UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 22, 2023 (March 16, 2023)
ELK CREEK RESOURCES CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-40226 | 85-3189810 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
7000 South Yosemite Street, Suite 115
Centennial, Colorado 80112
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (720) 639-4647
GX Acquisition Corp. II
1325 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The Stock Market LLC | ||||
| The Stock Market LLC | ||||
| The Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
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
Unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer to GX (now known as Elk Creek Resources Corp.) and its consolidated subsidiaries after giving effect to the Transactions (as defined below). Terms used but not defined herein, or for which definitions are not otherwise incorporated herein by reference, have the respective meanings given to such terms in the joint proxy statement/prospectus of NioCorp (as defined below) and GX, dated February 8, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 8, 2023.
As previously disclosed, on September 25, 2022, GX Acquisition Corp. II (now known as Elk Creek Resources Corp.), a Delaware corporation (“GX” or the “Company”), NioCorp Developments Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (“NioCorp”), and Big Red Merger Sub Ltd, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of NioCorp (“Merger Sub”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”). Following approval by the stockholders and shareholders of GX and NioCorp, respectively, and the satisfaction or waiver of all other closing conditions, the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement were consummated and closed on March 17, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). The amendment of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company on March 16, 2023 was the earliest event required to be reported in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the following transactions occurred on the Closing Date: (i) Merger Sub merged with and into GX, with GX surviving the merger (the “First Merger”); (ii) all Class A shares in GX (the “GX Class A Shares”) that were held by stockholders who did not elect to exercise their redemption rights in connection with the transactions were converted into shares of Class A common stock in GX (such shares, the “First Merger Class A Shares”), as the surviving company in the First Merger; (iii) NioCorp purchased all First Merger Class A Shares in exchange for common shares, without par value, of NioCorp (“NioCorp Common Shares”) (the “Exchange”); (iv) NioCorp assumed GX’s obligations under the GX Warrant Agreement and each share purchase warrant of GX, exercisable for GX Class A Shares (such warrant, a “GX Warrant”), that was issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Exchange and each such assumed warrant was converted into a warrant to acquire NioCorp Common Shares (such warrant, a “NioCorp Assumed Warrant”); (v) all of the First Merger Class A Shares were contributed by NioCorp to 0896800 B.C. Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of NioCorp (“Intermediate Holdco”), in exchange for additional shares of Intermediate Holdco, resulting in GX becoming a direct subsidiary of Intermediate Holdco; (vi) Elk Creek Resources Corp., a Nebraska corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Intermediate Holdco, merged with and into GX, with GX surviving the merger as a direct subsidiary of Intermediate Holdco and changing its name to Elk Creek Resources Corp. (the “Second Merger,” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”); and (vii) following the effective time of the Second Merger, each of NioCorp and GX, as the surviving company of the Second Merger, effectuated a reverse stock split at a ratio of 10-for-1 (the “reverse stock split”). The Mergers, the Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Transactions.” The Transactions constituted GX’s initial business combination, as that term was defined in GX’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation prior to the First Merger.
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As a result of the Transactions:
| ● | each GX Class A Share was, in connection with the Exchange, converted into 11.1829212 NioCorp Common Shares (or 1.11829212 NioCorp Common Shares after giving effect to the reverse stock split); | |
| ● | each share of Class B common stock of GX issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger that was not surrendered for cancellation in accordance with the GX Support Agreement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) was (i) upon consummation of the First Merger, converted on a one-for-one basis into a share of Class B common stock in GX (such shares, the “First Merger Class B Shares”), as the surviving company in the First Merger, and (ii) upon consummation of the Second Merger, each First Merger Class B Share was converted into 11.1829212 shares (or, after giving effect to the reverse stock split, 1.11829212 shares) of Class B common stock of GX (such shares, the “Second Merger Class B Shares”) as the surviving company in the Second Merger, in a private placement, and each Second Merger Class B Share remains outstanding following the Transactions and is exchangeable into NioCorp Common Shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to equitable adjustments; and | |
| ● | each GX Warrant was (i) in connection with the First Merger, assumed by NioCorp pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement (as defined below) and (ii) immediately prior to the Exchange, converted on a one-for-one basis into a NioCorp Assumed Warrant, and the number of NioCorp Common Shares subject to each NioCorp Assumed Warrant is equal to the number of shares of GX Common Stock subject to the applicable GX Warrant multiplied by 11.1829212 (or 1.11829212 after giving effect to the reverse stock split), with the applicable exercise price per Common Share adjusted accordingly. |
Immediately after giving effect to (i) the redemption of 28,506,605 GX Class A Shares, (ii) the subsequent issuance of 74,909 GX Class A Shares to advisors and (iii) the Transactions, including the reverse stock split, there were 30,081,661 NioCorp Common Shares, 7,957,404 Second Merger Class B Shares and 15,666,667 NioCorp Assumed Warrants outstanding.
