Units of such class or series held by such Member and the denominator of which is the total number of Units of such class or series held by all Members, in each case determined as of the date of determination. If not otherwise specified, “Percentage Interest” shall be deemed to refer to Common Units.

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, syndicate, person, trust, association, organization or other entity, including any governmental authority, and including any successor, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing.

 

Policy Regarding Exchanges” is defined in ‎Section 11.1(a).

 

Preferred Stock” means shares of preferred stock of the Manager now or hereafter authorized or reclassified that has dividend rights, or rights upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, that are superior or prior to the Common Stock.

 

Record Date” means the record date established by the Company for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to notice of or vote at any meeting of Members or to consent to any matter, or to receive any distribution or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, which, in the case of a record date fixed for the determination of Members entitled to receive any distribution, shall (unless otherwise determined by the Company) generally be the same as the record date established by the Manager for a distribution to the Members of its Capital Stock of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

 

Register” is defined in ‎Section 5.1(b)(i).

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, effective on or about the date hereof, among the Manager and the other Persons party thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations and, to the extent taxpayers are permitted to rely on them, proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations). References to “Treas. Reg. §” are to the sections of the Regulations.

 

Related-Party Transfer” means a Transfer by a Member of all or part of its Units to any Related-Party Transferee.

 

Related-Party Transferee” means, with respect to a Member, (i) any Family Member of that Member, (ii) any direct or indirect member or equityholder of that Member or any Affiliate of that Member, (iii) any Family Member of any direct or indirect member or equityholder described in (ii), or (iv) the Manager or any Subsidiary of the Manager.

 

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SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Selected Courts” is defined in ‎Section 11.7.

 

SPAC Transactions” means the series of transactions effectuated pursuant to the Combination Agreement.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity if a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Substituted Member” means a Person who is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to ‎Section 7.3.

 

Surviving Company” is defined in Section 7.6(b)(iii).

 

Tax Distribution” is defined in ‎Section 3.2(a).

 

Tax Distribution Shortfall Amount” is defined in ‎Section 3.2(d).

 

Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2023, entered into by and among the Manager, the Company, each of the parties thereto identified as a “TRA Holder” or the “Agent” and each of the successors and assigns thereto, and any other similar tax receivable (or comparable) agreements entered after the date of this Agreement.

 

Termination Transaction” means any direct or indirect Transfer of all or any portion of the Manager’s Units in connection with, or the other occurrence of, (a) a merger, consolidation or other combination involving the Manager, on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other, (b) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Manager not in the ordinary course of its business, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, (c) a reclassification, recapitalization or change of the outstanding Class A Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a stock split or reverse stock split, stock dividend or similar subdivision), (d) the adoption of any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Manager, or (e) a Transfer of all or any portion of the Manager’s Units (other than to a wholly owned Affiliate).

 

Terms” is defined in the definition of “Equivalent Units.

 

Transfer” means, in respect of any Units, property or other assets, any sale, assignment, hypothecation, lien, encumbrance, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof or of a participation therein, or other conveyance of legal or beneficial interest therein, including rights to vote and receive dividends or other income with respect thereto, or any short position in a security or any other action or position otherwise reducing risk related to ownership through hedging or other derivative instruments, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing. An Exchange shall not constitute a Transfer under this Agreement.

 

Unit” means a fractional share of the limited liability company interest in the Company, which may be a Class A Unit or Class C Unit and shall be deemed to include any equity security received in connection with any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or other reorganization, or by way of any distribution in respect of Units, in any such case, after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Unit Designation” is defined in Section 2.4(a).

 

Section 13.2 Interpretation. In this Agreement and in the exhibits to this Agreement, except to the extent that the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) the headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

(b) defined terms include the plural as well as the singular and vice versa;

 

(c) words importing gender include all genders;

 

(d) a reference to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to the same as it may have been or may from time to time be amended, extended, re-enacted or consolidated and all statutory instruments or orders made under it;

 

(e) any reference to a “day” or “Business Day” means the whole of such day, being the period of 24 hours running from midnight to midnight;

 

(f)   references to Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses and Exhibits are references to Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses and Exhibits to this Agreement;

 

(g) the words “including” and “include” and other words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; and

 

(h) unless otherwise specified, references to any party to this Agreement or any other document or agreement shall include its successors and permitted assigns.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.

 

MANAGER: VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller
  Name:  Ernest B. Miller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

MEMBERS:    
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.   BLUESCAPE CLEAN FUELS HOLDINGS, LLC
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller   By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller  
Name:  Ernest B. Miller   Name:  Ernest B. Miller
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Interim
Chief Financial Officer
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC]

 

 

 

Annex A: INITIAL UNITS

 
Member  Class A Units 
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.   9,358,620 

 

Member  Class C Units 
Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC   22,500,000 
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      

 

A-1

 

 

Annex B: FORM OF ELECTIVE EXCHANGE NOTICE

 

ELECTIVE EXCHANGE NOTICE

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.

600 Travis Street

Suite 5050

Houston, TX 77002

Attention:

Email:

 

Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC

600 Travis Street

Suite 5050

Houston, TX 77002

Attention:

Email:

 

This elective exchange notice (“Elective Exchange Notice”) is delivered by the undersigned Exchangeable Unit Member pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, dated as of February 15, 2023 (the “LLC Agreement”), by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Manager”) and the members that are party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the LLC Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby transfers the number of Class C Units plus shares of Class C Common Stock set forth below (together, the “Paired Interests”) in exchange for the Stock Consideration to be issued in its name as set forth below, or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, as set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

Legal Name of Holder:                                                                                                                                                  

 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                           

 

Number of Class C Units:                                                                                                                                              

 

Number of Class C Common Stock:                                                                                                                           

 

Brokerage Account Details:                                                                                                                                        

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Elective Exchange Notice and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Elective Exchange Notice has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Paired Interests subject to this Elective Exchange Notice are being transferred to the Manager or the Company, as applicable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim; and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Paired Interests subject to this Elective Exchange Notice is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Paired Interests to the Manager or the Company, as applicable.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Manager or of the Company as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Manager or the Company, as applicable, the Paired Interests subject to this Elective Exchange Notice and to deliver to the undersigned the Stock Consideration or Cash Settlement, as applicable, to be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Elective Exchange Notice to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

  Name:  

 

Dated: ___________

 

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Annex C: TAX MATTERS

 

Article I

Definitions

 

Asset Value” means, with respect to any Asset, the adjusted basis of such Asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that:

 

(i) the initial Asset Value of any Asset (other than cash) contributed or deemed contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such Asset as determined by the Company;

 

(ii) the Asset Values of all Assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values as determined by the Company as of the following times: (A) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new or existing Member, in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (B) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration for an interest in the Company; (C) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); (D) the grant of an interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to the benefit of the Company by an existing Member acting in a Member capacity or by a new Member acting in a Member capacity or in anticipation of becoming a Member; (E) the Conversion of any Earn-Out Units into Class C Units in accordance with principles similar to those set forth under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); or (F) any other instance in which such adjustment is permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv); provided, however, that any adjustment pursuant to clause (A), (B), (D), or (F) above shall be made only if the Company determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company;

 

(iii) the Asset Value of any Asset distributed to any Member shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such Asset on the date of distribution, as determined by the Company;

 

(iv) the Asset Values of all Assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such Assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however, that Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this paragraph (iv) to the extent that the Company determines that an adjustment pursuant to paragraph (ii) of this definition of Asset Value is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this paragraph (iv); and

 

(v) if any Earn-Out Units are outstanding immediately prior to an event described in paragraphs (A) through (F) of clause (ii), the Company shall adjust the Asset Values of its Assets in accordance with principles similar to those set forth under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), as though such Earn-Out Units were noncompensatory options.

 

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If the Asset Value of an Asset has been determined or adjusted to paragraph (i), (ii), (iv), or (v) of this definition of Asset Value, then such Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Asset for purposes of computing Net Profits and Net Losses.

 

Audit” is defined in Section 4.4(a) of this Annex C.

 

Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth as “partnership minimum gain” in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(2) and is computed in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(d).

 

Company Unitholder Representative” means Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC.

 

Conversion” is defined in Section 4.1(d) of this Annex C.

 

Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to an Asset for such Fiscal Year or other period; provided, however, that if the Asset Value of an Asset differs from its adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period, Depreciation shall be determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3), or Treas. Reg. § 1.704-3(d)(2), as appropriate.

 

Designated Individual” is defined in Section 4.3(a)(ii) of this Annex C.

 

Earn-Out Unit” is defined in Section 4.1(d) of this Annex C.

 

Imputed Underpayment” is defined in Section 4.4(d) of this Annex C.

 

Imputed Underpayment Share” is defined in Section 4.4(e)(i) of this Annex C.

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning given to the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, an amount equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning given to the term “partner nonrecourse deduction” in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2(i)(l) and 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

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Net Profits” and “Net Losses” mean, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) and, where appropriate (but including in taxable income or loss, for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1)), with the following adjustments:

 

(i) any income of the Company exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses pursuant to this definition shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(ii) any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) (or treated as expenditures described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses pursuant to this definition shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(iii) in the event the Asset Value of any Asset of the Company is adjusted in accordance with paragraph (ii), paragraph (iii), or paragraph (v) of the definition of “Asset Value,” the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such Asset for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

(iv) gain or loss resulting from any disposition of any Asset with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Asset Value of the Asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such Asset differs from its Asset Value;

 

(v) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year;

 

(vi) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the Asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the Asset) from the disposition of the Asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Profits and Net Losses;

 

(vii) notwithstanding any other provision of this definition of Net Profits and Net Losses, any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 of this Annex C shall not be taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses, but shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in paragraphs (i) through (vi) above; and

 

(viii) where appropriate, references to Net Profits and Net Losses shall refer to specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit comprising or otherwise comprising Net Profits or Net Losses.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(1).

 

Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

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Bluescape Members” means (i) Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, (ii) any Person to whom Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC makes a Transfer of Units, and (iii) any Person that holds an interest in a Person described in the preceding clauses.

 

Push Out Election” means the election under Code Section 6226 (or any similar provision of state or local law) to “push out” an adjustment to the Members or former Members, including filing IRS Form 8988 (Election for Alternative to Payment of the Imputed Underpayment), or any successor or similar form, and taking any other action necessary to give effect to such election.

 

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Code Sections 6221 through 6241, as in effect for taxable years of the Company beginning after December 31, 2017, together with any subsequent amendments thereto, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and published administrative interpretations thereof, and any comparable provisions of state or local tax law.

 

Specified Audit” is defined in ‎Section 4.4(b) of this Annex C.

 

Tax Representative” means, as applicable, and including the Designated Individual as the context requires, (a) the Member or other Person (including the Company) designated as the “partnership representative” of the Company under Code Section 6223, and/or (b) the Member or other Person serving in a similar capacity under any similar provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Laws, in each case, acting solely at the direction of the Company to the maximum extent permitted under Law.

 

Article II

Member’s Capital Accounts.

 

The Company or the Manager shall establish and maintain a capital account for each Member in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (each, a “Capital Account”). The Company may maintain Capital Account subaccounts for different classes of Units, and any provisions of this Agreement pertaining to Capital Account maintenance shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to those subaccounts.

 

Article III

Allocations

 

Section 3.1 Allocations Generally. Each Fiscal Year, after adjusting each Member’s Capital Account for all contributions and distributions with respect to such Fiscal Year and after giving effect to the allocations under Section 3.2 of this Annex C for the Fiscal Year, Net Profits and Net Losses shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that, after such allocations have been made, each Member’s Capital Account balance (which may be a positive, negative, or zero balance) will equal (proportionately) (a) the amount that would be distributed to each such Member, determined as if the Company were to (i) sell all of its Assets for their Asset Values, (ii) satisfy all of its liabilities in accordance with their terms with the proceeds from such sale (limited, with respect to Nonrecourse Liabilities, to the Asset Values of the Assets securing such liabilities), and (iii) distribute the remaining proceeds pursuant to the applicable provision of this Agreement, minus (b) the sum of (x) such Member’s share of the Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain and (y) the amount, if any (without duplication of any amount included under clause (x)), that such Member is obligated (or is deemed for U.S. tax purposes to be obligated) to contribute, in its capacity as a Member, to the capital of the Company as of the last day of such Fiscal Year.

 

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Section 3.2 Priority Allocations.

 

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback, Qualified Income Offset, and Stop Loss Provisions. Each of (i) the “minimum gain chargeback” provision of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(f), (ii) the “chargeback of partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” provision of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(4), (iii) the “qualified income offset” provision of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3), and (iv) the requirement in the flush language immediately following Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3) that an allocation “not cause or increase a deficit balance” in a Member’s Capital Account is hereby incorporated by reference as a part of this Agreement. The Company shall make such allocations as are necessary to comply with those provisions and shall make any determinations with respect to such allocations (to the extent consistent with clauses (i) – (iv) of the preceding sentence).

 

(b) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their Units, unless otherwise determined by the Company.

 

(c) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.752-2) with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(l).

 

(d) Special Basis Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Asset under Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the Asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Member to whom such distribution was made in the event Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

 

(e) Ameliorative Allocations. Any allocations made (as well as anticipated reversing or offsetting regulatory allocations to be made) pursuant to Section 3.2(a) (d) of this Annex C shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to this Agreement, so that the net amount for any item so allocated and all other items allocated to each Member pursuant to this Agreement shall be equal, to the extent possible, to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement if those allocations had not occurred.