The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Introductory Note.
| Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
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| Item 3.01 | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
On the Closing Date, in connection with the closing of the Transactions, the Company notified the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Transactions had been consummated and requested that the trading of the GX Class A Shares, the GX Warrants and the GX Public Units (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) on Nasdaq be suspended and that the listing of its securities on Nasdaq be withdrawn. The Company requested that Nasdaq file with the SEC a notification of removal from listing and registration on Form 25 with the SEC to effect the delisting of the GX Class A Shares, the GX Warrants and the GX Public Units from Nasdaq and the deregistration of such classes of securities under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company intends to file with the SEC a Form 15 suspending the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act for the GX Class A Shares, the GX Warrants and the GX Public Units on or about March 27, 2023.
| Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the issuance of the Second Merger Class B Shares is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.
The offer, issuance and sale of 7,957,404 Second Merger Class B Shares in connection with the Mergers was made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). The offer, issuance and sale of such Second Merger Class B Shares was not registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and such Second Merger Class B Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the SEC or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
| Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01, Item 3.01 and Item 5.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
On March 16, 2023, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was amended in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. At the First Merger Effective Time, (i) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, was amended and restated in its entirety (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and (ii) the Company’s Bylaws were amended and restated in their entirety (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), each in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. At the Second Merger Effective Time, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was amended and restated in its entirety in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement (the “Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). Upon the effectiveness of the reverse stock split, the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was amended to effect such reverse stock split.
Copies of (i) the Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed March 16, 2023, (ii) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (iii) the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (iv) the Amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and (v) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are filed as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
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| Item 4.01 | Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant. |
On March 17, 2023, the board of directors of NioCorp, the parent of the Company following the Transactions, (i) ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed the engagement of BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”), effective immediately, as NioCorp’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit NioCorp and its subsidiaries and (ii) authorized officers of NioCorp to, effective immediately following the Transactions, engage BDO as independent registered public accounting firm for NioCorp and its subsidiaries (which included the Company as a result of the Transactions). Accordingly, Marcum, LLP (“Marcum”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Transactions, was informed that it would be replaced by BDO as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately.
The report of Marcum on the Company’s balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles, except for the following.
The report of Marcum on the Company’s balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes contained an explanatory paragraph stating that “The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1, the Company has a significant working capital deficiency, has incurred significant costs and needs to raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its operations and the Company’s business plan is dependent on the completion of a business combination. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.”
During the period from September 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2021, the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and in the subsequent interim period through March 17, 2023 (the date of the dismissal of Marcum), there were no disagreements between the Company and Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the Company’s financial statements.
During the period from September 24, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2021, the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and in the subsequent interim period through March 17, 2023 (the date of the dismissal of Marcum), there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company has provided Marcum with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Marcum’s letter, dated March 22, 2023, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference in this Item 4.01.
| Item 5.01 | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01, Item 3.03 and Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.01.
As a result of the Transactions, a change in control of the Company occurred, and the Company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of NioCorp. Previously, the Company was controlled by GX Sponsor II LLC.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, NioCorp was required to cause two directors identified by GX to become directors of NioCorp as of Closing, and the board of directors of NioCorp appointed Maselli and Kehler to the Board pursuant to such requirement.
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| 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 in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.02.
In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (and not because of any disagreement with the Company), effective as of the First Merger Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (i) each of Jay R. Bloom, Dean C. Kehler, Hillel Weinberger, Marc Mazur and James W. Harpel ceased to serve as a member of the board of directors of the Company, and any committee thereof and (ii) each of Jay R. Bloom, Dean C. Kehler, Andrea J. Kellett, Michael Maselli, Arthur Baer and Jordan Bloom ceased to serve in his or her respective position as an officer of the Company.
Effective as of the First Merger Effective Time, the Company appointed (i) each of Mark A. Smith, Scott Honan and Neal Shah as a member of the board of directors and (ii) Scott Honan as President and Neal Shah as Treasurer and Secretary.
| Item 5.06 | Change in Shell Company Status. |
As a result of the Transactions, the Company ceased to be a shell company upon the consummation of the Transactions. The material terms of the Transactions are described in the information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01, Item 3.03 and Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference in this Item 5.06.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
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SIGNATURE
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.
| Elk Creek Resources Corp. | |||
| By: | /s/ Neal Shah | ||
| Name: | Neal Shah | ||
| Title: | Treasurer and Secretary | ||
| Dated: March 22, 2023 | |||
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Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
GX ACQUISITION CORP. II
GX Acquisition Corp. II (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
| 1. | The name of the Corporation is “GX Acquisition Corp. II”. The certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “Original Certificate”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2020. |
| 2. | The amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restated and amended the provisions of the Original Certificate, was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 17, 2021. |
| 3. | This amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware. |
| 4. | The Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended by
amending and restating Article IV, Section 4.3(b)(i) in its entirety as follows: “Shares of Class B Common Stock shall, upon the election of their holders upon the closing of the Business Combination, be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”).” |
| 5. | The Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended by
amending and restating the first sentence of Article IV, Section 4.3(b)(ii) in its entirety as follows: “Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or Equity-linked Securities (as defined below), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”) and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, all issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall, upon the election of their holders upon the closing of the Business Combination, convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of the initial Business Combination at a ratio for which: |
the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion or exercise of any Equity-linked Securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination (excluding any securities issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any private placement warrants issued to GX Sponsor II LLC (the “Sponsor”) or its affiliates upon conversion of loans to the Corporation plus (B) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination; and
the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination.”
| 6. | The foregoing amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate has been duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 16th day of March, 2023.
| GX ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By | /s/ Jay R. Bloom | |
| Name: | Jay R. Bloom | |
| Title: | Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer | |
Exhibit 3.2
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
GX ACQUISITION CORP. II
ARTICLE
I
NAME
The name of the corporation is GX Acquisition Corp. II (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE
II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE
III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE
IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 9,100,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), including (a) 1,600,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (b) 7,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”).
Section 4.2 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation except that the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall not have the right to vote with respect to the election or removal of directors.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election or removal of directors and holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate that relates solely to the rights, preferences, privileges (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled exclusively, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the DGCL.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
(d) Class A Common Stock Purchase Right. Each share of Class A Common Stock is subject to a unilateral right of purchase by NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp”), in each case, in exchange for 11.1829212 shares of common stock of NioCorp (the “Exchange”), and, upon NioCorp’s exercise of such unilateral right of purchase with respect to any share of Class A Common Stock, the Exchange will occur immediately and without further action on the part of any person (including the holder of such share of Class A Common Stock).
Section 4.3 Rights, Warrants and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
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ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to one or more resolutions adopted by a majority of the Board.
(b) Until such time as the Board determines otherwise, the number of directors shall be no less than one. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal in accordance with this Second Amended and Restated Certificate. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. All directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. If, at any time, there are no remaining directors in office, any such vacancies may be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock.
Section 5.4 Removal. Any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
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ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares Class A Common Stock shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided, further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE
VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time, only by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons.
ARTICLE
VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
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Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 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.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT
OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article IX; provided, however, that any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate which affects the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock in any material respect shall require the vote, approval or consent of the holders of a majority of the Class B Common Stock then held by Exchanging Shareholders, voting as a separate class.
ARTICLE
X
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 10.1 Forum. Subject to the last sentence in this Section 10.1, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (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 any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the provisions of this Section 10.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 10.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 10.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 10.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 10.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 10.3 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 10.3.
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Exhibit 3.3
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
ELK CREEK RESOURCES CORP.
ARTICLE
I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Elk Creek Resources Corp. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE
II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE
III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE
IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is (a) 450,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 350,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 100,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”) and (b) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation except that (A) the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall not have the right to vote with respect to the election or removal of directors and (B) except as otherwise provided by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designations relating to any terms of Preferred Stock (each, a “Preferred Stock Designation”), that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election or removal of directors and holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate that relates solely to the rights, preferences, privileges (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled exclusively, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate or the DGCL.
(b) Dividends.
(i) Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, applicable law and the provisions of this Section 4.2(b), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(ii) A holder of a Vested Share or a Released Earnout Share (each, as defined in the Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and among the Corporation, NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp”), GX Sponsor II LLC and the other persons party thereto (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”)) shall be entitled to receive in respect thereof, to the extent the applicable record date occurs prior to the time such Vested Share or Released Earnout Share is exchanged for shares of NioCorp pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, such holder’s portion of any dividends or other distributions made by (1) the Corporation to its holders of Common Stock and (2) NioCorp to its holders of common stock on an as-exchanged (pursuant to the Exchange Agreement) to NioCorp common stock basis (other than, in the case of clause (2), dividends or other distributions using cash proceeds from any dividends or other distributions previously made by the Corporation to its holders of Common Stock in which such holder of a Vested Share or a Released Earnout Share has participated).