 

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(f)  Allocations Relating to Earn-Out Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (i) no allocation of Net Profit, Net Losses or otherwise shall be made in respect of any Earn-Out Units in determining Capital Accounts unless and until such Earn-Out Units undergo a Conversion into Class C Units, and (ii) in the event the Asset Value of any Asset is adjusted pursuant to paragraph (ii), clause (E), of the definition of Asset Value, any Net Profit or Net Losses resulting from such adjustment shall, in accordance with principles similar to those set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) or in any other manner reasonably determined by the Company, be allocated among the Members (including the Members who hold the Earn-Out Units giving rise to such adjustment) such that the Capital Account balance relating to each Class C Unit (including any Earn-Out Units that have undergone a Conversion into Class C Units) is equal in amount (or as close to equal in amount as possible) immediately after making such allocation; provided that, if the foregoing allocations are insufficient to cause the Capital Account balance relating to each Class C Unit to be so equal in amount, then the Company shall cause a “capital account reallocation” in accordance with principles similar to those set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3) to cause the Capital Account balance relating to each Class C Unit to be so equal in amount.

 

Section 3.3 Other Allocation Rules.

 

(a) In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.3 of this Annex C, for income tax purposes under the Code and the Regulations, each Company item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as its correlative item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit (as calculated in accordance with the definitions of “Net Profits” and “Net Loss”) is allocated pursuant to Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 of this Annex C.

 

(b) Section 704(c) Allocations. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.3(a) of this Annex C to the contrary, in accordance with Code Section 704(c)(1)(A) (and the principles of those provisions) and Treas. Reg. § 1.704-3, Company items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company, or after Company property has been revalued under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) or (s), shall, solely for U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such Company property to the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its value as so determined at the time of the contribution or revaluation of Company property. The Company shall use the “traditional method” with respect to any property contributed to the Company in connection with the SPAC Transactions. With respect to property contributed or Section 704(c) amounts arising from revaluations made after the SPAC Transactions, the Company may use any method permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-3. Allocations pursuant to ‎Section 3.3(a) and this Section 3.3(b) of this Annex C are solely for U.S. federal, state, and local tax purposes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of profit, loss, or other items, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

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(c) Corrective Allocations. If, pursuant to Section 3.2(f), the Company causes a “capital account reallocation” in accordance with principles similar to those set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the Company shall make corrective allocations in accordance with principles similar to those set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

(d) Allocations in Respect of Varying Interests. If any Member’s interest in the Company varies (within the meaning of Code Section 706(d)) within a Fiscal Year, whether by reason of a Transfer of a Unit, redemption of a Unit by the Company, or otherwise, Net Profits and Net Losses for that Fiscal Year will be allocated so as to take into account such varying interests in accordance with Code Section 706(d) using the daily proration method and/or such other permissible method, methods, or conventions selected by the Company.

 

(e) Timing and Amount of Allocations of Net Profits and Net Loss. Net Profits and Net Loss of the Company shall be determined and allocated with respect to each Fiscal Year as of the end of each such year, or at such other time or times determined by the Company.

 

(f)   Modification of Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 3.1 and ‎Section 3.2 of this Annex C are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. The Company shall be authorized to make, in its reasonable discretion, appropriate modifications to the allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses pursuant to this Agreement in order to comply with Code Section 704 or applicable Regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company reasonably determines an allocation other than the allocations that would otherwise be made pursuant to this Agreement would more appropriately reflect the Members’ interests in the Company, the Company may in its discretion make appropriate adjustments to such allocations.

 

(g) Allocation of Liabilities under Code Section 752. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Member will take, or permit any Affiliate to take, any action that would change the allocation of liabilities for purposes of Code Section 752 without the consent of the Company.

 

(h) Adjustment for Non-Compensatory Options. If the Company issues Units or other securities that are treated as “non-compensatory options”, as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-2, the Manager shall make such adjustments to the Asset Value of the Company’s Assets, allocation of Net Profits and Net Losses, Capital Accounts and allocations of items for income tax purposes as it reasonably determines may be necessary to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-2 and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) or any successor provisions relating thereto and to properly reflect the economic sharing arrangement associated with the non-compensatory options.

 

Article IV

Certain Tax Matters

 

Section 4.1 Provision of Information.

 

(a) Information to Be Provided by Company to Members. No later than thirty (30) days after the filing by the Company of the Company’s federal tax return (IRS Form 1065), the Company shall provide to each Member a copy of Schedule K-1 of IRS Form 1065 reporting that Member’s allocable share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit for such Fiscal Year, and such additional information as is required to be provided on Schedule K-1 or as such Member may reasonably request for tax purposes, each as determined by the Company. The Member hereby consents to receive each Schedule K-1 in respect of the Member’s ownership interest in the Company through electronic delivery.

 

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(b) Information to Be Provided by Members to Company.

 

(i) Notice of Audit or Tax Examination. Each Member shall notify the Company within five (5) days after receipt of any notice regarding an audit or tax examination of the Company and upon any request for material information related to the Company by U.S. federal, state, local, or other tax authorities.

 

(ii) Other Relevant Tax Information. Each Member shall provide to the Company upon request tax basis information about Assets contributed by it to the Company and such other tax information as reasonably requested by the Company and necessary for it to prepare its financial reports or any tax returns and such other information and/or tax forms as the Company reasonably requests.

 

(c) No Right to Member Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any right to information under the Act, with respect to the financial statements or tax returns of a Member or its Affiliates, none of the Company, the other Members, such other Member’s Affiliates or any of their respective representatives, will be entitled to review such financial statements or tax returns for any purpose, including in connection with any proceeding or other dispute (whether involving the Company, between the Members, or involving any other Persons).

 

(d) Earn-Out Units. The parties hereto intend that, solely for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes, (i) any Class C Units to be issued pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Combination Agreement shall be treated as having been issued in the form of an “Earn-Out Unit” (each, an “Earn-Out Unit”) at the closing of the SPAC Transactions, not received in connection with the performance of services, and shall be treated as having been converted into a Class C Unit at the time of such actual issuance of a Class C Unit pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Combination Agreement (any such deemed conversion, a “Conversion”), and (ii) the recipient of any such Class C Unit issued pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Combination Agreement shall not be treated as having taxable income or gain as a result of such deemed issuance of Earn-Out Units at the closing or as a result of any Conversion (other than as a result of corrective allocations made pursuant to Section 3.3(c) of this Annex C). The Company shall prepare and file all tax returns in a manner consistent with such treatment unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Code Section 1313(a). For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the definition of “Asset Value”, Section 3.3(c) and this Section 4.1(d), an Earn-Out Unit shall not be treated as an outstanding “Unit” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.2 Tax Elections. The Company shall have in effect (and shall cause each Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect) an election pursuant to Code Section 754 (and any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for the Company for the Fiscal Year that includes the date of the SPAC Transactions and each Fiscal Year in which a sale or exchange (whether partial or complete) occurs. The Company shall determine whether to make any other available election pursuant to the Code or Regulations that is not otherwise expressly provided for or prohibited in this Agreement, and the Members hereby consent to all such elections.

 

Section 4.3 Tax Representative.

 

(a) Appointment and Replacement of Tax Representative.

 

(i) Tax Representative. The Manager shall act as the Tax Representative, but the Manager may designate another Person to act as the Tax Representative and may remove, replace, or revoke the designation of that Person, or require that Person to resign. For any jurisdiction with respect to which the Manager cannot serve as the Tax Representative, however, the Manager may designate another Person to act as the Tax Representative.

 

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(ii) Designated Individual. If the Tax Representative is not an individual, the Manager shall appoint a “designated individual” for each taxable year (as described in Treas. Reg. § 301.6223-1(b)(3)(ii)) (a “Designated Individual”).

 

(iii) Approval by Members. Each Member agrees to execute, certify, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file, and record at the appropriate public offices such documents as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to evidence the appointments described in Section 4.3(a)(i) and Section 4.3(a)(ii) of this Annex C, including statements required to be filed with the tax returns of the Company in order to effect the designation of the Tax Representative or Designated Individual (and any successor).

 

(b) Authority of the Tax Representative; Delegation of Authority. The Tax Representative shall have all of the rights, duties, powers, and obligations provided for under the Code, Regulations, or other applicable guidance; provided that, if a Person other than the Manager is the Tax Representative, such Person shall in all cases act solely at the direction of the Manager; provided further that, if the Tax Representative appoints a Designated Individual, such Designated Individual shall in all cases act solely at the direction of the Tax Representative.

 

(c) Costs and Indemnification of Tax Representative and Designated Individual. Without duplication of the provisions of Section 4.3(b) of this Annex C, the Company shall pay, or to the extent the Tax Representative or Designated Individual pays, indemnify and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Tax Representative or Designated Individual for all costs and expenses, including legal and accounting fees (as such fees are incurred) and any claims incurred in connection with any tax audit or judicial review proceeding with respect to the tax liability of the Company.

 

Section 4.4 Tax Audits.

 

(a) Subject to this Section 4.4, the Tax Representative shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the Company in connection with, make all relevant decisions regarding application of, and to exercise the rights and powers provided for in the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, including making any elections under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions or any decisions to settle, compromise, challenge, litigate or otherwise alter the defense of any action, audit or examination before the IRS or any other tax authority (each, an “Audit”), and to expend Company funds for professional services and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

 

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(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the Tax Representative shall give prompt written notice to the Company Unitholder Representative of the commencement of any Audit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the resolution of which would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (compared to the Manager) and adverse effect on the Bluescape Members (a “Specified Audit”). The Tax Representative shall (i) keep the Company Unitholder Representative reasonably informed of the material developments and status of any such Specified Audit, (ii) permit the Company Unitholder Representative (or its designee) to participate (including using separate counsel), in each case at the Bluescape Members’ sole cost and expense, in any such Specified Audit, and (iii) promptly notify the Company Unitholder Representative of receipt of a notice of a final partnership adjustment (or equivalent under applicable Laws) or a final decision of a court or IRS Independent Office of Appeals panel (or equivalent body under applicable Laws) with respect to such Specified Audit. The Tax Representative shall promptly provide the Company Unitholder Representative with copies of all material correspondence between the Tax Representative or the Company (as applicable) and any governmental entity in connection with such Specified Audit and shall give the Company Unitholder Representative a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any material correspondence, submission (including settlement or compromise offers) or filing in connection with any such Specified Audit. Additionally, the Tax Representative shall not settle, compromise or abandon any Specified Audit in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (compared to the Manager) and material adverse effect on the Bluescape Members without the Company Unitholder Representative’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). The Tax Representative shall obtain the prior written consent of the Company Unitholder Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) before (i) making a Push Out Election or (ii) taking any other material action under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions that, in each case, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the Bluescape Members that is disproportionately adverse to them as compared to the Manager; provided, however, the Tax Representative may cause the Company to make a Push Out Election in its sole discretion (without the prior written consent of the Company Unitholder Representative) to the extent not making such Push Out Election would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the Manager that is disproportionately adverse to it as compared to the Bluescape Members.

 

(c) The Company, the Tax Representative, the Company Unitholder Representative and the Members expressly agree to be bound by the terms of Section 6.14(a) of the Combination Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of any conflict between Section 6.14(a) of the Combination Agreement and this Agreement, Section 6.14(a) of the Combination Agreement shall control.

 

(d) Determinations with Respect to Elections. Subject to the provisions of this Annex C (including Section 4.4(b) thereof), the Tax Representative shall have the sole authority to determine whether to cause the Company to make a Push Out Election with respect to any adjustment that could result in an imputed underpayment (within the meaning of Code Section 6225) (an “Imputed Underpayment”).

 

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(e) Responsibility for Payment of Tax; Former Members.

 

(i) Imputed Underpayment Share. To the extent the Company is liable for any Imputed Underpayment, the Company shall determine the liability of the Members for a share of such Imputed Underpayment, taking into account the Members’ Units and the status and actions of the Members (including those described in Code Section 6225(c)) (such share, an “Imputed Underpayment Share”).

 

(ii) Payment of Imputed Underpayment Share. The Company may (A) require a Member who is liable for an Imputed Underpayment Share to pay the amount of its Imputed Underpayment Share to the Company within ten (10) days after the date on which the Company notifies the Member (and in the manner required by the notice) and/or (B) reduce future distributions to the Member, such that the amount determined under clauses (A) and (B) equals the Member’s Imputed Underpayment Share; provided, however, that no Member shall have an obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Company with respect to any Imputed Underpayment. If a Member fails to pay any amount that it is required to pay the Company in respect of an Imputed Underpayment Share within such ten (10) day period, that amount shall be treated as a loan to the Member, bearing interest at ten (10) percent annually (which interest shall increase the Member’s Imputed Underpayment Share). Such loan shall be repayable upon demand by the Company. If the Member fails to repay the loan upon demand, the full balance of the loan shall be immediately due (including accrued but unpaid interest) and the Company shall have the right to collect the balance in any manner it determines, including by reducing future distributions to that Member; provided, however, that no Member may have any Imputed Underpayment Share treated as a loan to the extent it would violate Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Any Member not permitted to treat its Imputed Underpayment Share as a loan due to the provisions of the previous sentence shall pay any Imputed Underpayment Share within ten (10) days after the date of the notice referred to in the first sentence of this Section 4.4(e)(ii) of this Annex C.

 

Section 4.5 No Independent Actions or Inconsistent Positions. Except as required by Law or previously authorized in writing by the Company (which authorization may be withheld in the sole discretion of the Company), no Member shall (i) independently act with respect to tax matters (including, but not limited to, audits, litigation and controversies) affecting or arising from the Company, or (ii) treat any Company item inconsistently on such Member’s income tax return with the treatment of the item on the Company’s tax return and/or the Schedule K-1 (or other written information statement) provided to such Member. Solely to the extent required by Law, this Section 4.5 of this Annex C shall not apply with respect to any “special enforcement matter” described in Code Section 6241(11).