(iii) A holder of an Earnout Share (as defined in the Sponsor Support Agreement) shall not, prior to the time such Earnout Share becomes a Released Earnout Share, have the right to receive in respect thereof dividends or other distributions made by the Corporation to its holders of Common Stock or NioCorp to its holders of common stock; provided, that, at such time as any such Earnout Share becomes a Released Earnout Share, the holder thereof will be entitled to receive such holder’s portion of any dividends or other distributions declared previously by (1) the Corporation to its holders of Common Stock and (2) NioCorp to its holders of common stock on an as-exchanged (pursuant to the Exchange Agreement) to NioCorp common stock basis (other than, in the case of clause (2), dividends or other distributions using cash proceeds from any dividends or other distributions previously made by the Corporation to its holders of Common Stock), in each case, during the period beginning upon the effectiveness of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate and ending upon the time such Earnout Share became a Released Earnout Share, in each case, in the amount the holder of such Earnout Share would have been entitled to receive at such time but for the restriction contained in this Section 4.2(b)(iii), and such amounts will be paid promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) thereafter in cash unless the Board determines in good faith that the Corporation does not have sufficient cash on hand therefor, in which case the Corporation will deliver a note for such amount to the applicable holder in a form reasonably satisfactory to such holder and the Corporation.
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(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law and the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (each, a “Winding Up Event”), after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them except that each share of Class B Common Stock which has not, at such time, been exchanged under the Exchange Agreement, will be exchanged into NioCorp common shares immediately prior to such Winding Up Event in accordance with the Exchange Agreement.
(d) Class B Common Stock.
(i) Shares of Class B Common Stock are exchangeable for cash or common shares of NioCorp, upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the Exchange Agreement, entered into as of the date hereof, by and among NioCorp, the Corporation and GX Sponsor II LLC (the “Exchange Agreement”).
(ii) To the extent an outstanding share of Class B Common Stock shall be exchanged for a common share of NioCorp in accordance with the Exchange Agreement, such share of Class B Common Stock shall be transferred and surrendered to the Corporation or NioCorp, upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the Exchange Agreement and shall thereafter, upon its acquisition by the Corporation, be cancelled and no longer considered outstanding.
(iii) Holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to all of the rights, preferences and privileges, and bound by all of the applicable restrictions, specified in the Exchange Agreement.
Section 4.3 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Subject to limitations prescribed by law and this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board is hereby authorized to provide by resolution and by causing the filing of a Preferred Stock Designation for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of each such series.
Section 4.4 Rights, Warrants and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
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ARTICLE
V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to one or more resolutions adopted by a majority of the Board.
(b) Until such time as the Board determines otherwise, the number of directors shall be no less than one. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal in accordance with this Third Amended and Restated Certificate. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. All directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. If, at any time, there are no remaining directors in office, any such vacancies may be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock.
Section 5.4 Removal. Any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
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In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares Class A Common Stock shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided, further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE
VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time, only by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons.
ARTICLE
VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
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(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 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.
ARTICLE
IX
CERTAIN ACTIONS
Section 9.1 General. Until the termination or expiration of the Exchange Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Corporation shall not enter into any agreement, amend or modify any existing agreement, or take any other action, in each case that would adversely impact the rights of any Exchanging Shareholder (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) in any material respect without first (i) providing prior written notice to each Exchanging Shareholder, (ii) engaging in good faith negotiations with the Exchanging Shareholders with respect to any such proposed agreement or any alternative agreement or arrangement by and among the Corporation, NioCorp and the Exchanging Shareholders for the purpose of eliminating or mitigating any such adverse impact and (iii) receiving the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the Class B Common Stock then held by Exchanging Shareholders to enter into such agreement, amend or modify such existing agreement, or take such other action. Nothing in this Third Amended and Restated Certificate or otherwise will prohibit the Corporation from (A) issuing additional shares of Class A Common Stock to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock as consideration for and equal to the fair market value of such holders’ contribution of capital, and holders of Class B Common Stock shall have no right to participate therein or (B) increasing the number of shares of authorized Common Stock, to which Section 4.7 of the Exchange Agreement shall apply.
Section 9.2 Certain Specific Actions. Without limiting the generality of Section 9.1, Section 9.1 shall apply to any agreement or action with respect to the following, in each case to the extent that such agreement or action would adversely impact the rights of any Exchanging Shareholder in any material respect:
(a) any amendment to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation or the organizational documents of NioCorp;
(b) (x) the creation of a new class or series of capital stock or equity securities of the Corporation or NioCorp (except as provided in the parentheticals in clauses (y)(1) and (y)(2) of this Section 9.2(b) or (y) any issuance by the Corporation or NioCorp in any transaction or series of related transactions of (1) equity or equity-linked securities (except for (A) common shares of the Corporation issued as consideration for and equal to the fair market value of capital contributions made by NioCorp or a subsidiary thereof with proceeds of NioCorp equity or equity-linked financing transactions and (B) common shares of NioCorp) or (2) any preferred equity or non-voting equity (except, with respect to the Corporation, to the extent issued as consideration for and equal to the fair market value of capital contributions made by NioCorp or a subsidiary thereof with proceeds of NioCorp preferred equity or non-voting equity financing transactions); and
(c) the declaration and payment of any stock dividend or other distribution by the Corporation (with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock) or NioCorp (with respect to shares of common stock) in which the holders of Class B Common Stock do not participate on a pro rata basis (provided, that, the holders of Class B Common Stock will, for these purposes, be deemed to have participated in any such stock dividend or other distribution notwithstanding the fact that the Exchanging Shareholders are restricted from receiving such dividend or other distribution with respect to certain shares of Class B Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.2(b)(iii)).
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ARTICLE
X
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Third Amended and Restated Certificate, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Third Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article X; provided, however, that any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of any provision of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate which affects the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock in any material respect (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of any provision of Section 4.2(d) or Article IX) shall require the vote, approval or consent of the holders of a majority of the Class B Common Stock then held by Exchanging Shareholders, voting as a separate class.
ARTICLE
XI
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 11.1 Forum. Subject to the last sentence in this Section 11.1, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (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 any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the provisions of this Section 11.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 11.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 11.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 11.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 11.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 11.3 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.3.
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Exhibit 3.4
Certificate of
Amendment
of
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
Elk creek resources corp.
ELK CREEK RESOURCES CORP., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware (the “Corporation”) hereby certifies that:
1. A resolution was duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware setting forth an amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation declaring said amendment to be advisable. The stockholders of the Corporation duly approved said proposed amendment in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The resolution setting forth the amendment is as follows:
RESOLVED, that Section 4.1 of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation be and hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
“Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is (a) 450,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 350,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 100,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”) and (b) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
(a) Reverse Stock Split.
(i) Effective as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on March 17, 2023 (the “Effective Time”), without any further action on the part of any stockholders of the Corporation, a reverse stock split of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock whereby each ten shares of Common Stock then outstanding and held of record by each stockholder of the Corporation immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be, at the Effective Time, automatically reconstituted and exchanged, and thereupon represent one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock of the Corporation. (the “Reverse Stock Split”);
(ii) Notwithstanding the immediately preceding clause (i) above, no fractional share of Common Stock will be issued pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. In the event that a stockholder would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock issued to such stockholder shall, without any additional compensation, be rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock.”
2. This Certificate of Amendment of Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at the time it is filed with the Delaware Secretary of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer this 17th day of March 2023.
| Elk creek resources corp. | ||
| /s/ Neal Shah | ||
| Name: | Neal Shah | |
| Title: | Treasurer and Secretary | |
Exhibit 3.5
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
GX ACQUISITION CORP. II
(THE “CORPORATION”)
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.
Section 1.2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a). At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting or otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, only by or at the direction of the President of the Corporation or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by any other person or persons. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a).
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Section 2.3. Notices. Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 9.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board. Notice of the cancelled or postponed meeting shall be given to each stockholder of the Corporation of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the presence, in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
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Section 2.5. Voting of Shares.
(a) Voting Lists. The Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) shall prepare, or shall cause the officer or agent who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a) 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, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) 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. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 9.5(a), the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
(b) Manner of Voting. At any stockholders meeting, each stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy. If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 9.3), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder. The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
(c) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons 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. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed with the Secretary before being voted. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.
(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
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(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
(d) Required Vote. At all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
(e) Inspectors of Election. The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging 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. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.