 

Section 4.6 United States Person. Except as permitted by the Company, each Member represents and covenants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is and will at all times remain a “United States Person,” within the meaning of Code Section 7701, or is a disregarded entity the assets of which are treated as owned by a United States Person under Treas. Reg. §§ 301.7701-1, 301.7701-2, and 301.7701-3.

 

C-11

 

 

Section 4.7 State, Local, and Non-U.S. Tax Law. The provisions of this Agreement with respect to U.S. federal income tax shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with respect to any similar provisions of state, local, or non-U.S. tax law as determined by the Company.

 

Section 4.8 Survival of Obligations. For purposes of this Article IV of this Annex C, the term “Member” shall include a former Member unless otherwise determined by the Company. The rights and obligations of each Member and former Member under this Article IV of this Annex C shall survive the Transfer by such Member of its Units (or withdrawal by a Member or redemption of a Member’s Units) and the dissolution of the Company until ninety (90) days after the applicable statute of limitations. Section 4.3 (Tax Representative), Section 4.4 (Tax Audits), and this Section 4.8 (Survival of Obligations) of this Annex C shall not be amended without the prior written consent of any Member or former Member that would be disproportionately and adversely impacted by such amendment.

 

Section 4.9 Tax Classification. The parties intend that the Company shall be classified as a partnership for United States federal, state, and local tax purposes. The parties intend that the Subsidiaries of the Company currently classified either as disregarded entities or as partnerships for United States federal, state, and local tax purposes as of the date of this Agreement shall remain classified either as disregarded entities or as partnerships for United States federal, state, and local tax purposes. No Person shall take any action inconsistent with such classifications.

 

Section 4.10 Withholding.

 

(a) Withholding Generally. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that the Company may be required by Law to deduct and withhold taxes or to fulfill other similar obligations of such Member on any amount paid, distributed, disbursed, or allocated by the Company to that Member, including upon liquidation, and any transferee of a Member’s interest or a Substituted Member shall, by reason of such Transfer or substitution, acknowledge, and agree to any such withholding by the Company, including withholding to discharge obligations of the Company with respect to prior distributions, allocations, or an Imputed Underpayment Share (to the extent not otherwise borne by the transferor Member pursuant to Section 4.4 of this Annex C). Taxes withheld by third parties from payments to the Company in respect of the Company shall be treated as an expense of the Company, unless such withholding is attributable to a specific Member, in which case, amounts so withheld shall be allocated to such Member and the Company may deduct and withhold such amounts from the Member. All amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 4.10 of this Annex C shall, except as otherwise determined by the Company pursuant to Section 4.4(e)(ii) of this Annex C, be treated as amounts distributed to such Person pursuant to the provision of this Agreement that would have applied if such amount had actually been distributed.

 

(b) Additional Provisions with Respect to a Transfer of Units. A Member transferring Units permitted by this Agreement shall, unless otherwise determined by the Company, (i) deliver to the Company, between ten (10) days and thirty (30) days before the Transfer, an affidavit of non-foreign status with respect to such transferor Member that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 1446(f)(2) or other documentation establishing a valid exemption from withholding pursuant to Code Section 1446(f) (including IRS Form W-9) or (ii) ensure that, contemporaneously with the Transfer, the transferee of such interest properly withholds and remits to the IRS the amount of tax required to be withheld upon the Transfer by Code Section 1446(f) (and promptly provide evidence to the Company of such withholding and remittance).

 

C-12

 

 

(c) Additional Provisions with Respect to an Exchange of Units.

 

(i) Withholding of Cash or Class A Common Stock Permitted. If the Company or the Manager shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state, local, or non-U.S. tax Laws in respect of any Exchange, the Company, or the Manager, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including, at its option, withholding cash from the Cash Settlement or shares of Class A Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of any taxes that the Company or the Manager, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Exchange. To the extent that amounts are (or property is) so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the applicable Member.

 

(ii) Notice of Withholding. If the Company or the Manager determines that any amounts by reason of any federal, state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws or regulations are required to be withheld in respect of any Exchange, the Company or the Manager, as the case may be, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify the Exchangeable Unit Member and shall consider in good faith any positions or alternative arrangements that such Member raises (reasonably in advance of the date on which the Company or the Manager believes withholding is required) as to why withholding is not required or that may avoid the need for such withholding, provided, that neither the Company nor the Manager is required to incur additional costs as a result of such obligation, and this Section 4.10(c)(ii) of this Annex C shall not in any manner limit the authority of the Company or the Manager to withhold taxes with respect to an Exchangeable Unit Member pursuant to Section 4.10(c)(i) of this Annex C.

 

(iii) Reimbursement of Taxes by Exchangeable Unit Member. If, within the two-year period beginning at the start of the date of an Exchange, (i) the Manager withholds or otherwise pays any amount on account of taxes in respect of exchanged Units, which amount is attributable to the two-year period ending at the end of the date of such Exchange, and (ii) the Manager or any person other than the Exchangeable Unit Member otherwise would bear the economic burden of such withholding or other payment (including by reason of such amount being treated as having been distributed to the Manager in respect of the Exchangeable Units pursuant to Section 4.10 of this Annex C), the Exchangeable Unit Member shall, upon notice by the Company and/or the Manager, promptly reimburse the Company and/or the Manager for such amount; provided, however, that the Exchangeable Unit Member’s reimbursement obligation under this Section 4.10(c)(iii) of this Annex C shall not exceed the amount of cash and Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of receipt) of other consideration received by the Exchangeable Unit Member in connection with such Exchange. Unless otherwise required by Law, any amount paid by an Exchangeable Unit Member pursuant to this Section 4.10(c)(iii) of this Annex C shall be treated as an adjustment to the proceeds received by the Exchangeable Unit Member in respect of the applicable Exchange. The Company and the Manager shall have the right to reduce any amounts due to such Exchangeable Unit Member from the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the amount owed by such Exchangeable Unit Member under this Section 4.10(c)(iii) of this Annex C.

 

C-13

 

 

Annex D: SCHEDULE OF OFFICERS

 

Name   Title
Ernie Miller   Chief Executive Officer
John Doyle   Chief Technology Officer
Rohn Crabtree   Executive Vice President of Business Development

 

D-1

 

 

Annex E: POLICY REGARDING EXCHANGES

 

Effective as of February 15, 2023

 

This Policy Regarding Exchanges (the “Policy”) of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC (the “Company”) sets forth certain rules applicable to the exchange of Exchangeable Units for shares of Class A Common Stock of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (the “Common Stock”) and/or cash, at the option of the Manager (each, an “Exchange”), pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Policy have the meanings given to them in the Agreement. This Policy is made pursuant to, and supplements the provisions of, Article XI of the Agreement.

 

ARTICLE I

 

EXCHANGE DATES; PROVISIONS REGARDING EXCHANGEABLE AMOUNT

 

Section 1.1 Quarterly Exchange Date. There shall be one (1) date per quarter of each Fiscal Year on which an Elective Exchange may occur (each, a “Quarterly Exchange Date”) for a holder of Exchangeable Units (each holder, an “Exchanging Holder”). The Quarterly Exchange Date for Exchanging Holders that are required to file reports pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act may be different than the Quarterly Exchange Date for Exchanging Holders that are not required to file reports pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the applicable Exchanging Holders at least forty-five (45) days before a relevant Quarterly Exchange Date (such notice, a “Quarterly Exchange Date Notice”).

 

Section 1.2 Minimum Exchangeable Amount. The Company may set a minimum number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units that may be exchanged by Exchanging Holders on a Quarterly Exchange Date, which minimum amount shall be the same for all holders of Exchangeable Units (the “Minimum Exchangeable Amount”) and shall include the applicable Minimum Exchangeable Amount in the applicable Quarterly Exchange Date Notice. If an Exchanging Holder delivers an Elective Exchange Notice pursuant to Section 3.1 requesting to exchange all of its Exchangeable Units, the number or dollar value, as applicable, of the Exchanging Holder’s Exchangeable Units shall be deemed to satisfy the Minimum Exchangeable Amount requirement.

 

Section 1.3 Maximum Exchangeable Amount. The Company may set a maximum aggregate number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units that may be exchanged by the Exchanging Holders on a Quarterly Exchange Date (the “Maximum Exchangeable Amount”) and shall include the applicable Maximum Exchangeable Amount in the applicable Quarterly Exchange Date Notice. If the aggregate number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units that the Exchanging Holders propose to exchange on the Quarterly Exchange Date (as set forth on the Elective Exchange Notices) exceeds the Maximum Exchangeable Amount, then the number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units that each Exchanging Holder specified in its Elective Exchange Notice shall be reduced by the same percentage by which the aggregate number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units of all Exchanging Holders is reduced so that the aggregate number or dollar value of Exchangeable Units does not exceed the Maximum Exchangeable Amount.

 

E-1

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

ADDITIONAL RIGHTS TO EXCHANGE

 

Section 2.01 Rights to Exchange.

 

(a) Right to Exchange Before Certain Transactions. If the Company or the Manager consolidates, merges, combines or consummates any other transaction in which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property, no other provisions of this Policy shall limit the right of any Exchangeable Unit Member to effect an Elective Exchange in order to receive Class A Common Stock in advance of consummation of any such consolidation, merger, combination or other such transaction unless in connection with any such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction each Class C Unit shall be entitled to be exchanged for or converted into the stock, cash, securities or other property that such holder of a Class C Unit would have received had it exercised its right to Exchange pursuant to this Policy and received Class A Common Stock in exchange for its Class C Units immediately before such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction (subject to any differences in the kind and amount of stock or securities, cash and/or any other property as are intended (as determined by the Company in good faith) to maintain the relative voting power of each share of Class C Common Stock relative to each share of Class A Common Stock in effect before such transaction). This Article II shall not apply to any action or transaction (including any consolidation, merger, or combination) approved by a Majority-in-Interest of the Members.

 

(b) Right to Exchange Before an Applicable Sale or Termination Transaction. Upon the occurrence of an Applicable Sale or a Termination Transaction, no other provisions of this Policy shall limit the right of any Exchangeable Unit Member to effect an Elective Exchange in order to receive Class A Common Stock in advance of consummation of any such Applicable Sale or Termination Transaction.

 

ARTICLE III

 

ELECTIVE EXCHANGE NOTICE

 

Section 3.1 Timing of Elective Exchange Notice.

 

(a)   Elective Exchange Notice. Each holder that elects to Exchange some or all of its Exchangeable Units must deliver notice of an election in respect of the Exchangeable Units to be exchanged (an “Elective Exchange Notice”) to the Company, in a method determined by the Company at least thirty (30) days before the relevant Quarterly Exchange Date. The Company shall provide to each Exchangeable Unit Holder the form of Elective Exchange Notice and the means for delivery of that Elective Exchange Notice.

 

(b)   Acceptance of Elective Exchange Notice. After the Elective Exchange Notice has been delivered to the Company, and unless the Company or Manager, as applicable, has refused to honor the request in full pursuant to Section 1.2 (Minimum Exchangeable Amount), Section 1.3 (Maximum Exchangeable Amount), Section 3.1(c) (Cancellation of Quarterly Exchange Window), Section 3.2(c) (Post-Retraction Limitation on Exchange), or Article IV (Other Restrictions), the Company or Manager, as applicable, will effect the Elective Exchange on the applicable Quarterly Exchange Date in accordance with this Policy.

 

E-2

 

 

(c)   Cancellation of Quarterly Exchange Date. The Company may at any time, in its sole discretion, cancel a Quarterly Exchange Date for any or no reason. If the Company cancels a Quarterly Exchange Date, then no holder of Exchangeable Units shall be permitted to Exchange those Exchangeable Units on the cancelled Quarterly Exchange Date.

 

Section 3.2 Retraction of Elective Exchange Notice.

 

(a)   Ability to Retract; Retraction Deadline. If, at any time between the close of business on the date of delivery of an Elective Exchange Notice and the close of trading on the date that is two (2) Business Days before the applicable effective date of such Elective Exchange (the “Elective Exchange Date”), the reported closing trading price of a share of the Common Stock on the principal United States securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Common Stock trades decreases by five (5) percent or more, so long as the Manager or the Company, as applicable, has not elected a Cash Settlement, an Exchanging Holder may retract or amend its Elective Exchange Notice by delivering a notice to the Company in a manner determined by the Company not later than the Retraction Deadline (a “Retraction Notice” and the Exchangeable Units that were the subject of the Retraction Notice, the “Retracted Units”) not later than the close of trading on the date that is two (2) Business Days before the applicable Elective Exchange Date (the “Retraction Deadline”) pursuant to Section 3.2(b). The Company shall have no obligation to notify the Exchanging Holders of any decrease in the Common Stock trading price.

 

(b)   Retraction Notice. An Exchanging Holder wishing to retract must retract at least fifty percent (50%) of its Exchangeable Units that were the subject of the retracted Elective Exchange Notice. If the revised Elective Exchange Notice does not satisfy the Minimum Exchangeable Amount, the Exchanging Holder will be deemed to retract the full amount of Exchangeable Units that were the subject of the retracted Elective Exchange Notice. An Exchanging Holder’s delivery of a Retraction Notice shall be irrevocable and shall terminate all of the Exchanging Holder’s, Company’s, and Manager’s rights and obligations with respect to the Retracted Units, and all actions taken to effect the Elective Exchange contemplated by that retracted Elective Exchange Notice shall be deemed rescinded and void with respect to the Retracted Units. Subject to the applicable Minimum Exchangeable Amount and Maximum Exchangeable Amount, if any, if a Retraction Notice does not retract all of the Exchangeable Units that were the subject of an Elective Exchange Notice, the Exchangeable Units that are not Retracted Units will be exchanged on the relevant Quarterly Exchange Date.

 

(c)   Post-Retraction Limitation on Exchange. If an Exchanging Holder delivers a Retraction Notice for a Quarterly Exchange Date pursuant to Section 3.2(b), the retracting Exchanging Holder shall not be entitled to participate in the Exchange on the Quarterly Exchange Date for which the Retraction Notice was delivered with respect to the Retracted Units.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OTHER RESTRICTIONS

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Policy to the contrary (including the provisions of Article II), the Company may prohibit an Exchange by one or more holders of Exchangeable Units under any of the following conditions and determinations made by the Company based on the advice of counsel (which may be external or internal counsel):

 

(a) If an Exchange is (or is reasonably likely to be) prohibited under applicable law, regulation, or agreement to which the Company or an affiliate is a party or could reasonably be expected to result in a bona fide lawsuit against the Company or its affiliates; or

 

(b) If there is a material risk that the Company would be a “publicly traded partnership” under section 7704 of the Code as a result of an Exchange.

 

E-3

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

EXEMPTIONS FROM AND MODIFICATIONS TO POLICY

 

The Company may, in its discretion and based on the advice of counsel (which may be external or internal counsel), consider and grant requests from holders of Exchangeable Units, including for (i) additional Exchange Dates, (ii) Exchanges of less than the Minimum Exchangeable Amount, (iii) Exchanges in excess of the Maximum Exchangeable Amount, (iv) an Exchange to be subject to one or more contingencies relating to the Company or the Manager, or (v) any other matter with respect to Exchanges (to the extent permitted by the Agreement and applicable Law). A holder of Exchangeable Units may request an exemption from this Policy by submitting a written request to the Company and following the delivery requirements set forth in Article III as if the written request were an Elective Exchange Notice.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.1 Continuing Application of Company’s Policies and Securities Laws. Nothing in this Policy shall affect, and each holder of Exchangeable Units shall remain subject to, the Company’s Policies, including those addressing insider trading and any other Company policies regarding trading or the holding of investments. All holders of Exchangeable Units shall comply with all applicable securities laws and rules.

 

Section 6.2 Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations. Nothing in this Policy or in any other agreement or document or any action taken by any holder of Exchangeable Units shall be deemed to cause the holders of Exchangeable Units to have formed a partnership, association, joint venture, or any other kind of entity or create a presumption that the holders of Exchangeable Units are in any way acting in concert as a group.

 

Section 6.3 Mandatory Exchanges. This Policy shall not apply to any Exchange of Exchangeable Units pursuant to a Mandatory Exchange, as described in, and pursuant to, the Agreement.

 

Section 6.4 Notice Delivery Deadlines on Non-Business Days. If the date on or before which the Company or an Exchanging Holder is required to deliver a notice pursuant to this Policy is not a Business Day, then that notice will be deemed to be timely delivered on that date if that notice is received on the Business Day immediately following that date.

 

Section 6.5 Notifications Under This Policy. The Company will be deemed to have satisfied any notification requirement in this Policy by making available such notification on any system accessible by Exchanging Holders.

 

Section 6.6 Modification of Policy. The Company may modify this Policy at any time without notice. The Company will deliver or make available a copy of the revised Policy to the holders of Exchangeable Units at least forty-five (45) days before the next Quarterly Exchange Date.

 

* * *

 

 

 

E-4

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
LETTER AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 26, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) to the Letter Agreement (as defined below) is entered into by and among CENAQ Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Letter Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Business Combination Agreement (as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified, the “BCA”), dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among, PubCo, Holdings, the Company, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo, and, solely with respect to Section 6.18 of the BCA, Sponsor;

 

WHEREAS, PubCo, Sponsor, Holdings and the Company are parties to that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (the “Letter Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Letter Agreement as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 12 of the Letter Agreement provides that the Letter Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by all parties thereto.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the undersigned each agree as follows:

 

1. Amendments.

 

(a) Effective as of the Effective Date, the second sentence of Section 4 of the Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions to Closing set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of the BCA, effective immediately prior to the earlier of the Closing and the conversion of any share of PubCo Class B Common Stock held by Sponsor, Sponsor hereby waives any and all rights it has or will have under Section 4.3(b)(ii) of the PubCo Charter in excess of the conversion ratio set forth in Section 4.3(b)(i) of the PubCo Charter.”

 

(b) Effective as of the Effective Date, the first sentence of Section 5(a) of the Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Sponsor shall receive 3,487,500 shares of PubCo Class A Common Stock at or prior to Closing as a result of the conversion of its shares of PubCo Class B Common Stock pursuant to Section 4.3(b)(i) of the PubCo Charter. Upon and subject to the Closing, 3,234,375 of such shares (the “Sponsor Subject Shares”) shall become subject to potential forfeiture if the $15.00 Triggering Event (as defined below) or the $18.00 Triggering Event (as defined below) (each, a “Triggering Event”), as applicable, does not occur within the Forfeiture Period (as defined below), with the applicable portion of such Sponsor Subject Shares no longer being subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of the applicable Triggering Event.”

 

2. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the BCA. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the BCA, the terms of the BCA shall govern. The provisions set forth in Sections 8.05 (Waiver), 9.03 (Severability), 9.05 (Parties in Interest), 9.06 (Governing Law), 9.07 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 9.09 (Counterparts), 9.10 (Specific Performance) and 9.11 (No Recourse) of the BCA, as in effect as of the date hereof, are hereby incorporated by reference into, and shall be deemed to apply to, this Amendment, mutatis mutandis.

 

[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the Effective Date.

 

  CENAQ SPONSOR LLC
     
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter
  Name:  J. Russell Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed

as of the Effective Date:

 

CENAQ Energy Corp.  
     
By: /s/ J. Russell Porter  
Name:  J. Russell Porter  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed 

as of the Effective Date:

 

Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC  
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller  
Name:  Ernest B. Miller  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed 

as of the Effective Date:

 

Bluescape Clean Fuels INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC  
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller  
Name:  Ernest B. Miller  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.10

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
LETTER AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 2 (this “Amendment”), dated as of February 14, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) to the Letter Agreement (as defined below) is entered into by and among CENAQ Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Letter Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Business Combination Agreement (as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified, the “BCA”), dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among, PubCo, Holdings, the Company, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo, and, solely with respect to Section 6.18 of the BCA, Sponsor;

 

WHEREAS, PubCo, Sponsor, Holdings and the Company are parties to that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (the “Letter Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Letter Agreement as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 12 of the Letter Agreement provides that the Letter Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by all parties thereto.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the undersigned each agree as follows:

 

1. Amendments.

 

(a) Effective as of the Effective Date, the third sentence of Section 5(b)(i) of the Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “$15.00 Triggering Event” means the date on which the PubCo VWAP (as defined below) is greater than or equal to $15.00 per share for any 20 Trading Days within any period of 30 consecutive Trading Days; provided that if, during the Forfeiture Period, there is a Company Sale (as defined below) pursuant to which PubCo or the holders of PubCo Class A Common Stock have the right to receive consideration implying a value of PubCo Class A Common Stock (as determined in good faith by the board of directors of PubCo (the “PubCo Board”)) of greater than or equal to $15.00 (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Company Sale (as defined below), such implied value of PubCo Class A Common Stock shall be calculated inclusive of 50% of the Sponsor Subject Shares), then the $15.00 Triggering Event shall be deemed to have occurred.”

 

(b) Effective as of the Effective Date, the third sentence of Section 5(b)(ii) of the Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “$18.00 Triggering Event” means the date on which the PubCo VWAP is greater than or equal to $18.00 per share for any 20 Trading Days within any period of 30 consecutive Trading Days; provided that if, during the Forfeiture Period, there is a Company Sale pursuant to which PubCo or the holders of PubCo Class A Common Stock have the right to receive consideration implying a value of PubCo Class A Common Stock (as determined in good faith by the PubCo Board) of greater than or equal to $18.00 (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Company Sale (as defined below), such implied value of PubCo Class A Common Stock shall be calculated inclusive of the remaining 50% of the Sponsor Subject Shares), then the $18.00 Triggering Event shall be deemed to have occurred.”

 

2. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the BCA. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the BCA, the terms of the BCA shall govern. The provisions set forth in Sections 8.05 (Waiver), 9.03 (Severability), 9.05 (Parties in Interest), 9.06 (Governing Law), 9.07 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 9.09 (Counterparts), 9.10 (Specific Performance) and 9.11 (No Recourse) of the BCA, as in effect as of the date hereof, are hereby incorporated by reference into, and shall be deemed to apply to, this Amendment, mutatis mutandis.

 

[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the Effective Date.

 

  CENAQ SPONSOR LLC
   
  By: /s/ J. Russell Porter 
  Name:  J. Russell Porter
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed  
as of the Effective Date:  
     
CENAQ Energy Corp.  
     
By: /s/ J. Russell Porter  
Name:  J. Russell Porter  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed  
as of the Effective Date:  
   
Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC  
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller  
Name:  Ernest B. Miller  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the Effective Date:
   
Bluescape Clean Fuels INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC
     
By: /s/ Ernest B. Miller   
Name:  Ernest B. Miller  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

letter Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

February 15, 2023

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Commissioners:

 

We have read the statements made by Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (formerly CENAQ Energy Corp.) included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated February 15, 2023. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01. We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

Marcum LLP

Houston, Texas

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.

 

Company Name  Jurisdiction of Organization
Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC  DE
Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC  DE
Bluescape Clean Fuels Employee Holdings, LLC  DE
Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC  DE
Bluescape Clean Fuels EmployeeCo, LLC  DE
Maricopa Renewable Fuels I, LLC  DE

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the definitive proxy statement dated November 10, 2022 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Introduction

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2022 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021 present the historical financial statements of CENAQ and Intermediate, adjusted to reflect the Business Combination. The unaudited condensed combined pro forma balance sheet as of September 30, 2022 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and related transactions as if they had occurred on September 30, 2022. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and related transactions as if they had been consummated on January 1, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X, as amended.

 

The Business Combination includes:

 

Holdings contributing 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate to OpCo in exchange for 22,500,000 Class C OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock;

 

the common control reverse recapitalization between CENAQ and Intermediate;

 

the issuance and sale of 3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for a purchase price of approximately $10.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $32,000,000 in the PIPE Financing pursuant to the Subscription Agreements;

 

Delivery of $19,031,516 of proceeds from CENAQ’s Trust Account related to non-redeeming Holders of 1,846,120 of Class A Common Stock; and

 

Repayment of $3,750,000 of capital contributions made by Holdings since December 2021 and payment of $10,043,793 of transaction expenses including deferred underwriting fees of $1,700,000;

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been developed from and should be read in conjunction with:

 

the notes accompanying the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements;

 

the historical audited and unaudited financial statements of CENAQ included in CENAQ’s Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2022 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on November 21, 2022;

 

the historical audited and unaudited financial statements of Intermediate set forth in the proxy statement;

 

the discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of CENAQ and Intermediate set forth in the proxy statement; and

 

other information contained in the proxy statement, including the Business Combination Agreement and the description of certain terms thereof.

 

 

 

 

The Transactions are being accomplished through an “Up-C” structure and the classification of consideration received by Holdings reflects such “Up-C” structure. Upon the Closing, Holdings held a number of OpCo Units that are exchangeable for an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, or, at the option of Verde Clean Fuels, cash in an amount equal to the net proceeds raised by selling such Class A Common Stock in a contemporaneous sale or underwritten offering.

 

Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels will be required to pay 85% of the net cash savings in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes), if any, that it actually realizes (or in certain cases is deemed to realize) in periods after the Business Combination as a result of certain increases in tax basis pursuant to the exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right and certain benefits attributable to imputed interest. Any such payments to TRA Holders will reduce the cash provided by the tax savings generated from future exchanges that would otherwise have been available to Verde Clean Fuels for other uses, including reinvestment or dividends to holders of Class A Common Stock. Cash tax savings from the remaining 15% of the tax benefits will be retained by Verde Clean Fuels. Verde Clean Fuels’ obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement in connection with a change of control are subject to the Payment Cap of $50,000,000. The Payment Cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years.

 

Due to the uncertainty of the amount and timing of future exchanges of Class C OpCo Units, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information assumes that no exchanges of Class C OpCo Units have occurred and therefore, no increases in tax basis have been realized. Additionally, Verde Clean Fuels would recognize a full valuation allowance for any deferred tax asset realized based on Verde Clean Fuels’ current assessment of the future realizability.

 

The following summarizes the Verde Clean Fuels Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2023. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 31,858,620 shares of Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class C common stock issued and outstanding as of February 15, 2023.

 

    Shares     % of Common Stock  
CENAQ Public Stockholders(a)     1,846,120       5.79 %
Holdings (b)     23,300,000       73.14 %
New PIPE Investors (excluding Holdings)(c)     2,400,000       7.53 %
Sponsor and Anchor Investors(d)     1,078,125       3.38 %
Sponsor Earn Out shares(e)     3,234,375       10.15 %
Total Shares of Common Stock at Closing     31,858,620       100.00 %
Earn Out Equity shares(f)     3,500,000          
Total diluted shares at Closing (including shares above)(g)     35,358,620          

 

  (a) CENAQ Public Stockholders holding 15,403,880 shares of Class A Common Stock exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account. Excludes 189,750 Underwriters Forfeited Shares owned by Imperial Capital, LLC and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. that were forfeited as of Closing pursuant to the Underwriters Letter.

 

  (b) Includes (i) 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issued to Holdings at Closing, representing 100% of the shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2023, and (ii) 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock acquired by Holdings in the PIPE Financing.

 

  (c)

Excludes 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock acquired by Holdings in the PIPE Financing.

 

  (d) Includes 253,125 and 825,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the Sponsor and Anchor Investors, respectively, upon conversion of a portion of their current Class B Common Stock at Closing.

 

  (e) Includes 3,234,375 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the Sponsor that are subject to forfeiture pursuant to the Sponsor Letter. These shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of the Triggering Events. Excludes 2,475,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor.

 

  (f) Includes 3,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issuable to Holdings upon the occurrence of the Triggering Events.

 

  (g) Excludes 12,937,500 and 2,475,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants, respectively.

 

2 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
As of September 30, 2022
                    
   Historical   Transaction
Accounting
      Pro Forma 
   CENAQ   Intermediate   Adjustments   Note 2  Combined 
ASSETS                   
Current Assets                   
Cash and cash equivalents  $8,242   $1,440,867   $37,418,142   (a)  $38,867,251 
Restricted cash   -    -    100,000   (a)   100,000 
Prepaid expenses   15,038    79,842    1,800,000   (m)   1,894,880 
Deferred transaction costs   -    2,597,020    (2,597,020)  (f)   - 
Other   -    6,050    -       6,050 
Total current assets   23,280    4,123,779    36,721,122       40,868,181 
                        
Security deposits   -    150,000    -       150,000 
Deferred financing costs   25,000    -    (25,000)  (f)   - 
Property, plant and equipment, net   -    9,371    -       9,371 
Intellectual patented technology   -    1,925,151    -       1,925,151 
Operating lease right-of-use asset   -    137,907    -       137,907 
Marketable securities held in trust account   174,873,584    -    (174,873,584)  (a)   - 
Deferred tax assets   -    -    -   (b)   - 
Total assets  $174,921,864   $6,346,208   $(138,177,462)     $43,090,610 
                        
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY                       
Current Liabilities                       
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   3,510,208    2,893,968    (4,332,228)  (a), (f), (m)   2,071,948 
Income taxes payable   131,832    -    -       131,832 
Interest payable   4,212    -    (4,212)  (a)   - 
Promissory note - related party   125,000    -    284,631   (a)   409,631 
Operating lease liabilities   -    137,907    -       137,907 
                        
Contingent consideration   -    1,669,000    (1,669,000)  (c)   - 
Deferred underwriters’ discount   6,037,500    -    (6,037,500)  (a)   - 
Tax receivable agreement liability   -    -    -   (d)   - 
Total liabilities   9,808,752    4,700,875    (11,758,309)      2,751,318 
                        
Common stock subject to possible redemption   174,726,102    -    (174,726,102)  (e)   - 
                        
Intermediate’s Member’s Equity   -    12,436,983    (12,436,983)  (f)   - 
Class A common stock   19    -    917   (f)   936 
Class B common stock   431    -    (431)  (f)   - 
Class C Common Stock   -    -    2,250   (f)   2,250 
Additional paid-in capital   -    -    14,371,728   (f)   14,371,728 
Retained earnings / (Accumulated deficit)   (9,613,440)   (10,791,650)   17,880,695   (f)   (2,524,395)
Noncontrolling interest   -    -    28,488,774   (g)   28,488,774 
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)   (9,612,990)   1,645,333    48,306,949       40,339,292 
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Common Stock and Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity  $174,921,864   $6,346,208   $(138,177,462)     $43,090,610 

 

 

3 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
                    
   Historical   Transaction
Accounting
      Pro Forma 
   CENAQ   Intermediate   Adjustments   Note 2  Combined 
General and administrative expenses  $4,408,361   $3,338,467   $-      $7,746,828 
Contingent consideration   -    (7,181,000)   7,181,000   (c)   - 
Research and development expenses   -    242,353    -       242,353 
Total operating (income) expenses   4,408,361    (3,600,180)   7,181,000       7,989,181 
                        
Income (Loss) from operations   (4,408,361)   3,600,180    (7,181,000)      (7,989,181)
                        
Other income (expense):                       
Interest earned on marketable securities held in CENAQ Trust Account   978,254    -    (978,254)  (h)   - 
Interest expense on promissory note - related party   (4,212)   -    4,212   (f)   - 
Total other income (expense)   974,042    -    (974,042)      - 
                        
Income (Loss) before provision for income taxes   (3,434,319)   3,600,180    (8,155,042)      (7,989,181)
Provision for income taxes   (131,832)   -    -       (131,832)
Net income (loss)   (3,566,151)   3,600,180    (8,155,042)      (8,121,013)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest   -    -    (5,735,427)  (i)   (5,735,427)
Net income (loss) attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.  $(3,566,151)  $3,600,180   $(2,419,615)     $(2,385,586)
                        
Weighted average Class A Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted                 (j)   6,124,245 
Net loss per share of Class A Common Stock, basic and diluted                 (j)  $(0.39)
                        
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock subject to redemption   17,250,000                   
Basic and diluted net loss per common stock subject to redemption  $(0.16)                  
                        
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, non-redeemable common stock   4,502,250                   
Basic and diluted net loss per non-redeemable common stock  $(0.16)                  

 

 

4 

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31, 2021
                    
   Historical   Transaction
Accounting
      Pro Forma 
   CENAQ   Intermediate   Adjustments   Note 2  Combined 
General and administrative expenses  $-   $12,415,580   $(8,810,000)  (c)  $3,605,580 
Research and development expenses   -    509,545    -       509,545 
Formation and operating costs   456,765    -    (9,083)  (k)   447,682 
Total operating expenses   456,765    12,925,125    (8,819,083)      4,562,807 
                        
Loss from operations   (456,765)   (12,925,125)   8,819,083       (4,562,807)
                        
Other income (expense):                       
Interest earned on marketable securities held in CENAQ Trust Account   4,680    -    (4,680)  (h)   - 
Unrealized loss on fair value changes of over-allotment option liability   (22,500)   -    22,500   (l)   - 
Total other income (expense)   (17,820)   -    17,820       - 
                        
Net loss  $(474,585)  $(12,925,125)  $8,836,903      $(4,562,807)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   -    -    (3,222,461)  (i)   (3,222,461)
Net loss attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.  $(474,585)  $(12,925,125)  $12,059,364      $(1,340,346)
                        
Weighted average Class A Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted                 (j)   6,124,245 
Net loss per share of Class A Common Stock, basic and diluted                 (j)  $(0.22)
                        
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock subject to redemption   6,462,329                   
Basic and diluted net loss per common stock subject to redemption  $(0.05)                  
                        
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, non-redeemable common stock   4,029,134                   
Basic and diluted net loss per non-redeemable common stock  $(0.05)                  

 

 

5 

 

 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the estimated effect of the Business Combination.

 

The Business Combination has been accounted for according to a common control reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. The Business Combination was not treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s pre-business combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings will continue to have control of the board of directors through its majority voting rights.

 

Under the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 805, Business Combinations, for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests of CENAQ and Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination. Under this method of accounting, CENAQ was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of CENAQ, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of CENAQ are stated at their historical value within the pro forma financial information with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.

 

Note 2 – Transaction Accounting Adjustments

 

The transaction accounting adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2022 are as follows:

 

(a) Cash. Represents the impact of the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization, on the cash balance of Verde Clean Fuels.

 

The table below represents the Business Combination sources and uses of funds as of September 30, 2022, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization:

 

   Note    
Cash balance of Intermediate prior to Business Combination*     $1,440,867 
Cash balance of CENAQ prior to Business Combination*      8,242 
Total cash balance prior to Business Combination*      1,449,109 
         
Transaction cash adjustments:        
Marketable securities held in Trust Account at September 30, 2022  (1)   174,873,584 
True up of marketable securities held in Trust Account at Closing  (2)   2,955,408 
PIPE Financing Proceeds  (3)   32,000,000 
Proceeds from promissory notes to Sponsor  (4)   280,419 
Payment to redeeming CENAQ Public Stockholders  (5)   (158,797,476)
Repayment of Intermediate’s Member’s Equity Capital Contributions since December 15, 2021  (6)   (3,750,000)
Payment of Deferred Underwriting Fees  (7)   (1,700,000)
Payment of Transaction Fees and Expenses  (8)   (8,343,793)
Letter of credit - reclassification to restricted cash  (9)   (100,000)
Pro forma cash balance     $38,867,251 

 

 

*Business Combination is accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization for purposes of unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

(1)Represents release of the restricted investments held in the Trust Account as of September 30, 2022 to fund the closing of the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse acquisition.

(2)Represents true up of Trust Account balance from September 30, 2022 to the date of Closing. The true up primarily related to a $1,725,000 extension payment made to CENAQ by the Sponsor and interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account.

(3)Represents the issuance, in the PIPE Financing, to third-party investors of 2,400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at a stock price of $10.00 per share. Also includes $8,000,000 from Holdings to acquire 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in the PIPE Financing (at a stock price of $10.00 per share).

(4)Represents the incremental proceeds from a one-year, non-interest bearing promissory note payable to Sponsor by Verde Clean Fuels. The total promissory note of $409,631 is payable in cash, shares of Class A Common Stock at a conversion price of $10.00 per share, or a combination thereof. The promissory note effectively cancels the Sponsor promissory note of $125,000 and accrued interest of $4,212 included in the consolidated balance sheet of CENAQ as of September 30, 2022, and also cancels promissory notes recorded subsequent to September 30, 2022 by CENAQ.

(5)Represents the amount paid to CENAQ Public Stockholders who exercised their Redemption Rights, including payment of accrued interest.
(6)As part of the Closing, CENAQ agreed to repay Intermediate’s Member’s Equity Capital Contributions made by Holdings for the period between December 2021 and Closing.
(7)Represents the payment of Deferred Underwriting Fees incurred as part of the IPO committed to be paid upon the consummation of a Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization. In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the underwriters agreed to reduce its deferred underwriting fees related to the IPO from $6,037,500 to $1,700,000 (see Note 2(f)(8) Impact on Equity).

 

6 

 

 

(8)Represents payment of Transaction Fees and Expenses related to the Business Combination. Of the total Transaction Fees and Expenses, $4,533,505 were included within accumulated deficit through the date of Closing and $3,810,288 were included as a reduction in additional paid-in capital through the date of Closing (see Note 2(f)(7) Impact on Equity).

(9)Represents standby letter of credit related to a required filing under the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for environmental remediation at Intermediate’s demonstration facility in New Jersey. The ISRA filing is also a condition of Closing. Amount designated for standby letter of credit was reclassified from cash to restricted cash.

 

(b) Adjustments for Deferred Taxes. Arises from differences between the financial statement and tax basis in the OpCo interests, including legacy step-up basis adjustments, and net operating losses recorded at Verde Clean Fuels. The adjustments for deferred taxes assume:

 

I.the GAAP balance sheet as of September 30, 2022 is adjusted for the pro forma entries described herein,

 

II.the estimated tax basis as of September 30, 2022 is adjusted for the pro forma entries described herein,

 

III.a full valuation allowance is established to offset the net deferred tax assets based upon the assessment of realizability, and

 

IV.no material changes in tax law.

 

Verde Clean Fuels accrues liabilities or adjusts deferred taxes for unrecognized tax benefits. Verde Clean Fuels has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2022, that, if recognized, would affect its annual effective tax rate. However, as Verde Clean Fuels continues to evaluate various accounting considerations, it may record uncertain tax positions under GAAP.

 

(c) Contingent Consideration. Represents the elimination of contingent consideration expense of $1,669,000, which was recorded by Intermediate as of September 30, 2022 related to a contingent payment to Intermediate’s management in the event that certain return on investment hurdles are met within a specified period from the date of a prior asset purchase. Although Intermediate recorded the contingent consideration (as the employees rendering service are employed by consolidated subsidiaries of Intermediate), Holdings, the parent entity and 100% owner of Intermediate, is legally obligated to settle the contingent payment should the return on investment hurdles be achieved. On August 5, 2022, BCF Holdings entered into an agreement with the Company’s management and CEO whereby the contingent payment is forfeited upon closing of the Business Combination. Therefore, contingent consideration has been excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

(d) Tax Receivable Agreement Liability. No adjustments are reflected for the effects of the Tax Receivable Agreement, more fully described elsewhere in the proxy statement. As part of closing the Transactions, Verde Clean Fuels is a party to a Tax Receivable Agreement under which Verde Clean Fuels will make payments to the TRA Holders in respect of 85% of the net tax benefit to Verde Clean Fuels of certain tax attributes. In connection with a change of control, payments to the TRA Holders are subject to the Payment Cap of $50,000,000. The Payment Cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years. Verde Clean Fuels anticipates that it will account for the income tax effects resulting from future taxable exercises of the exchange rights set forth in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement by recognizing an increase in deferred tax assets, based on enacted tax rates at the date of each exchange. If there were an exchange of all the outstanding Class C OpCo Units immediately after the Transaction, the estimated net present value of tax benefits to Verde Clean Fuels, subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, would be approximately $37 million offset by related discounted payment to the TRA Holders equal to 85% of the benefit received of $32 million based on certain assumptions, including that Verde Clean Fuels has sufficient taxable income to realize the tax benefit; there are no material tax law changes; and the fair market value of the exchanged shares is equal to $10 per share. At this time, a full valuation allowance would be established on any deferred tax asset created based on OpCo’s current assessment of the future realizability. Therefore, no liability related to future payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement has been reflected.

 

(e) CENAQ’s Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption. Represents reclassification of CENAQ’s redeemable shares into CENAQ’s Class A Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization.

 

7 

 

 

(f) Impact on Equity. The following table represents the impact of the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization, on the total equity section:

 

   Note    
Intermediate’s Member’s Equity  (1)  $(12,436,983)
         
Class A Common Stock  (2)  $(19)
   (3)   349 
   (3)   83 
   (4)   320 
   (5)   185 
Total Class A Common Stock adjustments     $917 
         
Class B Common Stock  (3)  $(431)
         
Class C Common Stock  (1)  $2,250 
         
Additional paid-in capital        
   (1)  $8,684,733 
   (2)   19 
   (4)   31,999,680 
   (5)   19,031,331 
   (6)   (9,613,440)
   (7)   (3,810,288)
   (8)   4,337,500 
   (9)   (36,110,325)
   (10)   - 
   (11)   (147,482)
Total Additional paid-in capital adjustments     $14,371,728 
         
Accumulated deficit        
   (6)  $9,613,440 
   (9)   7,621,552 
         
   (12)   1,669,000 
   (13)   131,832 
   (10)   - 
   (7)   (1,023,297)
Total Accumulated deficit adjustments     $17,880,695 
         
Noncontrolling interest  (9)  $28,488,774 

 

 

(1)Represents conversion of Intermediate’s Member’s Equity to Class C OpCo Units (and corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock) after repayment of Intermediate’s Member’s Equity Capital Contribution of $3,750,000. As part of the Closing, CENAQ agreed to repay Intermediate’s Member’s Equity Capital Contributions made by Holdings between signing of the original term sheet in December 2021 and Closing. Remaining Intermediate Member’s Equity converted into 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock at par value of $0.0001 in connection with the business combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization.
(2)Represents forfeiture of Underwriters Forfeited Shares (Class A Common Stock) issued among Imperial Capital LLC and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. that were forfeited at Closing per the Underwriters Letter.
(3)Represents conversion of 3,487,500 shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock and the conversion of 825,000 Anchor Investor shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock at par value of $0.0001 in connection with the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization. Of the 3,487,500 shares of Class B Common Stock converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, 3,234,375 shares shall become subject to potential forfeiture as Sponsor Earn Out shares per the Sponsor Letter.
(4)Represents the PIPE Proceeds in which 3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were issued at a price of $10.00 per share and a par value of $0.0001 (see Note 2(a)(3) Cash). Total shares include 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at par value of $0.0001 issued to Holdings in exchange for $8,000,000 participation in the PIPE Financing (at a price of $10.00 per share).

 

8 

 

 

(5)Represents reclassification of CENAQ’s redeemable shares into Class A Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization. At Closing, 1,846,120 of CENAQ’s redeemable shares were converted into Class A Common Stock at par value of $0.0001.The redemptions at an approximate redemption price of $10.31 per share resulted in a reduction to equity with a corresponding decrease in investments held in the Trust Account.
(6)Represents the reclassification of CENAQ’s historical accumulated deficit to additional paid-in capital in connection with the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization.

(7)Transaction Fees and Expenses related to the Business Combination, accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization, estimated to be incurred in connection with the Business Combination (see Note 2(a)(8) Cash). The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet reflects these costs as a reduction of cash with a corresponding decrease in additional paid-in capital and CENAQ's costs as a reduction of cash with a corresponding increase in accumulated deficit. CENAQ incurred incremental Transaction Fees and Expenses of $1,023,297 from September 30, 2022 through Closing.

(8)Represents reduction of Deferred Underwriting Fees. In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the underwriters agreed to reduce its Deferred Underwriting Fees related to the IPO from $6,037,500 to $1,700,000.
(9)Represents reclassification of APIC and Accumulated Deficit to NCI (see Note 2(g) Noncontrolling Interest).
(10)Although shares have been authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan, no shares have been issued at the date of the Business Combination, and no stock-based compensation expense has been or will be recognized until the time at which an award is granted or the achievement under an award of any performance condition is deemed probable, as applicable. Further, Holdings entered into stock-based compensation arrangements with its management in the normal course of operations and in which the cost of such arrangements has been allocated to Intermediate as the employees are rendering services. However, the ultimate contractual obligation related to these awards rests with Holdings. Stock-based compensation is included within general and administrative expenses in Intermediate’s Statement of Operations and has not been adjusted for the Transaction.

(11) Represents true up of common stock subject to possible redemption to adjust for permitted withdrawals from the Trust Account.

(12)Represents elimination of contingent consideration expense (see Note 2(c) Contingent Consideration).

 

(g) Noncontrolling Interest. An adjustment to reflect noncontrolling interest holders’ economic share of combined equity, pursuant to the post-combination structure of the combined companies. Following the Closing, holders of Class A Common Stock will own direct controlling interests in the results of the combined entity, while Holdings will own an economic interest in OpCo shown as noncontrolling interest in equity in the financial statements of Verde Clean Fuels. The indirect economic interests are held by Holdings in the form of the OpCo Exchange Right or, in certain circumstances, including at the election of Verde Clean Fuels, cash in an amount equal to the fair value of Class A Common Stock. If Verde Clean Fuels elects that the exchanged Class C OpCo Units, together with cancellation of the Class C Common Stock, will be settled in cash, the cash used to settle the exchange must be funded through private sale or an underwritten offering of Class A Common Stock.

 

The following table summarizes the economic interests of Verde Clean Fuels between the holders of Class A Common Stock and indirect economic interests held by OpCo unitholders (assuming all Class C OpCo Units are exchanged for Class A Common Stock):

 

   Economic
Interests
   % of Economic
Interests
 
Class A Common Stock   9,358,620    29.38%
OpCo Units (Noncontrolling interest)   22,500,000    70.62%
Total   31,858,620    100.00%

 

The noncontrolling interest may decrease according to the number of shares of Class C Common Stock and OpCo Units that are exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock or, in certain circumstances including at the election of Verde Clean Fuels, cash in an amount equal to the fair value of Class A Common Stock. The calculation of noncontrolling interest is based on the net assets of Verde Clean Fuels at the closing of the business combination. Accordingly, noncontrolling interest increased to $28 million with a corresponding decrease in additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit (see Note 2(f)(9) Impact on Equity).

 

(h) Interest Income. Represents elimination of interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account.

 

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(i) Net Loss to Noncontrolling Interest. The net loss of Verde Clean Fuels is being reduced as summarized below:

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022    
Pro forma net loss  $(8,121,013)
Noncontrolling interest percentage(1)   70.62%
Noncontrolling interest pro forma adjustment   (5,735,427)
Net loss attributable to Verde Clean Fuels  $(2,385,586)

 

 

(1) See Note 2(g) Noncontrolling Interest

 

Year Ended December 31, 2021    
Pro forma net loss  $(4,562,807)
Noncontrolling interest percentage(1)   70.62%
Noncontrolling interest pro forma adjustment   (3,222,461)
Net loss attributable to Verde Clean Fuels  $(1,340,346)

 

 

(1) See Note 2(g) Noncontrolling Interest

 

(j) Earnings (Loss) Per Share. Represents the net income (loss) per share calculated using the weighted average shares outstanding. As the Business Combination is reflected as if it had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income (loss) per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Business Combination have been outstanding for the entire periods presented.

 

   Note  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022
   Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 
Pro Forma net loss attributable to Verde Clean Fuels     $(2,385,586)  $(1,340,346)
Weighted average Class A Common Stock, basic and diluted  (1),(2)   6,124,245    6,124,245 
Net loss per Class A Common Stock, basic and diluted     $(0.39)  $(0.22)

 

 

(1)For the purposes of calculating the weighted average number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding, the effect of outstanding Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants to purchase 12,937,500 and 2,475,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, respectively, was not considered in the calculation of diluted loss per share, as the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive.

 

(2)For the purposes of calculating the weighted average number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding, the shares subject to the Earn Out Equity and Sponsor Earn Out shares have been excluded from basic and diluted loss per share as they are contingent upon the price of Class A Common Stock reaching specified thresholds not currently met.

 

(k) Formation Costs. Represents formation costs of CENAQ that are non-recurring and therefore excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

(l) Unrealized Loss on Fair Value Changes of Over-Allotment Option Liability. Represents unrealized loss related to changes in the fair value of underwriter over-allotment options. The unrealized loss was deemed to be non-recurring and therefore excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

(m) Insurance. Represents a Directors & Officers liability insurance policy entered into in connection with the Business Combination to be paid subsequent to the Closing.

 

 

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Exhibit 99.2

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF INTERMEDIATE

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of Intermediate’s financial condition and results of operations together with Intermediate’s financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis is set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement, including information with respect to Intermediate’s plans and strategy for its business and related financing, and includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” Intermediate’s actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. Throughout this section, unless otherwise noted “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Intermediate.

 

Overview

 

We are a renewable energy company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass, MSW and mixed plastics, as well as natural gas (including synthetic natural gas) and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+ process. Through our STG+ process, we convert syngas into RBOB gasoline. We are focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic MSW and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities with expected capacity to produce between approximately seven million to 30 million gallons of renewable gasoline per year.

 

Our commercial production facilities will be based on our proprietary and innovative STG+ technology, which provides a scalable process that will deliver cost-effective renewable gasoline. Our core technology, STG+, can be combined with third party gasification technology to generate approximately seven million to 30 million gallon per year renewable gasoline production facilities. STG+ is focused on simplification and efficiency versus traditional Fischer-Tropsch processes and we believe this results in cost-effective, and modular, production facilities that can be co-located close to feedstocks or end-use markets.

 

Formation

 

On July 29, 2020, Green Energy Partners, Inc. (“GEP”), formed by the Chief Executive Officer of Intermediate, and an additional individual (the “Founders”), entered into an asset purchase agreement with Primus Green Energy, Inc. (“Primus”) to purchase the assets of Primus. The assets under the asset purchase agreement included a demonstration facility, a laboratory, office space, and intellectual property including the patented STG+ process technology.

 

GEP then assigned its rights under the asset purchase agreement to a newly formed subsidiary of Intermediate. Immediately following the closing of the asset purchase agreement, the GEP Founders sold 100% of their membership interests to BEP Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BEP”) a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bluescape Energy Recapitalization and Restructuring Fund IV LP, in exchange for agreeing to make the payments under the asset purchase agreement as well as other capital contributions and a contingent payment. BEP ultimately contributed the membership interests down to its wholly owned subsidiary Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC which then immediately contributed the membership interest down to its wholly owned subsidiary Intermediate. Intermediate held the acquired assets through Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC. Since acquiring the assets from Primus, we have developed the use and application of the technology acquired to focus on the renewable energy industry.

 

The Transactions

 

We entered into the Business Combination Agreement with CENAQ on August 12, 2022. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, on February 15, 2023, (i) (A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (1) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the SPAC Stockholder Redemption Amount) and (2) the Holdings Class C Shares and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A OpCo Units equal to the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (taking into account the PIPE Financing and following the exercise of Redemption Rights) and (ii) immediately following the SPAC Contribution, (A) Holdings contributed to OpCo 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo transferred to Holdings (1) the Holdings OpCo Units and the Holdings Class C Shares. Holdings holds 22,500,000 OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

The business combination will be accounted for akin to a common control reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. The Business Combination will not be treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s pre-Business Combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings will continue to have control of the board of directors through its majority voting rights.

 

Under the guidance in the FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of CENAQ and Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination. Under this method of accounting, CENAQ will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of CENAQ, accompanied by a recapitalization.

 

The most significant change in Verde Clean Fuel’s future reported financial position and results is a net increase in cash (as compared to Intermediate’s financial position as of September 30, 2022) of $37.3 million.

 

Key Factors Affecting Our Prospects and Future Results

 

We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including competition from other carbon-based and other non-carbon-based fuel producers, changes to existing federal and state level low-carbon fuel credit systems, and other factors discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors.” We believe the factors described below are key to our success.

 

Commencing and Expanding Commercial Operations

 

In April 2022, we commenced a pre-FEED study for our first commercial production facility, and we are actively engaged in activities associated with securing the location, feedstock, utility interconnections, and front-end gasification for our first commercial facility. We believe our commercialization activities are being completed at a pace that can support first commercial production of renewable gasoline as early as 2024.

 

We have three additional production facilities planned and four additional identified potential production facility development opportunities. We believe the number of planned and identified potential production facilities bode well for our potential future success.

 

2

 

 

Successful Implementation of the first commercial facility

 

A critical step in our success will be the successful construction and operation of the first commercial production facility using our patented STG+ technology. We expect that the first commercial production facility could be operational as early as 2024.

 

Protection and continuous development of our patented technology

 

Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to protect, commercialize, and further develop our proprietary process technology and commercial facilities in a timely manner, and in a manner technologically superior to and/or are less expensive than competing processes.

 

Key Components of Results of Operations

 

We are an early-stage company and our historical results may not be indicative of our future results. Accordingly, the drivers of our future financial results, as well as the components of such results, may not be comparable to our historical or future results of operations.

 

Revenue

 

We have not generated any revenue to date. We expect to generate a significant portion of our future revenue from the sale of renewable RBOB grade gasoline primarily in markets with federal and state level low-carbon fuel credit systems.

 

Expenses

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

G&A expenses consist of compensation costs for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, and other administrative functions. G&A expenses also include legal fees, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing and consulting services, and insurance costs. Following the business combination, we expect we will incur higher G&A expenses for public company costs such as compliance with the regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Research and Development Expense

 

Our research and development (“R&D”) expenses consist primarily of internal and external expenses incurred in connection with our R&D activities. These expenses include labor directly performed on our projects and fees paid to third parties working on and testing specific aspects of our STG+ design and gasoline product output. R&D costs have been expensed as incurred. We expect R&D expenses to grow as we continue to develop the STG+ technology and develop market and strategic relationships with other businesses.

 

Income Tax Effects

 

We are a limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with each of our members accounting for its share of tax attributes and liabilities. Accordingly, there are no current or deferred income tax amounts recorded in our financial statements.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Interim Periods Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

 

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 

 
   2022   2021 
General and administrative expense  $(3,338,467)  $(2,610,928)
Contingent consideration   7,181,000    - 
Research and development expense   (242,353)   (411,941)
Income (loss) from operations   3,600,180    (3,022,869)
Net income (loss)  $3,600,180   $(3,022,869)

 

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General and Administrative

 

The increase in General and administrative expenses of $728 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 versus the same period in 2021 was primarily due to an increase of $325 thousand in accounting and audit fees, an increase of $127 thousand in professional and consulting fees primarily related to our ongoing project commercialization efforts and a $101 thousand increase related to feedstock supply and renewable fuel credit studies prepared by outside consultants. General and administrative expenses was also impacted by a $160 thousand net increase in compensation expense primarily related to an adjustment to account for the correction of grant date fair value of our Series A Incentive Units.

 

Contingent Consideration

 

The reduction in the contingent consideration liability of $7.2 million was primarily due to a reduction in the probability of payment following an amendment to the terms and conditions of this arrangement during the third quarter of 2022, and due to the increased likelihood of closing the Business Combination with the SPAC, at which time the contingent payment would be forfeited. We also updated assumptions related to the incremental time transpired since the closing date of our Primus asset purchase and increased the discount rate (WACC) (including the risk free rate) used in the valuation. Between July 31, 2020 (inception) and September 30, 2021, we determined that the contingent consideration liability did not significantly change due to the low likelihood of achieving the return on investment hurdles associated with the contingent payment.

 

Research and Development

 

The $170 thousand decrease in Research and development expenses was driven by a decrease in consulting and outside contractor billings on a fuel testing analysis and billings on two ongoing development projects. Such activity did not reoccur during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2021 and Period from July 31, 2020 (Inception) to December 31, 2020

 

   Year Ended
December 31,
2021
   For the Period
From
July 31,
2020 (Inception)
to December 31,
2020
 
General and administrative expenses  $12,415,580   $1,357,296 
Research and development expenses   509,545    109,409 
Loss from operations   12,925,125    1,466,705 
Net loss  $12,925,125   $1,466,705 

 

4

 

 

General and Administrative

 

The approximately $11.1 million increase in General and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020 was primarily due to an approximately $8.8 million increase in contingent consideration payable to certain employees and consultants of Intermediate that could become payable in the event that certain return on investment hurdles are met within five years. We remeasured the estimated payments under this arrangement and recorded an estimate of amounts payable under such arrangement. In measuring the estimated amount payable under this arrangement as of December 31, 2021, we took into consideration the business combination with CENAQ (as a non-binding term sheet was entered into in December of 2021) and the specified contractual return hurdles. Such contingent consideration arrangement, while reflected as a liability of Intermediate, was contractually entered into by the parent entity of Intermediate, or Holdings. Following the business combination, such arrangement will be settled by the parent entity (Holdings).

 

The remaining approximately $2.3 million increase during the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a $120 thousand increase in employee bonus accruals, a $90 thousand increase in accounting and finance contractor billings, a $36 thousand increase in directors and officers insurance premiums, a $60 thousand increase in legal and professional expenses related to project developments, and a $36 thousand increase due to higher travel expenses associated with project developments. The remaining approximately $1.9 million increase is due to seven additional months during the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020.

 

Research and Development

 

The approximately $400 thousand increase in R&D expenses of approximately for the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020 was due to a $240 thousand increase due to higher consultant expenses related to two ongoing development projects. The remaining approximately $160 thousand increase is due to seven additional months during the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity

 

We measure liquidity in terms of our ability to fund the cash requirements of our R&D activities and our near term business operations, including our contractual obligations and other commitments. Our current liquidity needs primarily involve General and administrative and R&D activities for the ongoing commercialization of our first production facility and associated plant design.

 

We had $1.4 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2022 (compared to $88 thousand as of December 31, 2021).

 

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses, have an accumulated deficit of $10.8 million as of September 30, 2022 and negative operating cash flow during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, as well as for the year ended December 31, 2021. Management expects that operating losses and negative cash flows may increase because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of technology and the development of market and strategic relationships with other companies. Our continued solvency is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional working capital to complete our product development, to successfully market our product and to achieve commerciality of our products.

 

5

 

 

We expect an aggregate of $727 million of capital expenditures through 2024 as we construct our first four commercial production facilities and we expect 70% of such capital requirements, or approximately $509 million, will be met with project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, or some combination of debt financing. The $37.3 million of net proceeds raised at closing of the transaction with CENAQ will contribute to the equity capital portion of our capital expenditure requirements through 2024, or approximately $218 million. We also expect to earn interest income on the net proceeds raised at closing during the ongoing development and construction of our facilities through 2024, and that such interest income will be utilized towards capital expenditures or for general and administrative expenses. While we have been in discussions with banks and other credit counterparties regarding project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, and these discussions have led to indications of debt financing equivalent to 70% of our capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such financing. Further, given the proceeds raised in our transaction with CENAQ are less than $218 million, our development timeline may be delayed and will require raising of additional equity or debt capital. As our transaction with CENAQ only resulted in $37.3 million of net proceeds, we expect that we will only be able to construct one of our first four planned production facilities with the proceeds from the CENAQ transaction. This could result in materially less future revenue and EBITDA compared to unaudited prospective financial projections included in our previous proxy.

 

To date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not expect to generate any meaningful revenue unless and until we are able to commercialize our first production facility, and our financial projections anticipate certain gasoline sales income from our first facility, that is not assured, will be recycled into capital expenditures in 2024 and beyond. We believe that the proceeds of the business combination (including the related private placement) may be sufficient to reach commercialization of our first production facility (after including 70% of assumed debt financing of the capital expenditure requirements). However, if we are unable to obtain debt financing, or if expenditures exceed our estimates, we may require additional equity or debt capital to complete our first production facility. Additionally, while we expect to be able to construct our first facility through the combination of transaction proceeds and debt financing, we will require additional equity or debt capital to develop the remaining three of our first four planned production facilities and to fund operations for the foreseeable future. We also expect our costs to increase in connection with advancement of our production facilities towards commercialization. In addition, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. If costs associated with the advancement of our production facilities towards commercialization or costs associated with operating as a public company exceed our expectations, this may also require us to seek additional capital funding sources.

 

Summary Statement of Cash Flows for the Interim Periods Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

 

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for the periods presented below:

 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

   2022   2021 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(2,311,710)  $(1,949,507)
Net cash used in investing activities   (4,411)   (290,097)
Net cash provided by financing activities   3,669,350    1,955,038 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  $1,353,229   $(284,566)

 

Cash Flows used in Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in our operating activities increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 versus the same period in the prior year primarily due to higher General and administrative expenses (after excluding non-cash activities such as changes in our contingent consideration payable and unit-based compensation expense). The higher General and administrative expenses were partially offset by $170 thousand less in Research and development expenses.

 

Cash Flows used in Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing decreased $286 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period 2021. The decrease was due to capitalized legal and professional fees that did not reoccur during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The capitalized legal and professional fees during the period September 30, 2021 related to our asset acquisition from Primus during 2020, but were not paid until 2021.

 

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities increased $1.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in prior year. The increase was primarily due to Member’s Equity capital contributions by our parent entity (Holdings) to fund our ongoing operations.

 

Summary Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 and Period from July 31, 2020 (Inception) to December 31, 2020

 

   For the Year
Ended
December 31,
2021
   For The Period
From July 31,
2020 (Inception)
to December 31,
2020
 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(2,626,534)  $(883,640)
Net cash used in investing activities   (290,096)   (1,800,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities   1,952,992    3,734,916 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  $(963,638)  $1,051,276 

 

Cash Flows used in Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities increased by approximately $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the period from July 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 due to a higher net loss related to higher General and administrative and Research and development expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021 as well as seven additional months during the year ended December 31, 2021 versus the period from inception (July 31, 2020) to December 31, 2020. The higher net loss was partially offset by a $121 thousand decrease in prepaid expenses related to lower general liability insurance premiums and a $66 thousand increase in accrued liabilities related to employee bonus accruals.

 

Cash Flows used in Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities decreased by approximately $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the period from July 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020 due to approximately $1.8 million related to the acquisition of certain intellectual property from Primus that did not reoccur in 2021. This was partially offset by capitalized legal and professional fees of approximately $288 thousand during 2021 related to our asset acquisition from Primus during 2020, but were not paid until 2021. The $288 thousand was included in accrued liabilities on our balance sheets as of December 31, 2020.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased approximately $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the period from July 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020 due to less Member’s Equity capital contributions by our parent entity (Holdings). $1.8 million of Member’s Equity capital contributions related to our asset acquisition from Primus during 2020 did not reoccur in 2021.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

As of September 30, 2022, we have no material commitments or contractual obligations. On October 17, 2022, we entered into a ground lease, easement and operations agreement with an initial primary term of 25 years for the site of our first production facility.

 

7

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2022, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. In connection with the preparation of Intermediate’s financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and the period from July 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, management of Intermediate noted a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the understatement of unit-based compensation expense. The understatement of the grant date fair value was due to a revision in the underlying fair value determination, and such revision was not appropriately reflected in the financial statements. Management concluded that the grant date fair value and corresponding incremental expense should be adjusted by recognizing the additional expense in Intermediate’s March 31, 2022 financials. As part of such process, management identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to the grant date fair value revision. Additionally, Intermediate did not maintain effective internal control regarding the date on which to apply new accounting standards based upon CENAQ’s elections made as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, which required Intermediate to apply new accounting standards as if it were a public business entity.

 

Effective internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud, and material weaknesses could limit the ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements. Intermediate’s management continues to evaluate steps to remediate the material weaknesses. These material weaknesses have not been fully remediated. We are in the early stages of designing and implementing a plan to remediate the material weaknesses identified. Our plan includes the below:

 

Designing and implementing a risk assessment process supporting the identification of risks facing Intermediate.

 

Implementing controls to enhance our review of significant accounting transactions and other new technical accounting and financial reporting issues and preparing and reviewing accounting memoranda addressing these issues.

 

Hiring additional experienced accounting, financial reporting and internal control personnel and changing roles and responsibilities of our personnel as we transition to being a public company and are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Implementing controls to enable an accurate and timely review of accounting records that support our accounting processes and maintain documents for internal accounting reviews.

 

We cannot assure you that these measures will significantly improve or remediate the material weaknesses described above. The implementation of these remediation measures is in the early stages and will require validation and testing of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal controls over a sustained period of financial reporting cycles and, as a result, the timing of when we will be able to fully remediate the material weaknesses is uncertain and we may not fully remediate these material weaknesses during the year ended December 31, 2022. If the steps we take do not remediate the material weaknesses in a timely manner, there could be a reasonable possibility that these control deficiencies or others may result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. This, in turn, could jeopardize our ability to comply with our reporting obligations, limit our ability to access the capital markets and adversely impact our stock price.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP as determined by the FASB. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. The following is a summary of certain critical accounting policies and estimates that are impacted by judgments and uncertainties and under which different amounts might be reported using different assumptions or estimation methodologies.

 

8

 

 

Asset Acquisition

 

In August 2020, we acquired a demonstration facility, a laboratory, office space, and intellectual property including the patented STG+ process technology under the terms of a purchase agreement with Primus Green Energy, Inc. (“Primus”). Upon acquiring the assets of Primus from the Founders, we performed an assessment as to whether the acquisition should be accounted for as a Business Combination (under ASC Topic 805) or whether the acquisition should be accounted for as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805-50.

 

We determined that substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired was concentrated in a single identifiable intangible asset representing intellectual property and patented technology and therefore, the acquisition was not considered the acquisition of a business but rather an asset acquisition. Certain other ancillary assets were acquired including a property lease and the related leasehold improvements. After allocating the acquisition cost to physical assets which were deemed immaterial, the remaining value was recorded to a single intangible asset which we referred to as Intellectual Property and Patented Technology.

 

We further assessed whether the intangible asset would be used in Research and Development activities and whether the intangible asset should be capitalized or expensed. Under ASC Topic 730-10, assets that have alternative future uses should be capitalized. An alternative use includes adaptation of an existing capability to a particular requirement or customer’s need as part of a continuing commercial activity. Another alternative use includes activity, including design and construction engineering, related to the construction, relocation, rearrangement, or start-up of facilities or equipment other than facilities or equipment whose sole use is for a particular research and development project.

 

We have utilized the intellectual property and patented technology, which is considered to be an adaption of an existing capability of the intellectual property and patented technology, to attempt to meet the contractual requirements of several potential licensing customers including modification to attach our STG+ process technology to existing customer owned methanol production facilities. Further, we have also utilized the intellectual property and patented technology acquired to perform additional modifications to the design and engineering of the commercially viable process island in order to validate the production of other commercially consumed fuels such as diesel and methanol with only minor modifications to the overall process. As a result of these alternative uses, we concluded the intellectual property and patented technology intangible asset has alternative future uses and therefore was capitalized.

 

As a result, substantially all of the asset purchase price was attributed to the single intangible asset. Accordingly, we recorded $1,925,151 to the intellectual property and patented property intangible asset inclusive of direct transaction costs of $537,500 that were incurred. The intellectual property and patented technology is considered an indefinite lived intangible and is not subject to amortization. We expect to reassess the estimated useful life of the intangible asset following definitive decisions to proceed with the construction of our initial production facility. As of September 30, 2022, December 31, 2021 and 2020, the gross and carrying amount of the unamortized intellectual property and patented technology intangible asset was $1,925,151.

 

Contingent Consideration

 

Our parent entity (Holdings), on Intermediate’s behalf, has an arrangement payable to our Chief Executive Officer and a consultant whereby a contingent payment could become payable in the event that certain return on investment hurdles are met within five years of the closing date of the Primus asset purchase. We recognize the liability for such contingent payment on our balance sheets and remeasure the estimated payments under this arrangement and record our best estimate of amounts payable under such arrangement.

 

Our contingent consideration liability is measured at fair value and based on significant inputs not observable in the market. As such, our contingent consideration liability is classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation of contingent consideration uses assumptions we believe would be made by a market participant. We assess these estimates on an ongoing basis as additional data impacting the assumptions is obtained. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration related to updated assumptions and estimates are recognized within the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Contingent consideration may change significantly as capital contributed increases, changes in discount rates, and expected volatility, expected timing of payment (expected term), and probability of payment fluctuate. In evaluating the fair value information, considerable judgment is required to interpret the market data used to develop the estimates. The estimates of fair value may not be indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. Accordingly, the use of different market assumptions and/or different valuation techniques could result in materially different fair value estimates.

 

The fair value of the contingent consideration as of the asset acquisition date and December 31, 2020 was estimated using a concluded Enterprise Value of Intermediate’s business based on a weighting of derived value from the combination of two Income approaches to business valuation (Discounted Cash Flows and Relief from Royalty). Such business value underpinned a Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model to determine the ultimate contingent consideration liability balance.

 

In measuring the estimated amount payable under this arrangement as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we took into consideration a discounted cash flow valuation of the business based on internal projections as well as the business valuation implied by the proposed business combination transaction with CENAQ, which implied a value to existing equity holders of $225,000,000, and also considered the expected timing of the transaction closing which was assumed to occur in the third or fourth quarters of 2022. Such implied value and timing underpinned a Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model utilized in the determination of the contingent consideration liability balance (as similarly used in the prior periods). Primarily as a result of the higher implied value to existing equity holders implied by the CENAQ transaction non-binding term sheet (originally signed in December 2021), the fair value of our contingent consideration liability increased to $8,850,000 as of December 31, 2021. Subsequently, we continued considering the $225,000,000 implied CENAQ transaction equity value together with a discounted cash flow valuation of the business based on internal projections. We also updated our expected timing of transaction closing to occur in the fourth quarter of 2022 or approximately one quarter later than originally conceived as part of the December 31, 2021 valuation. The incremental time added to the expected transaction closing resulted in a higher threshold for achievement based on the internal rate of return hurdle. In addition, the discount rate utilized in the determination also increased primarily as a result of an increase in the risk-free rate. We also updated the probability of payment due to the increased likelihood of forfeiture of the contingent consideration payment as a result of an amendment to the terms and conditions of this contingent payment during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as discussed further below. Accordingly, we recorded a reduction in contingent consideration totaling $7,181,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, resulting in a contingent consideration liability balance of $1,669,000 as of September 30, 2022.

 

The contingent consideration liability determination using Monte Carlo Simulation is based on a number of assumptions including expected term, expected volatility, expected dividends, the risk-free interest rate, a discount rate (WACC), and probability of success, a specified contractual return hurdle (based on internal rate of return), and a contractual proportion of excess gain allocable to the contingent payment above the contractual return hurdle.

 

The following table provides a summary of key inputs utilized in the valuation of the contingent consideration liability as of each balance sheet date:

 

Inputs  September 30,
2022
   December 31,
2021
   December 31,
2020
 
Expected volatility   70.20%   65.80%   56.35%
Expected dividends   0%   0%   0%
Remaining expected term (in years)   0.25    0.60    4.6 
Risk-free rate   3.33%   0.29%   0.14% – 0.23%
Discount rate (WACC)   26.3%   23.4%   24.3%
Payment probability   25%   90%   1% – 12.5%
Internal rate of return hurdle   15%   15%   15%
Excess return allocable to contingent payment   10%   10%   10%
Estimated fair value of contingent consideration  $1,669,000   $8,850,000   $40,000 

 

On August 5, 2022, BCF Holdings entered into an agreement with our management and CEO whereby, upon closing of the business combination with CENAQ, the contingent consideration would be forfeited. Following the closing on February 15, 2023, the contingent consideration was forfeited, and this arrangement was terminated.

 

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Unit-Based Compensation

 

We apply the fair value method under ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), in accounting for unit-based compensation to employees. Service-based units compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period. The fair value of the equity award granted is estimated on the date of the grant. Performance-based units are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no unit-based compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized unit-based compensation expense is reversed. Forfeitures of Performance-Based units are estimated at the grant date based on historical rates of stock award activity and reduce the unit-based compensation expense recognized.

 

Impairment of Intangible Assets

 

A qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed in order to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. In performing this analysis, we consider macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, current and forecasted financial performance, entity-specific events and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets under the quantitative analysis, intellectual property and patents are tested for impairment using a discounted cash flow approach and tested for impairment using the relief-from-royalty method. If the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.

 

Since our formation, we have considered a mix of information in monitoring the risks associated with impairment through the use of various valuation analyses which were used to measure the estimated fair value of our stock-based incentive awards and contingent consideration arrangement (discussed above). In addition, we considered market transactions (such as our business combination with CENAQ). As discussed above, substantially all of the value of the acquired assets from Primus was attributable to the intellectual property and patented technology. Such technology has remained our core asset since our acquisition and we have continued to develop such technology and expand its application to other feedstocks.

 

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In connection with the valuation of our stock-based incentive units granted to management, we determined our estimated enterprise value utilizing a mix of market approach, discounted cash flow and relief from royalty methods in the determination and such estimated enterprise value exceeded the carrying amount of this intangible asset by a substantial amount.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we placed the most weight to our business combination with CENAQ in concluding that no impairment testing was required. We also leveraged the valuation analyses prepared in the measurement of our contingent consideration as discussed in detail above. Such transaction implies an estimated $225,000,000 valuation of our current owners which served to support management’s conclusion that fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying amount by a substantial amount, and no impairment charges were recognized in any of the periods presented.

 

Impairment of Long-Term Assets

 

We evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. There were no impairment charges in any of the periods presented.

 

Emerging Growth Company Accounting Election

 

Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect not to take advantage of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non- emerging growth companies, and any such election to not take advantage of the extended transition period is irrevocable. We expect to be an emerging growth company at least through 2023. CENAQ has previously elected to irrevocably opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

There is no new accounting guidance issued but not yet effective that would have a material impact to our current financial statements.

 

 

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Exhibit 99.3

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. Announce Completion of Business Combination between CENAQ Energy Corp. and Bluescape Clean Fuels

 

Verde Positioned to be Leading Provider of Renewable Gasoline

 

Verde Announces Joint Venture with Diamondback Energy in Permian Basin

 

February 15, 2023 06:41 PM Eastern Standard Time

 

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (“Verde”), a company focused on becoming leading supplier of gasoline and other fuels derived from renewable feedstocks or natural gas, today announced the completion of the previously announced business combination between CENAQ Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: CENQ) (“CENAQ”) and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Shares of Class A common stock of Verde will be traded on the NASDAQ Capital Markets starting on February 16, 2023 under the symbol “VGAS” along with the public warrants under the symbol “VGASW.”

 

Verde developed and owns a proprietary syngas-to-gasoline (“STG+®”) technology which is designed to produce renewable gasoline utilizing waste feedstocks that are otherwise landfilled. The renewable gasoline can result in more than a 60% reduction in carbon intensity versus traditional hydrocarbon-based gasoline based on GREET-style Carbon Intensity analysis. Verde’s process also can produce a lower carbon gasoline from flared or economically disadvantaged natural gas. Verde’s multi-patented technology has been developed over the past 15 years and tested at its demonstration facility in New Jersey.

 

“Traditional gasoline used today is refined from crude oil and makes up over half of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the U.S. transportation sector. We believe our proprietary STG+® system will enable everyday consumers of gasoline to seamlessly and materially participate in the decarbonization of our atmosphere, without changing their automobiles or fueling habits,” said Ernie Miller, co-founder and CEO of Verde. “Our renewable and lower carbon gasoline will work within the existing gasoline infrastructure and in the global fleet of internal combustion engines. We estimate that the replacement of conventional hydrocarbon-based gasoline with Verde’s renewable gasoline would be comparable to removing six of every ten cars on the road today. The introduction of Verde’s renewable gasoline to reduce greenhouse gases is a new and significant solution to global decarbonization.”

 

The STG+® process is highly flexible and efficiently turns syngas, regardless of feedstock, into gasoline that does not require any additional refining. The Verde system is fully modular and sized to match feedstock sources, allowing for optimal logistical and cost efficiencies. Verde is currently developing its first commercial facility to be located at a landfill site in Maricopa, AZ, which, once fully operational, is expected to produce 7 million gallons per year of renewable gasoline during its first phase. With the proceeds from the merger and expected project financings, we believe that Verde is well capitalized to bring this first project online in the first half of 2025. Verde has several additional renewable gasoline projects in various early stages of development.

 

Concurrent with the business combination, Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) (“Diamondback”), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cottonmouth Ventures LLC (“Cottonmouth Ventures”), has made a $20 million equity investment in Verde and has entered into an Equity Participation Right Agreement pursuant to which Verde will grant Cottonmouth the right to participate and jointly develop Permian Basin facilities utilizing Verde’s STG+ technology for the production of gasoline derived from economically disadvantaged natural gas feedstocks. The production of gasoline from natural gas sourced from the Permian Basin is designed to allow Diamondback to mitigate the flaring of natural gas while also producing a high-margin product from natural gas streams that are subject to being price disadvantaged compared to other natural gas basins.

 

“Diamondback is excited to announce our equity investment in and partnership with Verde, which is our largest investment to date out of our new ventures subsidiary, Cottonmouth. We are also looking forward to expanding the Verde business into the Permian Basin with their proprietary STG+® technology. This investment, and the technology that accompanies it, fits with our strategy to decarbonize the oil field while generating an economic return for our investors,” stated Kaes Van’t Hof, President of Diamondback.

 

J. Russell Porter, CEO of CENAQ said, “We are pleased to complete this transaction and create Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. along with Ernie Miller and his team. As we have worked together over the past year to combine our entities, we have become confident that the significant number of existing opportunities to deploy the proven STG+® technology utilizing various renewable and green feedstocks will increase as a result of Verde Clean Fuels becoming a publicly traded entity.”

 

 

 

 

Advisors

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Verde. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal counsel to CENAQ. Imperial Capital served as placement agent to CENAQ. Baker Botts L.L.P. served as legal counsel to Imperial Capital, LLC.

 

About Verde Clean Fuels

 

Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. is a renewable energy company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass, municipal solid waste and mixed plastics, as well as natural gas (including synthetic natural gas) and other feedstocks, into gasoline through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through its STG+® process, Verde converts syngas into Reformulated Blend-stock for Oxygenate Blending (“RBOB”) gasoline. Verde is focused on the development of commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps.

 

Prior to this transaction, Verde Clean Fuels was a portfolio company of Bluescape Energy Partners LLC. Bluescape Energy Partners LLC (“Bluescape Energy Partners”) is an alternative investment firm that leverages its private capital, global network, and superior thinking to deliver differentiated long-term investment performance in the broader energy and utility sectors. Bluescape Energy Partners employs a unique approach and long-term perspective, helping position companies for growth and value creation by providing capital and strategic oversight with its multi-disciplined team of executive-level managers, operators, strategic consultants, and restructuring advisors. It thrives to uncover investments exhibiting high performance potential where it seeks to build lasting partnerships. Bluescape Energy Partners strives to create positive impacts for all of its stakeholders through its capital, operational capabilities, and long-term ownership model.

 

To learn more about Verde, please visit www.verdecleanfuels.com.

 

About CENAQ Energy Corp.

 

CENAQ Energy Corp. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. CENAQ Energy Corp. focused its search for a target business in the energy industry in North America. CENAQ Energy Corp. is led by energy industry veterans J. Russell Porter (CEO) and Michael J. Mayell (President and CFO) and John B. Connally III (Chairman).

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the benefits of the transaction, Verde’s future financial performance following the transaction, as well as Verde’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Verde management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Verde 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 hereof. Verde cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Verde . These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, the risks related to the growth of Verde’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; the ability of Verde to obtain financing in connection with the transaction or in the future; and the effects of competition on Verde’s future business. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Verde presently do not know or that Verde currently believe are immaterial that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Verde ’ expectations and projections can be found in Verde’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Verde’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact
For Verde Clean Fuels:
Ernie Miller – CEO
investor@verdecleanfuels.com

Media Contact
Kellie Woods
verde@ink-co.com