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Section 2.6. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, 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 shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 9.2, 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 2.7. Advance Notice for Business.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or by a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. 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 2.8. Conduct of Meetings. The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these Bylaws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairman of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if the chairman of the meeting should so determine, the chairman of the meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
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Section 2.9. Consents in Lieu of Meeting.
(a) Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon 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, and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
(b) Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by this Section 2.9 and the DGCL, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders entitled to vote to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
(c) Prompt notice of the taking of the action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing 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 such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided in this Section 2.9.
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ARTICLE
III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1. Powers; Number. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board.
Section 3.2. Election; Qualification. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.
Section 3.3. Compensation. The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like compensation and reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.
ARTICLE
IV
BOARD MEETINGS
Section 4.1. Annual Meetings. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1.
Section 4.2. Regular Meetings. Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
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Section 4.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes (a) may be called by the President and (b) shall be called by the President or Secretary on the written request of at least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 9.3, to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 9.4.
Section 4.4. Quorum; Required Vote. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
Section 4.5. Consent In Lieu of 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 or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 4.6. Organization. The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a chairman elected from the directors present. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE
V
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1. Establishment. The Board may by resolution of the Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required by the resolution designating such committee. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
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Section 5.2. Available Powers. Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.
Section 5.3. Alternate Members. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 5.4. Procedures. Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee. At meetings of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the Board. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these Bylaws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article III and Article IV of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE
VI
OFFICERS
Section 6.1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board from time to time may determine. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board. The President may also appoint such other officers as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by the President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.
Section 6.2. Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies. The officers of the Corporation shall be appointed pursuant to Section 6.1 and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified by the Board or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board. Any officer appointed by the President may also be removed, with or without cause, by the President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides. Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the President may be filled by the President, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.
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Section 6.3. Other Officers. The Board may delegate the power to appoint such other officers and agents, and may also remove such officers and agents or delegate the power to remove same, as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.
Section 6.4. Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide. Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE
VII
SHARES
Section 7.1. Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation will be uncertificated, unless the Board determines otherwise.
Section 7.2. Multiple Classes of Stock. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.
Section 7.3. Signatures. Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation, if any, shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two officers of the Corporation. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be electronic. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose electronic signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.
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Section 7.4. Consideration and Payment for Shares.
(a) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board. The consideration may consist of any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation including cash, promissory notes, services performed, contracts for services to be performed or other securities, or any combination thereof.
(b) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.
Section 7.5. Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates.
(a) If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, destruction or wrongful taking of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.
(b) If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.
Section 7.6. Transfer of Stock.
(a) If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:
(i) in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;
(ii) (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;
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(iii) the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;
(iv) the transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.8(a); and
(v) such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.
(b) Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.
Section 7.7. Registered Stockholders. Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.
Section 7.8. Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer.
(a) A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares, may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.
(b) A restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares.
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(c) The transfer of any shares of the Corporation will, in all respects, be subject to the restrictions set forth in any contractual arrangement to which the Corporation and the holder of such shares is party.
Section 7.9. Regulations. The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Right to Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Section 8.2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
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Section 8.3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 8.4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 8.5. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 8.6. Indemnification of Other Persons. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII.
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Section 8.7. Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 8.8. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, (a) references to “other enterprise” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 8.9. Contract Rights. The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 8.10. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Place of Meetings. If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these Bylaws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.
Section 9.2. Fixing Record Dates.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for 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 with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a) at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
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Section 9.3. Means of Giving Notice.
(a) Notice to Directors. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.
(b) Notice to Stockholders. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporation’s transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
(c) Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.
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(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements. Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.
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Section 9.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver of such notice, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice. All such waivers shall be kept with the books of the Corporation. Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders needs to 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.
Section 9.5. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment.
(a) Stockholder Meetings. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(ii) 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 (A) 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 proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and, if entitled to vote, to vote on matters submitted to the applicable stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
(b) Board Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 9.6. Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 9.7. Reserves. The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include, without limitation, equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation and meeting contingencies.
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Section 9.8. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The officers may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the officers may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 9.9. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
Section 9.10. Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines and may be altered by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 9.11. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.
Section 9.12. Resignation. Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the President or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date 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.
Section 9.13. Surety Bonds. Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
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Section 9.14. Securities of Other Corporations. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the President or any other officers authorized by the Board. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 9.15. Amendments. The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.7) of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws.
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Exhibit 16.1
March 22, 2023
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read the statements made by GX Acquisition Corp. II (now known as Elk Creek Resources Corp.) under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated March 22, 2023. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K; we are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements of GX Acquisition Corp. II (now known as Elk Creek Resources Corp.) contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp