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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): December 21, 2023

 

Global Gas Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-39819   85-1617911
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

99 Wall Street, Suite 436    
New York, New York   10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(917) 327-0437

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(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
         
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   HGAS   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share

  HGASW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

 

On December 21, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Dune Acquisition Corporation) (prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), “Dune” and after the Effective Time, the “Company”), consummated the previously-announced business combination pursuant to that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated May 14, 2023 (as amended on August 22, 2023 and as further amended on November 24, 2023, the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among Dune, Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Dune (“Holdings”), Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global Hydrogen”), and William Bennett Nance, Jr., Sergio Martinez and Barbara Guay Martinez (collectively, the “Sellers”), the equity holders of Global Hydrogen. William Bennett Nance, Jr., the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Hydrogen, was also a director of Dune and, as of the Effective Time, is now the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company.

 

In connection with the closing of such business combination, the registrant changed its name from Dune Acquisition Corporation to Global Gas Corporation, and on December 22, 2023, the Company’s Class A Common Stock (as defined below) and warrants began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the new trading symbols of “HGAS” and “HGASW,” respectively,

 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase Agreement and the other transactions contemplated thereby (the “Business Combination”), at the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”) on December 21, 2023, (a) Dune contributed to Holdings all of its assets (excluding its interests in Holdings and the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to satisfy redemptions by Dune’s public stockholders (“Stockholder Redemptions”)), and in exchange therefor, Holdings issued to Dune a number of common equity units of Holdings (“Holdings Common Units”) which equal the number of total shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), of Dune issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (giving effect to all Stockholder Redemptions) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”) and (b) immediately after the SPAC Contribution, the Sellers transferred, conveyed, assigned and delivered all of the limited liability company equity interests of Global Hydrogen (“Global Hydrogen Units”) to Holdings in exchange for shares of Class B voting non-economic common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), of Dune and Holdings Common Units (together with the SPAC Contribution, the “Combination Transactions”), as a result of which, (i) each issued and outstanding Global Hydrogen Unit immediately prior to the Combination Transactions is now held by Holdings, (ii) each Seller received an aggregate number of Holdings Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock, in each case, equal to the number of Global Hydrogen Units held by such Seller, multiplied by the applicable exchange ratio, and (iii) Dune changed its name to Global Gas Corporation and the Company became the publicly traded reporting company. The effective time of the Business Combination on the Closing Date is referred to as the “Effective Time.”

 

The Business Combination was accomplished through what is commonly referred to as an “Up-C” structure, which is often used by partnerships and limited liability companies undertaking an initial public offering. The “Up-C” structure allowed the Sellers, who became equity holders of Holdings upon the consummation of the Combination Transactions, to retain their equity ownership in Holdings, an entity that is classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, in the form of Holdings Common Units after the Closing, and provides potential future tax benefits for both the Company and Holdings’ equity holders (other than the Company) after the Closing when they ultimately exchange their Holdings Common Units.

 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, at the Closing, the issued and outstanding Global Hydrogen Units of each Seller were transferred, conveyed, assigned and delivered in exchange for (i) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the number of Global Hydrogen Units held by such Seller and (y) the exchange ratio determined by dividing (A) the quotient of $43,000,000 divided by the number of Global Hydrogen Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing by (B) $10.00 per share and (ii) a number of Holdings Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class B Common Stock received by such Seller pursuant to clause (i) hereof.

 

A description of the Business Combination and the material provisions of the Purchase Agreement is included in Dune’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 7, 2023 (as supplemented by the additional definitive proxy soliciting materials filed on November 27, 2023, November 29, 2023, November 30, 2023, December 1, 2023 and December 4, 2023, the “Proxy Statement”) in the section titled “The Business Combination Proposal—The Purchase Agreement” beginning on page 121 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

In connection with the Business Combination, on December 1, 2023, Dune and Global Hydrogen entered into a forward purchase agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with each of Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”), Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”) and Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO” and, collectively with MSC and MCP, “Meteora”) for an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction. In connection with the Forward Purchase Agreement, Dune entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with Meteora. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, Meteora agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and Dune agreed to issue and sell to Meteora, on the Closing Date, 681,220 shares of Class A Common Stock in the aggregate (the “PIPE Shares”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Company gave certain registration rights to Meteora with respect to the PIPE Shares. The sale of the PIPE Shares was consummated concurrently with the Closing.

 

1

 

Descriptions of the Forward Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreement are included in Dune’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing descriptions of the Forward Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, including the descriptions in Dune’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2023, are summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Forward Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and Exhibit 10.5, respectively, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement, including the description of the Purchase Agreement in the Proxy Statement referenced above, is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement and the two amendments thereto, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1, Exhibit 2.2 and Exhibit 2.3, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Nomination Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into a Nomination Agreement (the “Nomination Agreement”) with each of the Sellers and the Sponsor, pursuant to which each of the Sellers and the Sponsor will have the right to nominate members of the board of directors of the Company in the number and subject to the beneficial ownership thresholds and terms and conditions set forth therein. The Nomination Agreement is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Business Combination Proposal—Ancillary Agreements Related to the Transactions—Nomination Agreement” beginning on page 135 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Nomination Agreement, including the description in the Proxy Statement referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Nomination Agreement, which is included herein as Exhibit 10.6 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company, the Sponsor and the Sellers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to register for resale, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), certain shares of the Company’s common stock and other equity securities that are held by the parties thereto from time to time. The Registration Rights Agreement is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Business Combination Proposal—Ancillary Agreements Related to the Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement” beginning on page 135 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the description in the Proxy Statement referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is included herein as Exhibit 10.7 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exchange Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company, Holdings and the Sellers entered into an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sellers have the right from time to time following the Closing, on the terms and conditions contained in the Exchange Agreement, to exchange their Holdings Common Units together with their shares of Class B Common Stock for, at the option of the Company, shares of Class A Common Stock or cash. The Exchange Agreement is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Business Combination Proposal—Ancillary Agreements Related to the Transactions—Exchange Agreement” beginning on page 136 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Exchange Agreement, including the description in the Proxy Statement referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Exchange Agreement, which is included herein as Exhibit 10.8 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

2

 

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, in connection with the Business Combination, the existing limited liability company agreement of Holdings was amended and restated in the form of an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “Holdings LLCA”). Pursuant to the Holdings LLCA, the transfer of Holdings Common Units will be subject to certain transfer restrictions unless exchanged in the manner prescribed therein and on the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement. The Holdings LLCA is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Business Combination Proposal—Ancillary Agreements Related to the Transactions—Holdings LLCA” beginning on page 136 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Holdings LLCA, including the description in the Proxy Statement referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Holdings LLCA, which is included herein as Exhibit 10.9 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On the Closing Date, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These indemnification agreements require the Company to indemnify its directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of the Company’s directors or executive officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at the Company’s request.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of indemnification agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.14 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Related Party Note Amendments

 

As previously announced on June 23, 2023, Dune issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Sponsor Note”) to the Sponsor on June 21, 2023, and, as of the Closing Date, Dune had borrowed $170,000 thereunder for working capital purposes and to pay expenses related to the Business Combination.

 

As previously announced on June 23, 2023, Global Hydrogen issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Glatt Note” and, together with the Sponsor Note, the “Related Party Notes”) to Carter Glatt on June 21, 2023, and, as of the Closing Date, Global Hydrogen had borrowed $103,950 thereunder for working capital purposes and to pay expenses related to the Business Combination.

 

The Related Party Notes do not bear interest and were payable on the earlier of December 31, 2023 and the completion of the Business Combination. The Related Party Notes are each subject to customary events of default, the occurrence of any of which automatically triggers the unpaid principal balance of each Related Party Note and all other sums payable with regard thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

 

On the Closing Date, the Company, the Sponsor, Global Hydrogen and Mr. Glatt amended the Related Party Notes (the “Related Party Note Amendments”), as applicable, to (i) defer the maturity date of the Related Party Notes to June 30, 2024, (ii) limit the principal amount available under the Sponsor Note to $170,000 and (iii) limit the principal amount available under the Glatt Note to $103,950. All other terms and conditions of the Related Party Notes remain unchanged.

 

The foregoing description of the Sponsor Note and the applicable Related Party Note Amendment is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Sponsor Note and the applicable Related Party Note Amendment, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.10 and Exhibit 10.11, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the Glatt Note and the applicable Related Party Note Amendment is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Glatt Note and the applicable Related Party Note Amendment, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.12 and Exhibit 10.13, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

3

 

Lock-Up Agreement

 

On May 14, 2023, Dune, the Sponsor and each of the Sellers entered into a lock-up agreement (the “Lock-up Agreement”), which became effective as of the Closing. Under the Lock-up Agreement, the Sponsor and the Sellers agreed to certain restrictions on transfer with respect to the shares of Company common stock and private placement warrants they hold as of the Closing, which restrictions amend and supersede the restrictions on transfer the Sponsor agreed to in that certain letter agreement, dated December 17, 2020, entered into by and among Dune, the Sponsor and Dune’s officers and directors in connection with Dune’s initial public offering. The restrictions on transfer contained in the Lock-up Agreement apply to the Sellers and the existing equity holders of the Sponsor, and end: (i) with respect to shares of Company common stock, on the earlier of twelve (12) months after (and excluding) the Closing Date and the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization, bankruptcy or other similar transaction that results in all of the shares of Company common stock being converted into cash, securities or other property; and (ii) with respect to the Company’s private placement warrants, thirty (30) days after the Closing Date.

 

The foregoing description of the Lock-up Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Lock-up Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

The Business Combination was approved by Dune’s stockholders at a special meeting of Dune’s stockholders concluded on December 4, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, 4,515,329 shares of Dune’s common stock were voted in favor of the proposal to approve the Business Combination, 95,018 shares of Dune’s common stock were voted against the proposal and none of Dune’s stockholders abstained from voting on the proposal. In connection with the Closing, 747,518 shares of Dune’s common stock were redeemed for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.04 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $7,507,824.89. The Business Combination was completed on December 21, 2023.

 

In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination:

 

all of the existing Global Hydrogen Units held by the Sellers were transferred, conveyed, assigned and delivered in exchange for 4,300,000 Holdings Common Units and 4,300,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company; and

 

4,747,036 outstanding shares of Dune’s Class A Common Stock were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company on a one-for-one basis.

 

As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination and the sale of the PIPE Shares, the Company had the following outstanding securities:

 

5,428,256 shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

4,300,000 shares of Class B Common Stock;

 

8,624,981 public warrants, each exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share; and

 

4,850,000 private warrants, each exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share.

 

4

 

FORM 10 INFORMATION

 

Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K states that if the registrant was a shell company, which the Company was immediately before the Business Combination, then the registrant must disclose the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10. Accordingly, the Company is providing below the information that would be included in a Form 10 if it were to file a Form 10. Please note that the information provided below relates to the combined company after the consummation of the Business Combination, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires. After the Closing, the Company became a holding company whose only assets consist of equity interests in Global Hydrogen and Holdings.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The Company makes forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K, regarding the Company’s future financial performance, as well as the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Current Report on Form 8-K, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “shall,” “seek,” “result,” “become,” “target,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties incident to its business, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:

 

the Company’s ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitability following the Closing;

 

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

 

the future financial performance of the Company following the Business Combination;

 

the Company’s ability to sell and expand its product and service offerings, implement its growth strategy and retain its key employees;

 

risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including the Company’s ability to raise financing, hire employees, secure supplier, customer and other commercial contracts, obtain licenses and information technology and protect itself against cybersecurity risks;

 

intense competition and competitive pressures from other companies worldwide in the industries in which the Company operates;

 

litigation and the ability to adequately protect the Company’s intellectual property rights;

 

costs related to the Business Combination;

 

changes in applicable laws or regulations;

 

5

 

the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; and

 

other risks and uncertainties set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Business and Properties

 

The business and properties of Global Hydrogen and Dune prior to the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement in the sections titled “Information Related to Global Hydrogen” beginning on page 169 of the Proxy Statement and “Information Related to Dune” beginning on page 180 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Risk Factors

 

The risks associated with the Company’s business are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Information

 

Selected Historical Financial Information

 

The selected historical financial information of Global Hydrogen as of and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to March 31, 2023 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to June 30, 2023 is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Summary Historical Financial Information of Global Hydrogen” beginning on page 19 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Audited and Unaudited Financial Statements

 

The unaudited condensed financial statements as of and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 of Global Hydrogen have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and pursuant to the regulations of the SEC, are included as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The unaudited condensed financial statements of Global Hydrogen should be read in conjunction with the historical audited financial statements of Global Hydrogen as of March 31, 2023 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through March 31, 2023 and the related notes included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-60 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The unaudited financial statements of Dune as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 are included in Item 1 of Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The unaudited financial statements of Dune should be read in conjunction with the historical audited financial statements of Dune as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the related notes included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-25 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are included as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations prior to the Business Combination is included in the Proxy Statement in the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Global Hydrogen” beginning on page 158 of the Proxy Statement and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Dune” beginning on page 162 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Global Hydrogen for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 is included as Exhibit 99.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Dune for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 is included in Item 2 of Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

6

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Closing, by:

 

each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of any class of the Company’s common stock;

 

each current executive officer and director of the Company; and

 

all current executive officers and directors of the Company, as a group.

 

Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. A person is a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days.

 

The beneficial ownership percentages set forth in the table below are based on 9,728,256 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing Date.

 

Unless otherwise noted in the footnotes to the following table, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their beneficially owned common stock.

 

Name of Beneficial Owners(1)  Number of
Shares of
Class A
Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
of
Outstanding
Class A
Common
Stock
   Number of
Shares of
Class B
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
of
Outstanding
Class B
Common
Stock
   Percentage
of Total
Voting
Power
   
5% Stockholders:                      
Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC(2)   9,162,500    89.1%       %   62.9%  
William Bennett Nance, Jr.       %   3,440,000    80.0%   35.4%  
Entities affiliated with Meteora Capital, LLC(3)   939,614    17.3%       %   9.7%  
Sergio Martinez       %   430,000    10.0%   4.4%  
Barbara Guay Martinez       %   430,000    10.0%   4.4%  
Executive Officers and Directors:                           
Carter Glatt(2)   9,162,500    89.1%       %   62.9%  
Michael Castaldy       %       %   %  
William Bennett Nance, Jr.       %   3,440,000    80.0%   35.4%  
Jeron Smith       %       %   %  
Ben Coates       %       %   %  
Shachi Shah       %       %   %  
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (6 individuals)   9,162,500    89.1%   3,440,000    80.0%   86.4%  

 

(1)Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of these stockholders is c/o Global Gas Corporation, 99 Wall Street, Suite 436, New York, New York 10005.

 

(2)Includes 4,850,000 shares of Class A Common Stock which can be acquired by Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC upon the exercise of private warrants. Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Carter Glatt, Michael Castaldy, Jeron Smith, Cecil White III and Shachi Shah are among the members of Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC and Mr. Glatt is the manager of Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC. Mr. Glatt has voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held of record by Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC. Each of Michael Castaldy, Jeron Smith, Cecil White III and Shachi Shah disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares held by Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC.

 

(3)Represents (i) 374,604 shares of common stock held directly by MSTO, (ii) 418,397 shares of common stock held directly by MCP and (iii) 146,613 shares of common stock held directly by MSC. Voting and investment power over the securities held by these entities resides with its investment manager, Meteora Capital, LLC. Mr. Vikas Mittal serves as the managing member of Meteora Capital, LLC and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities held by such entities. Mr. Mittal disclaims any beneficial ownership over such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The business address of Meteora Entities is 1200 N Federal Hwy, Ste 200, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

 

7

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Information with respect to the Company’s directors and executive officers immediately following the Closing is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “New Global Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 197 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Compensation

 

The information related to executive officer compensation of the Company is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 195, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

Certain relationships and related party transactions of the Company are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” beginning on page 213 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. The independence of the Company’s directors is described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “New Global Management After the Business Combination—Director Independence” beginning on page 199 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Information about legal proceedings is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Information Related to Global Hydrogen—Legal Proceedings” on page 179 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

Market Information and Holders

 

The Company’s Class A Common Stock and warrants were historically quoted on Nasdaq under the symbols “DUNE” and “DUNEW,” respectively. On December 22, 2023, the Company’s Class A Common Stock and warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the new trading symbols of “HGAS” and “HGASW,” respectively. Dune’s publicly traded units automatically separated into their component securities upon the Closing, and as a result no longer trade as a separate security and were delisted from Nasdaq.

 

As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination and the sale of the PIPE Shares, the Company had 5,428,256 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding held of record by five holders, 4,300,000 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding held of record by three holders and 13,474,981 warrants outstanding held of record by two holders.

 

Dividends

 

The Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Class A Common Stock to date. The Company may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and has no current plans to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and will depend on, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant. In addition, the Company’s ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness the Company or its subsidiaries incur. The Company does not anticipate declaring any cash dividends to holders of the Class A Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

 

8

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The disclosure set forth in Items 1.01 and 3.02 of Dune’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 22, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

None of the shares of Class B Common Stock issued to the Sellers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange therefor pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, or the PIPE Shares issued in connection with the Subscription Agreement have been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered

 

Common Stock

 

A description of the Company’s common stock is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Description of New Global Securities—New Global Common Stock” beginning on page 202 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Warrants

 

A description of the Company’s warrants is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Description of New Global Securities—Warrants” beginning on page 203 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The information set forth under the heading “Indemnification Agreements” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

A description of the general effect of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) and the Bylaws (as defined below) with respect to the indemnification of directors and officers of the Company is included in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Description of New Global Securities—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors” beginning on page 210 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 4.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the changes in certifying accountant.

 

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

 

On December 22, 2023, the Company received a notice (the “Notice”) from the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that, unless the Company timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”), the Company’s securities (common stock and warrants) would be subject to suspension and delisting from Nasdaq on January 3, 2024, due to the Company’s failure to satisfy the initial listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market upon closing of the Business Combination in accordance with Nasdaq Rule 5101-2. Specifically, the Company has not demonstrated compliance with the Stockholders Equity, Publicly Held Shares, Market Value of Listed Securities and Market Value of Publicly Held Shares requirements set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5505. The Company has timely requested a hearing before the Panel, which will result in a stay of any suspension or delisting action pending the hearing.

 

9

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth above in the section titled “Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth in Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

Change of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On December 21, 2023, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board, the Board approved the engagement of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023. Marcum served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Global Hydrogen prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”), Dune’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, was informed that it would be replaced by Marcum as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Withum’s report of independent registered public accounting firm, dated July 14, 2023, on Dune’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that such report contained an explanatory paragraph which noted that there was substantial doubt as to Dune’s ability to continue as a going concern because of Dune’s liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation.

 

During Dune’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and the subsequent interim period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, there were no: (i) disagreements with Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures or audited scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to Withum’s satisfaction would have caused Withum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on Dune’s consolidated financial statements for such years or any subsequent interim period through the date of dismissal or (ii) “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

During Dune’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and the subsequent interim period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, Dune did not consult Marcum with respect to either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to Dune by Marcum that Marcum concluded was an important factor considered by Dune in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a reportable event, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company has provided Withum with a copy of the disclosures made by the Company in response to this Item 4.01 and has requested that Withum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the registrant in response to this Item 4.01 and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A letter from Withum is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

10

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

The information set forth above under “Introductory Note” and in the section titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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 sections titled “Directors and Executive Officers” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Equity Incentive Plan

 

At the Special Meeting, the Dune stockholders considered and approved the Global Gas Corporation 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The Equity Incentive Plan became effective immediately upon the Closing. The Equity Incentive Plan initially makes available a maximum number of 1,400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. The Equity Incentive Plan is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 146 of the Proxy Statement, as supplemented by the additional definitive proxy soliciting materials filed on November 27, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Equity Incentive Plan, including the description in the Proxy Statement, as supplemented by the additional definitive proxy soliciting materials filed on November 27, 2023, referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Equity Incentive Plan, which is included herein as Exhibit 10.15 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

At the Special Meeting, the Dune stockholders considered and approved, among other things, Proposal No. 3—The Charter Proposal (the “Charter Proposal”), which is described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement titled “The Charter Proposal” beginning on page 139 of the Proxy Statement.

 

The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the Closing Date, includes the amendments proposed by the Charter Proposal.

 

On the Closing Date, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) became effective as of the Effective Time.

 

Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The description of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws and the general effect of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws upon the rights of holders of the Company’s capital stock are included in the Proxy Statement under the section titled “Description of New Global Securities” beginning on page 202 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

11

 

Item 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

In connection with the Business Combination, on the Closing Date, the Board approved and adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all employees, officers and directors of the Company, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller (or persons performing similar functions to the aforementioned officers).

 

The above description of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is included herein as Exhibit 14.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.06 Change in Shell Company Status.

 

As a result of the Business Combination, which fulfilled the definition of a business combination as required by Dune’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, the Company ceased to be a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the Closing Date. The material terms of the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 93 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired

 

The unaudited condensed financial statements of Global Hydrogen as of and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 are included in Exhibit 99.1 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The historical audited financial statements of Global Hydrogen as of March 31, 2023 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through March 31, 2023 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-60 of the Proxy Statement, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The unaudited financial statements of Dune as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 and the related notes are included in Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2023, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The historical audited financial statements of Dune as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the related notes are included in the Proxy Statement beginning on page F-25 of the Proxy Statement, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are included in Exhibit 99.2 hereto, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

12

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1*   Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Global Gas Holdings LLC, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2023).
2.2   First Amendment to Unit Purchase Agreement, dated August 22, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Global Gas Holdings LLC, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2023).
2.3   Second Amendment to Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 24, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Global Gas Holdings LLC, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 27, 2023).
3.1   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated December 21, 2023.
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, dated December 21, 2023.
4.1   Warrant Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2020, by and between Dune Acquisition Corporation and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2020).
10.1   Support Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Global Gas Holdings LLC, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2023).
10.2   Sponsor Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Holdings, LLC, Global Gas Holdings LLC, Dune Acquisition Corporation and Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2023).
10.3   Lock-up Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2023).
10.4   Forward Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, Meteora Capital Partners, LP, Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP and Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2023).
10.5   Subscription Agreement, dated December 1, 2023, by and among Dune Acquisition Corporation, Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP, Meteora Capital Partners, LP and Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2023).
10.6   Nomination Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among the Company, Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC.
10.7   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among the Company, Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC.
10.8   Exchange Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among the Company, Global Gas Holdings LLC and the unitholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC.
10.9   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Global Gas Holdings LLC, dated as of December 21, 2023.
10.10   Promissory Note, dated June 21, 2023, by and between Dune Acquisition Corporation and Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2023).
10.11   Amendment No. 1 to Promissory Note, dated December 21, 2023, by and between the Company and Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC.
10.12   Promissory Note, dated June 21, 2023, between Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and Carter Glatt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2023).
10.13   Amendment No. 1 to Promissory Note, dated December 21, 2023, by and between Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and Carter Glatt.
10.14#   Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between the Company and its directors and officers.
10.15#   Global Gas Corporation 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.16#   Employment Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and between Global Hydrogen Energy LLC and William Bennett Nance, Jr.
14.1   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
16.1   Letter from WithumSmith+Brown, PC, dated December 28, 2023.
21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company.
99.1   Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC as of and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023.
99.2   Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022.
99.3   Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).

 

*Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant hereby undertakes to furnish copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.
#Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

13

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
   
Date: December 28, 2023 By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Name: William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

 

 

14

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF

DUNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION

 

December 21, 2023

 

Dune Acquisition Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “Dune Acquisition Corporation”. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2020 (the “Original Certificate”). The Corporation filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 17, 2020 (the “First Amended and Restated Certificate”).

 

2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 211, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

 

3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates, integrates, and amends the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Certificate. Certain capitalized terms used in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation are defined where appropriate herein.

 

4. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

5. The text of the First Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

 

The name of the Corporation is Global Gas Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND 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. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND DURATION

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the DGCL. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 1. The total number of shares of all classes of stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 401,000,000 shares, consisting of: (i) 400,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), consisting of: (a) 380,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (“Class A Common Stock”), and (b) 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 2. The number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), voting together as a single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the class or classes the number of authorized shares of which are being increased or decreased, unless a vote by any holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock is required by the express terms of the Certificate of Designation (as defined below) relating to any such series of Preferred Stock as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of this Article IV.

 

Section 3. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby authorized to provide from time to time by resolution or resolutions for the creation and issuance, out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock by filing a certificate (a “Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the DGCL, setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the designation of such series and the number of shares to be included in such series and fixing the voting powers (full or limited, or no voting power), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of each such series, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock may, to the extent permitted by law, provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to the Preferred Stock of any other series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock may be different from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation establishing a series of Preferred Stock, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of such series and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

2

 

 

Section 4. Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), (i) the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation, (ii) 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 on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote and (iii) at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and 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 of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), 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 of Incorporation (including any amendment to any Certificate of Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or 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 of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation) or the DGCL.

 

Section 5. Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), the holders of shares of Class A 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 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. Other than in connection with a dividend declared by the Board in connection with a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan, dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock and the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall have no right to receive dividends in respect of such shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

Section 6. Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock held by them. The holders of Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. A dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this Section 6 of this Article IV, shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

 

Section 7. 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.

 

Section 8. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock may be subdivided, split, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed unless contemporaneously therewith the other class of Common Stock and the Common Units (as defined below) are subdivided, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in the same manner.

 

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Section 9. Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in (A) the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), dated as of December 21, 2023 (as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Holdings LLCA”), and (B) the Exchange Agreement dated as of December 21, 2023 (as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Exchange Agreement”). The holders of Common Units other than the Corporation shall, to the extent provided in the Exchange Agreement and the Holdings LLCA and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement and the Holdings LLCA, as applicable, have the right to exchange such Common Units, together with shares of Class B Common Stock, for such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock determined in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement. The Corporation shall at all times when any Common Units shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Common Units in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the Holdings LLCA; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its or its affiliates’ obligations in respect of any such exchange of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and the Holdings LLCA by delivering (either directly or indirectly through an affiliate) to the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock upon such exchange, in lieu of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock, cash in the amount permitted by and provided in the Exchange Agreement or the Holdings LLCA, as applicable, or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued upon any such exchange shall, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the Holdings LLCA, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. All shares of Class B Common Stock redeemed shall be cancelled.. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Common Units, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock to such number as shall be sufficient for such purpose. As used in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “Common Unit” means a membership interest in Holdings authorized and issued under the Holdings LLCA, and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in the Holdings LLCA.

 

Section 10. No share of Class B Common Stock may be sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred, other than as part of (i) the exchange of a Common Unit as set forth in Section 9 of this ARTICLE IV, or (ii) the transfer of a Common Unit by a holder of Common Units to a permitted transferee of such holder in accordance with the Holdings LLCA. In the event that any outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock are sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred other than as provided in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), or such outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall otherwise cease to be held by a holder (or a permitted transferee of such holder) of a corresponding number of Common Units (based on the exchange rate then in effect) for any reason, such shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation and thereupon shall be retired.

 

Section 11. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board may determine):

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN ARTICLE IV OF THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED AND/OR RESTATED (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).

 

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ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:

 

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. Except as otherwise provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board. In no event shall any decrease in the size of the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) or delegated by resolution of the Board, the Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to appoint and remove officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 2. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible. Class I directors shall initially serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders following the initial effectiveness of this Section 2 of this Article V (the “Classification Effective Time”); Class II directors shall initially serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Classification Effective Time; and Class III directors shall initially serve until the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Classification Effective Time. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Classification Effective Time, directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a three-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III, with such assignment becoming effective as of the Classification Effective Time. The Board also is authorized to (i) assign newly appointed or elected members of the Board to Class I, Class II or Class III, with such assignment becoming effective as of the effective date of such appointment or election and (ii) reassign incumbent members of the Board to Class I, Class II or Class III in the event that the members in each of the three classes are not as nearly equal in number as possible due to the departure of one or more directors from the Board; provided, however, that in no event shall any such reassignment shorten the term of any incumbent director without his or her consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

Section 3. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and any rights and obligations under the Board Nomination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Corporation and the other parties thereto, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 4. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, and subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which the director shall have been appointed and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal. A vacancy in the Board shall be deemed to exist under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the case of the death, removal, resignation or disqualification of any director.

 

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Section 5. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the special right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation establishing any series of Preferred Stock), whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having the special right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any such Certificate of Designation), the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and each such director shall cease to be qualified as (and shall cease to be) a director, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 6. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

Section 7. Except as may otherwise be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the Board providing for the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and then only with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, cumulative voting in the election of directors is specifically denied.

 

ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and shall not be taken by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting; provided, however, prior to the first date on which William Bennett Nance, Jr., Sergio Martinez and Barbara Guay Martinez, and each of their respective Affiliated Persons (including family members, estate planning vehicles and other investment vehicles controlled or beneficially owned by them) (the “Principal Stockholders”) cease to beneficially own collectively at least 50% of the then-outstanding Common Stock (the “Voting Threshold Date”), any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand, overnight courier or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock. The term “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term “control,” as used in this definition, means the possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing; and the term “beneficial ownership” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 2. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, in each case, in accordance with the Bylaws, and shall not be called by stockholders or any other Person or Persons; provided, however, prior to the Voting Threshold Date, meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called by the Principal Stockholders (acting by holders of a majority of the Common Stock held by the Principal Stockholders). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

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Section 3. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable. If the DGCL is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.

 

Section 2. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may indemnify and advance expenses to any Person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

Section 3. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption by amendment of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of any provision inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

 

ARTICLE VIII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM

 

Section 1. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Chancery Court”) 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, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation, its current or former directors, officers, employees, agents or stockholders arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation, its current or former directors, officers, employees, agents or stockholders governed by the internal affairs doctrine. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Section 1 of this Article VIII is filed in a court other than the Chancery Court (a “Foreign Action”) by any stockholder (including any beneficial owner), to the fullest extent permitted by law, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (a) the personal jurisdiction of the Chancery Court in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Section 1 of this Article VIII; and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

Section 2. 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 applicable law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

 

Section 3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the

U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

Section 4. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

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ARTICLE IX

CERTAIN STOCKHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS

 

Section 1. In recognition and anticipation that members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation or a majority owned subsidiary thereof (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

 

Section 2. No Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (such Persons being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate or creditors of the Corporation for any damages as a result of engaging in any of the activities permitted pursuant to this Article IX or which are stated in this Article IX to constitute a breach of its, his or her duties to the Corporation or its stockholders if engaged by such Identified Person. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article IX. Subject to Section 3 of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director, officer or employee or agent of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any Affiliate of the Corporation.

 

Section 3. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 2 of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

 

Section 4. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 5. Solely for purposes of this Article IX, “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation.

 

Section 6. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

 

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Section 7. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board included in the foregoing shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any other Article of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or construed as or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit any power conferred upon the Board under the DGCL now or hereafter in force.

 

Section 8. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article IX shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

 

Section 1. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other Persons are granted by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its current form or as hereafter amended. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation or any particular class or series thereof required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and this Article X.

 

Section 2. The Board is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The stockholders may also make, repeal, alter, amend or rescind, in whole or in part, the Bylaws; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation or any particular class or series thereof required by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith. No Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

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ARTICLE XI

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

Section 1. DGCL Section 203 Opt-Out. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

Section 2. Business Combination Exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a) prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

(c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation that is not owned by the interested stockholder, or

 

(d) the stockholder became an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divested itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceased to be an interested stockholder and (ii) was not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership.

 

Section 3. Definitions. For purposes of this Article XI, references to:

 

(a) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(b) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(i)any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation, Section 2 of this Article XI is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

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(ii)any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

(iii)any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

(iv)any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary that is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

(v)any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

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(c) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XI, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(d) “Existing Holders” means Carter Glatt, Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC and the Principal Stockholders, together with their respective Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries).

 

(e) “Existing Holder Direct Transferee” means any person (and its Affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering), directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Holder or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which such Existing Holder is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

(f) “Existing Holder Indirect Transferee” means any person (and its Affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering), directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Holder Direct Transferee or any other Existing Holder Indirect Transferee, beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

(g) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, (ii) is an Affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder or (iii) the Affiliates and associates of any such person described in clauses (i) and (ii); provided, however, that “interested stockholder” shall not include (A) any Existing Holder, any existing Holder Direct Transferee, any Existing Holder Indirect Transferee or any of their respective Affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which any such person is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided, in the case of this clause (B), that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of (x) further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person or (y) an acquisition of a de minimis number of such additional shares. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation that may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

(h) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or associates:

 

(i)beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

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(ii)has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(iii)has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(i) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(j) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference in this Article XI to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such voting stock.

 

ARTICLE XII
SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any section or paragraph of this Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

ARTICLE XIII
DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise expressly provided herein and unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

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

 

Person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger, consolidation, division or otherwise) of such entity.

 

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

 

* * * *

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Dune Acquisition Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 21st day of December, 2023.

 

  DUNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Carter Glatt
  Name: Carter Glatt
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Dune Acquisition Corporation — Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

Execution Version

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of
GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION

 

(a Delaware corporation)

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

    Page
     
Article I - Corporate Offices 1
   
  1.1 Registered Office 1
  1.2 Other Offices 1
   
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders 1
   
  2.1 Place of Meetings 1
  2.2 Annual Meeting 1
  2.3 Special Meeting 1
  2.4 Advance Notice Procedures for Business Brought before a Meeting 2
  2.5 Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors 5
  2.6 Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings 9
  2.7 Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice 9
  2.8 Quorum 9
  2.9 Adjourned Meeting; Notice 10
  2.10 Conduct of Business 10
  2.11 Voting 10
  2.12 Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes 11
  2.13 Proxies 11
  2.14 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote 12
  2.15 Inspectors of Election 12
  2.16 Virtual Meeting 13
  2.17 Delivery to the Corporation 13
   
Article III – Directors 13
   
  3.1 Powers 13
  3.2 Number of Directors 13
  3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors 13
  3.4 Resignation and Vacancies 14
  3.5 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone 14
  3.6 Regular Meetings 14
  3.7 Special Meetings; Notice 14
  3.8 Quorum 15
  3.9 Action by Unanimous Consent Without a Meeting 15
  3.10 Fees and Compensation of Directors 15
  3.11 Removal 15
  3.12 Chairperson of the Board 15
   
Article IV - Committees 16
   
  4.1 Committees of Directors 16
  4.2 Committee Minutes 16
  4.3 Meetings and Actions of Committees 16
   
Article V - Officers 17
   
  5.1 Officers 17
  5.2 Appointment of Officers 17
  5.3 Subordinate Officers 17

 

(i)

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

      Page
       
  5.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers 17
  5.5 Vacancies in Offices 17
  5.6 Representation of Securities of Other Entities 17
  5.7 Tenure, Authority and Duties of Officers 18
   
Article VI - Records 18
   
Article VII - General Matters 18
   
  7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments 18
  7.2 Stock Certificates 18
  7.3 Lost Certificates 19
  7.4 Shares Without Certificates 19
  7.5 Dividends 19
  7.6 Fiscal Year 19
  7.7 Seal 19
  7.8 Transfer of Stock 19
  7.9 Stock Transfer Agreements 20
  7.10 Registered Stockholders 20
  7.11 Waiver of Notice 20
   
Article VIII - Notice by Electronic Transmission 20
   
  8.1 Notice by Electronic Transmission 20
  8.2 Definition of Electronic Transmission 21
   
Article IX - Indemnification 21
   
  9.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers 21
  9.2 Indemnification of Others 22
  9.3 Prepayment of Expenses 22
  9.4 Determination; Claim 23
  9.5 Non-Exclusivity of Rights 23
  9.6 Insurance 23
  9.7 Other Indemnification 23
  9.8 Continuation of Indemnification 23
  9.9 Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation 23

 

(ii)

 

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of
GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION

 

 

 

Article I - Corporate Offices

 

1.1Registered Office.

 

The address of the registered office of GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise herein defined are used as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

1.2Other Offices.

 

The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II - Meetings of Stockholders

 

2.1Place of Meetings.

 

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive offices.

 

2.2Annual Meeting.

 

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

2.3Special Meeting.

 

Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by such Persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting.

 

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2.4Advance Notice Procedures for Business Brought before a Meeting.

 

(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting as determined pursuant to Section 3.12 (the “Meeting Chairperson”), or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4, as of the record date for the meeting and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4. The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling the meeting pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.3 of these bylaws. For purposes of this Section 2.4 and Section 2.5 of these bylaws, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting, and a “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or Person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or Person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or Person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust. This Section 2.4 shall apply to any business that may be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than nominations for election to the Board at an annual meeting, which shall be governed by Section 2.5 of these bylaws. Stockholders seeking to nominate Persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 of these bylaws, and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations for election to the Board except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of these bylaws.

 

(ii) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day and not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day (120th) day, in each case, prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s annual meeting in the year of the closing of the business combination contemplated by that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among the Corporation (formerly known as Dune Acquisition Corporation) and the other parties thereto (the “Business Combination”), be deemed to have occurred on December 21, 2023); provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

 

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth:

 

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the number of shares of each class or series of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (for purposes of these bylaws, as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

 

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(b) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence (including, without limitation, any derivative, swap, hedge, repurchase or so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to, directly or indirectly (a) give a Person economic benefit and/or risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in whole or in part, including due to the fact that such transaction, agreement or arrangement provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any increase or decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (b) mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk of or manage the risk of share price changes for, any Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (c) otherwise provide in any manner the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (d) increase or decrease the voting power of any Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation) in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any performance-related fee (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or any Synthetic Equity Position, (C) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (D) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (E) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (F) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (G) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation and (H) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (G) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner;

 

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(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the text of such proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other Person (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder or in connection with acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (D) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nominations or other business proposal(s), and to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned of record or beneficially by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s) and (E) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Section 2.4(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner;

 

(d) a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the business proposal; and

 

(e) a representation that the Proposing Person(s) intend(s) to be present in person at the meeting to propose such business.

 

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and as to any such beneficial owner if such beneficial owner is an entity, each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity, and (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.

 

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(v) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

(vi) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The Board or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting was made in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. If neither the Board nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any stockholder proposal was brought in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws, Meeting Chairperson shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting. If the Board or a designated committee thereof or the Meeting Chairperson, as applicable, determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4, any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

(vii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or the holders of any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation).

 

(viii) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.5Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Nomination Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among the Corporation, Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other parties thereto (the “Nomination Agreement”):

 

(i) Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Nominations of any person for election to the Board (a) in the case of an annual meeting may be made at such meeting only (1) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or Persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (2) by a stockholder present in person (as defined in Section 2.4) who (i) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5, as of the record date for the meeting and at the time of the meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination.

 

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(a) The foregoing clause (2) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a Person or Persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(b) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting pursuant to Section 2.5(i)(c), the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(ii) of these bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a Nominating Person may nominate for election at the annual meeting pursuant to Section 2.5(i)(c) of these bylaws shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting.

 

(c) To be in proper form for purposes of Section 2.5(i)(c), a stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth:

 

(A) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a);

 

(B) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(c) shall be made with respect to nomination of each Person for election as a director at the meeting);

 

(C) A statement whether or not the Nominating Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by such Nominating Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such Nominating Person;

 

(D) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (1) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (2) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (3) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) through (3) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (4) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(e); and

 

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(E) a representation that the Nominating Person(s) intend(s) to be present in person at the meeting to propose the nomination of the Nominee.

 

(d) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at the applicable meeting of stockholders shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

(e) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at the applicable meeting of stockholders, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board), to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (1) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such candidate for nomination and (2) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein, (B) understands his or her duties as a director under the DCGL and agrees to act in accordance with those duties while serving as a director, (C) is not or will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any Person as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will act or vote as a director on any issue or question to be decided by the Board, in any case, to the extent that such arrangement, understanding, commitment or assurance (i) could limit or interfere with his or her ability to comply, if elected as director of the Corporation, with his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law or with policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to all directors or (ii) has not been disclosed to the Corporation prior to or concurrently with the Nominating Person’s submission of the nomination, and (D) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to all directors and in effect during such Person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

 

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(f) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the applicable meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, if any.

 

(ii) Special Meetings of Stockholders. No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or Persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws or (2) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by a stockholder present in person (as defined in Section 2.4) who (i) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5, as of the record date for the meeting and at the time of the meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination. The foregoing clause (2) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a Person or Persons for election to the Board at any special meeting of stockholders. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by and meeting the requirements of paragraphs (i)(b), (i)(c), (i)(d), (i)(e) and (i)(f) of this Section 2.05 shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(iii) General.

 

(a) For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and as to any such beneficial owner if such beneficial owner is an entity, each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity, and (c) any other participant in such solicitation.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with this Section 2.5.

 

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(c) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

 

(d) No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with this Section 2.5, as applicable. The Board or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a nomination before the applicable meeting of stockholders was made in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. If neither the Board nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws, the Meeting Chairperson shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit the power and authority of the Board or such designated committee to make any such determination in advance of such meeting. If the Board or a designated committee thereof or the Meeting Chairperson, as applicable, determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

 

2.6Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with either Section 2.7 or Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, 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, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

 

2.7Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice.

 

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:

 

(i) if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records;

 

(i) if delivered by courier service, at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address; or

 

(ii) if electronically transmitted as provided in Section 8.1 of these bylaws.

 

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

2.8Quorum.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the Meeting Chairperson or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented.

 

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2.9Adjourned Meeting; Notice.

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

2.10Conduct of Business.

 

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 Meeting Chairperson. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the Meeting Chairperson shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such Meeting Chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the Meeting Chairperson, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other Persons as the Meeting Chairperson shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the Meeting Chairperson, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

2.11Voting.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law, or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.

 

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2.12Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.

 

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

 

If stockholder action by consent in lieu of a meeting is not prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in lieu of a meeting, 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 by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in lieu of a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes 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 sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

2.13Proxies.

 

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another Person or Persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but, no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. The authorization of a Person to act as a proxy may be documented, signed and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL, provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with information enabling the Corporation to determine, the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization.

 

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2.14List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.

 

The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (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 Corporation’s principal executive offices. 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 the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. 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 of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in Person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.15Inspectors of Election.

 

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more Persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any Person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the Meeting Chairperson shall appoint a Person to fill that vacancy.

 

Such inspectors shall:

 

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

 

(ii) count all votes or ballots;

 

(iii) count and tabulate all votes;

 

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

 

(v) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.

 

Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such Persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

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2.16Virtual Meeting.

 

The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that stockholder meetings shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders 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 to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and (c) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

2.17Delivery to the Corporation.

 

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

 

Article III– Directors

 

3.1Powers.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

 

3.2Number of Directors.

 

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

 

3.3Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors.

 

Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in the Nomination Agreement, each director shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class, if any, for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.

 

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3.4Resignation and Vacancies.

 

Except as provided in the Nomination Agreement, any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned but whose resignations have not yet become effective, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.

 

Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

3.5Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone.

 

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

3.6Regular Meetings.

 

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

 

3.7Special Meetings; Notice.

 

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, the secretary or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.

 

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

 

(i) delivered personally by hand or by courier;

 

(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

 

(iii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or

 

(iv) sent by other means of electronic transmission,

 

directed to each director at that director’s address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

 

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand or by courier, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twelve (12) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by mail, it shall be deposited in the mail at least one (1) day before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

 

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3.8Quorum.

 

Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

3.9Action by Unanimous Consent Without a Meeting.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, as applicable, and 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.

 

3.10Fees and Compensation of Directors.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

 

3.11Removal.

 

Directors may be removed from office only in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Nomination Agreement and applicable law.

 

3.12Chairperson of the Board.

 

Except as provided in the Nomination Agreement, the Chairperson of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. If the Chairperson of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board, another director chosen by the Board shall preside. In the event that the Chairperson of the Board is not independent, the Board may designate another director or directors to preside at the meetings of the independent members of the Board or meetings of the nonmanagement members of the Board. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in her or her absence, by another person designated by the Board.

 

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Article IV - Committees

 

4.1Committees of Directors.

 

The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members 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 the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

 

4.2Committee Minutes.

 

Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

 

4.3Meetings and Actions of Committees.

 

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

 

(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

 

(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

 

(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

 

(iv) Section 3.9 (action by unanimous consent without a meeting);

 

(v) Section 3.12 (presiding director); and

 

(vi) Section 7.11 (waiver of notice),

 

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:

 

(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee; and

 

(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or by the chairperson of the applicable committee.

 

A majority of the directors then serving on a committee of the Board or on a subcommittee of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee or subcommittee, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or a resolution of the Board (or a resolution of the committee that created the subcommittee) requires a greater or lesser number (provided that in no case shall a quorum be less than one-third of the directors then serving on the committee or subcommittee). The vote of a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee or subcommittee, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or a resolution of the Board (or a resolution of the committee that created the subcommittee) requires a greater number. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the committee, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

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The Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

 

Article V - Officers

 

5.1Officers.

 

The officers of the Corporation shall include a chairperson of the Board, a president and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board from among its members, a chief executive officer (who, absent action by the Board stating otherwise, shall also be the president for purposes of the DGCL), a chief financial officer, a treasurer, one (1) or more vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant treasurers, one (1) or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person.

 

5.2Appointment of Officers.

 

The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.

 

5.3Subordinate Officers.

 

The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president (where the president and chief executive officer are not the same individual), to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board or an authorized officer (as applicable), may from time to time determine.

 

5.4Removal and Resignation of Officers.

 

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

 

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

5.5Vacancies in Offices.

 

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, as applicable.

 

5.6Representation of Securities of Other Entities.

 

The Chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Corporation, or any other Person authorized by the Board, the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all securities of any other entity standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such Person directly or by any other Person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such Person having the authority.

 

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5.7Tenure, Authority and Duties of Officers.

 

Except as provided in Section 5.3, all officers of the Corporation shall hold such office, respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

 

Article VI - Records

 

A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

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

 

Article VII - General Matters

 

7.1Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments.

 

The Board may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

 

7.2Stock Certificates.

 

The shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two (2) officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The chairperson or vice chairperson of the Board, the president, vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

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7.3Lost Certificates.

 

The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

7.4Shares Without Certificates

 

The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

 

7.5Dividends.

 

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

The Board may set apart out of any 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 but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

 

7.6Fiscal Year.

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall consist of the twelve

(12) month period ending on December 31.

 

7.7Seal.

 

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

7.8Transfer of Stock.

 

Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate Person or Persons (if such shares are represented by certificates) or by delivery of duly executed instructions (if such shares are uncertificated), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the Persons from and to whom it was transferred.

 

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7.9Stock Transfer Agreements.

 

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

7.10Registered Stockholders.

 

The Corporation:

 

(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and

 

(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

7.11Waiver of Notice.

 

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the Person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a Person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the Person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

 

Article VIII- Notice by Electronic Transmission

 

8.1Notice by Electronic Transmission.

 

Except as otherwise specifically required in these bylaws or by applicable law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these bylaws may in every instance in connection with any delivery to a member of the Board, be effectively given by hand delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by overnight express courier, facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic transmission. Whenever, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given in writing directed to such stockholder’s mailing address or by electronic transmission directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable, as it appears on the records of the Corporation or by such other form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (a) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, (b) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address, (c) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 232(e) of the DGCL, and (d) if given by a form of electronic transmission (other than electronic mail) consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given, (i) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which such stockholder has consented to receive notice, (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice, and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission (other than electronic mail), when directed to such stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic transmission by giving written notice or by electronic transmission of such revocation to the Corporation. A notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (x) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices and (y) such inability becomes known to the secretary or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Any notice given by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.

 

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An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by electronic mail or by another form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

8.2Definition of Electronic Transmission.

 

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

Article IX - Indemnification

 

9.1Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as 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, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

 

Subject to the requirements in this Article IX and the DGCL, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article IX in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

 

(a)for which payment has actually been made to and received by or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;

 

(b)for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(c)for any reimbursement of the Corporation by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements), or any other remuneration paid to such person if it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such remuneration was in violation of law;

 

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(d)initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by such person against the Corporation, any legal entity which it controls, any director or officer thereof or any third party, unless (i) the Board has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding or part thereof, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law (provided, however, that this 9.1 shall not apply to counterclaims or affirmative defenses asserted by such person in an action brought against such person), (iii) otherwise required to be made under Section 9.4 or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or

 

(e)if prohibited by applicable law; provided, however, that if any provision or provisions of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph or clause containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph or clause 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.

 

9.2Indemnification of Others.

 

The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

 

9.3Prepayment of Expenses.

 

The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any current or former officer or director of the Corporation in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.

 

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9.4Determination; Claim.

 

If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

 

9.5Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

 

The rights conferred on any Person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

9.6Insurance.

 

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

 

9.7Other Indemnification.

 

The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

9.8Continuation of Indemnification.

 

Subject to the terms of any provision of the Certificate or agreement between the Corporation and any director, officer, employee or agent respecting indemnification and advancement of expenses, the rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the Person has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such Person.

 

9.9Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation.

 

Any repeal or modification of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, a secretary or a treasurer appointed pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and to any president, vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “vice president” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article IX.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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Dune Acquisition Corporation

 

Certificate of Amendment and Restatement of Bylaws

 

 

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified, and acting secretary of GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and that the foregoing bylaws were approved on December 21, 2023, effective as of December 21, 2023 by the Corporation’s board of directors.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 21st day of December, 2023.

 

  /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Secretary

 

[Dune Acquisition Corporation - Signature Page to Amended and Restated Bylaws]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

Execution Version

 

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

 

This NOMINATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 21, 2023, is entered into by and among Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Dune”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages hereto under “GHE Founders” (each, a “GHE Founder,” and collectively, the “GHE Founders”). The GHE Founders, Dune and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

 

WHEREAS, on May 14, 2023, the Company, Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Holdings”), William Bennett Nance, Jr., an individual (“W. Nance”), Sergio Martinez, an individual (“S. Martinez”) and Barbara Guay Martinez, an individual (“B. Martinez”, and together with W. Nance and S. Martinez, the “Sellers”) and Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into that certain Unit Purchase Agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as may be further amended, supplemented or waived in accordance with its terms, the “Charter”) provides that (a) the members of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall be divided into three (3) classes of directors: Class I directors who shall serve for an initial one (1)-year term (the “Class I Director”), Class II directors who shall serve for an initial two (2)-year term (the “Class II Directors”) and Class III directors who shall serve for an initial three (3)-year term (the “Class III Directors” and, collectively with the Class I Directors and the Class II Directors, the “Initial Directors”), and (b) all terms after the Initial Directors’ initial terms shall be for three (3) years;

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Board consists of five (5) members, with one (1) member constituting the Class I Director, two (2) members constituting the Class II Directors and two (2) members constituting the Class III Directors;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires that, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the members of the Board be appointed as set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with, and effective upon, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the GHE Founders, Dune and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance matters.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Action” means any claim, action, suit, charge, complaint, audit, investigation, arbitration or legal, judicial or administrative proceeding (whether at law or in equity) by or before any governmental authority.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no Party shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another Party solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Affiliated Investor” means, with respect to any GHE Founder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such GHE Founder and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such GHE Founder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Beneficial Owner” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, each GHE Founder is deemed to Beneficially Own the shares of Common Stock owned by it, notwithstanding the fact that such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement.

 

Closing” means the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. “Common Stock” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Control” (including the terms “Controls,” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

GHE Family Membersmeans as to any GHE Founder, (a) any spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of such GHE Founder; (b) any lineal descendent of such GHE Founder or any Person identified in clause (b) of this definition (and any spouse or former spouse of any such Persons, including adoptive relationships and stepchildren); (c) any trust established by, and in which at least 75% of the beneficial interest is directly or indirectly held by or for the benefit of, any such GHE Founder or one or more Persons identified in clauses (a), (b), or (f) of this definition and one or more Persons exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (d) any limited liability company, partnership or other estate planning or family business vehicle of which such GHE Founder or one or more Persons identified in clauses (a), (b) or (f) of this definition serves as managing member, manager, general partner or otherwise, as applicable, and in which at least 75% of the economic interest is directly or indirectly held by or for the benefit of any one or more of such Persons; (e) any tax-exempt foundation, charitable trust, non-profit entity or other entity established by such GHE Founder or any Person identified in clauses (a), (b) or (f) of this definition, so long as the voting and disposition authority with respect to the Common Stock are controlled by or under the appointment of such GHE Founder or any Person identified in clauses (a), (b) or (f) of this definition; and (f) executors, administrators or beneficiaries of the estates of any such now or hereafter deceased Person, guardians or members of a committee for any such Person who is or becomes incompetent, or similar Persons duly authorized by law to administer the estate or assets of any such Person identified in this definition.

 

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GHE Group” means each of the GHE Founders and any of their respective Affiliates, Family Members and Affiliated Investors and their respective permitted assigns.

 

Independent Director” means a director that qualifies as “independent” for all purposes under the rules and regulations of the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is currently listed.

 

Initial Share Ownership” means, with respect to any Person, the number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such Person as of immediately following the Closing.

 

Necessary Action” shall mean, with respect to any Party and a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation and within such Party’s control) necessary to cause such result, including (i) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) executing agreements and instruments, and (iii) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

 

Section 1.2 Rules of Construction.

 

(a) Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (v) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (vi) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (vii) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; and (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns.

 

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(b) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(c) This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the Party that drafted or caused this Agreement to be drafted.

 

ARTICLE II

VOTING AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 2.1 Designees.

 

(a) Upon the Closing, the Parties shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate so that the Board shall be initially composed as set forth in Section 7.05 of the Purchase Agreement. Subject to this Section 2.1, from the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or, with respect to a Party, the termination of such Party’s rights hereunder:

 

(i) At every meeting of the Board or a committee thereof, or action by written consent, at or by which one or more Class I Directors are appointed by the Board or are nominated to stand for election and elected by stockholders of the Company, the GHE Group (for so long as the GHE Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing all of its Initial Share Ownership) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to appoint or nominate for election to the Board, as applicable, one individual, to serve as a Class I Director.

 

(ii) At every meeting of the Board or a committee thereof, or action by written consent, at or by which one or more Class II Directors are appointed by the Board or are nominated to stand for election and elected by stockholders of the Company, Dune (for as long as Dune Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing 25% or greater of its Initial Share Ownership) and the GHE Group (for so long as the GHE Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing its Initial Share Ownership) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to jointly appoint or nominate for election to the Board, as applicable, two individuals, to serve as a Class II Directors, both of whom shall be Independent Directors.

 

(iii) At every meeting of the Board or a committee thereof, or action by written consent, at or by which one or more Class III Directors are appointed by the Board or are nominated to stand for election and elected by stockholders of the Company, Dune (for as long as Dune Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing 25% or greater of its Initial Share Ownership) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to appoint or nominate for election to the Board, as applicable, two individuals, to serve as a Class III Directors, both of whom shall be Independent Directors.

 

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(iv) Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, for so long as (A) Dune has the right to appoint or nominate at least one (1) director to the Board under this Agreement, the Company will take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to appoint at least one (1) Class III Director to serve on each committee of the Board, and (B) the GHE Group has the right to appoint or nominate one (1) Director to the Board under this Agreement, the Company will take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to appoint the Class I Director to serve on each committee of the Board.

 

(v) Following the Closing and for so long as Dune is entitled to appoint or nominate any Person to the Board pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Company will take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to appoint one Class III Director to serve as Chairperson of the Board.

 

(b) In the event that Dune or the GHE Group has nominated fewer than the total number of designees that it shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2.1(a), then Dune and the GHE Group shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to nominate such additional designee(s) to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company shall take all Necessary Action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to (x) increase the size of the Board as required to enable Dune and the GHE Group, as applicable, to so nominate such additional designee(s), and (y) designate such additional designees nominated by Dune and the GHE Group, as applicable, to fill such newly created vacancy or vacancies, as applicable.

 

(c) The Board may increase its size in accordance with the Company’s governing documents; provided, that (i) if the number of directors is so increased, the Board will use reasonable efforts to ensure the Board has an odd number of directors and (ii) any increase in the number of directors shall result in a proportional increase in the number of Class I Directors and Class III Directors (who shall all be Independent Directors) that may be appointed pursuant to this Section 2.1, rounded up.

 

(d) The GHE Group and Dune shall have the exclusive right to remove the Class II Directors from the Board (including any committees thereof), and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause the removal of any such designee at the joint request of the GHE Group and Dune. The GHE Group and Dune shall have the exclusive right to designate directors to the Board to fill vacancies created by reason of death, removal or resignation of the Class II Directors, and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause any such vacancies to be filled by replacement directors jointly designated by the GHE Group and Dune, as promptly as reasonably practicable, in each case subject to any restrictions set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, the GHE Group shall not have the right to designate a replacement director, and the Company shall not be required to take any action to cause any vacancy to be filled by any such designee, to the extent that election or appointment of such designee to the Board would result in a number of directors designated by the GHE Group in excess of the number of directors that it is then entitled to designate for membership on the Board pursuant to this Agreement. Except as set forth above, the appointment of directors to fill any Board vacancies will be the responsibility of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board and the Board.

 

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(e) The Company agrees to take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors the Persons designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 (to the extent that directors of such nominee’s class are to be elected at such meeting for so long as the Board is classified) and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a director as provided herein, and to solicit proxies or consents in favor thereof.

 

(f) Upon any decrease in the number of directors that the GHE Group is entitled to designate for nomination to the Board, the GHE Group shall cause the appropriate number of directors designated by the GHE Group to offer to tender their resignation, effective immediately, which offer shall be accepted by the Company at the discretion of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board (and to the extent the Company accepts any such resignation, the corresponding vacancy on the Board shall be filled in accordance with the Company’s governing documents).

 

(g) The GHE Group or Dune shall take all Necessary Action to cause any of the respective directors designated by the GHE Group or Dune, as applicable, to resign promptly from the Board if such director, as determined by the Board in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel, (i) is prohibited or disqualified from serving as a director of the Company under any rule or regulation of the SEC, the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, or by applicable law, (ii) has engaged in acts or omissions constituting a breach of such director’s fiduciary duties to the Company and its stockholders or (iii) has engaged in acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or an intentional violation of law; provided, however, that, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 2.1, the GHE Group or Dune, as applicable, shall have the right to replace such resigning director with a director, such newly named director to be appointed promptly to the Board in place of the resigning director in the manner set forth in the Company’s governing documents for filling vacancies on the Board.

 

(h) Any right of the GHE Group under this Agreement shall be deemed to be exercised if approved by the holders of a majority of the Common Stock held by the GHE Group at the time of determination.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Parties hereby represents and warrants to each other Party to this Agreement that as of the date such Party executes this Agreement:

 

Section 3.1 Existence; Authority; Enforceability. If such Party is not an individual, such Party has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder, and the execution of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, have been authorized by all necessary action, and no other act or proceeding on its part is necessary to authorize the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby. If such Party is an individual, such Party has the authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed by such Party and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms.

 

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Section 3.2 Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by such Party of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder does not and will not (a) if such Party is not an individual, conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of the constitutive documents of such Party; (b) result in any violation, breach, conflict, default or event of default (or an event which with notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default or event of default), or give rise to any right of acceleration or termination or any additional payment obligation, under the terms of any contract, agreement or permit to which such Party is a party or by which such Party’s assets or operations are bound or affected; or (c) violate any law applicable to such Party.

 

Section 3.3 Consents. The execution and delivery by such Party of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder does not and will not (a) if such Party is not an individual, conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of the constitutive documents of such Party; (b) result in any violation, breach, conflict, default or event of default (or an event which with notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default or event of default), or give rise to any right of acceleration or termination or any additional payment obligation, under the terms of any contract, agreement or permit to which such Party is a party or by which such Party’s assets or operations are bound or affected; or (c) violate any law applicable to such Party.

 

ARTICLE IV

INFORMATION

 

Section 4.1 Sharing of Information. The Class I Director (to the extent appointed or nominated by the GHE Group hereunder) is permitted to disclose to the GHE Group (and its Affiliates), and each of the Class III Directors (to the extent appointed or nominated by Dune hereunder) is permitted to disclose to Dune and its Affiliates, as applicable, information about the Company and its Affiliates that he or she receives as a result of being a director. Each of the GHE Founders and Dune recognizes that it, or its respective Affiliates and representatives, has acquired or will acquire confidential, non-public information (“Confidential Information”) about the Company and its subsidiaries the use or disclosure of which could cause the Company substantial loss and damages that could not be readily calculated and for which no remedy at law would be adequate. Accordingly, each of the GHE Founders and Dune covenants and agrees with the Company that it will not (and will cause its respective Affiliates and representatives not to) at any time, except with the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, disclose any Confidential Information known to it, unless (i) such information becomes known to the public through no fault of its own or its representatives, (ii) disclosure is required by applicable law or court of competent jurisdiction or requested by a governmental entity, provided that it promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure, (iii) such information was available or becomes available to it before, on or after the date hereof, without restriction, from a source (other than the Company) without any breach of duty to the Company or (iv) such information was independently developed by the it or its representatives without the use of the Confidential Information.

 

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ARTICLE V

EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION

 

Section 5.1 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically as to the GHE Group at such time as the GHE Group no longer has any rights to nominate any directors pursuant to Section 2.1; provided, however, each GHE Founder may in his or her sole discretion elect to terminate this Agreement as to himself or herself and his or her Affiliates, Family Members and Affiliated Investors if such GHE Founder (together with such GHE Founder’s respective Affiliates, Family Members and Affiliated Investors) no longer Beneficially Owns one percent (1%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Company. This Agreement shall terminate automatically as to the Dune at such time as Dune no longer has any rights to nominate any directors pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.1 Notices. All notices and other communications among the Parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following business day), addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Global Gas Corporation

c/o Dune Acquisition Corporation

700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attention: Carter Glatt

Telephone: (917) 742-1904

E-mail: carter@duneacq.com

 

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

 

Alston & Bird LLP

90 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016

Attn: Matthew Mamak

Facsimile: (212) 922-3952

Email: Matthew.Mamak@alston.com

 

(a) If to the GHE Founders, to the addresses set forth on Exhibit A hereto or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing. Without limiting the foregoing, any Party may give any notice, request, instruction, demand, document or other communication hereunder using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice, request, instruction, demand, document or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the Party for whom it is intended.

 

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Section 6.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The Parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the Parties.

 

Section 6.3 Captions; Counterparts. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 6.4 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries relating to the subject matter hereof. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the Parties, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.5 Further Assurances. Each Party shall, on the request of any other Party, execute such further documents, and perform such further acts, as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to give full effect to the allocation of rights, benefits, obligations and liabilities contemplated by this Agreement..

 

Section 6.6 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal substantive laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts entered into and to be performed solely within such state, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 6.7 Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur if the Parties do not perform their obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate this Agreement) in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without proof of damages, prior to the valid termination of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement, and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of this Agreement and without that right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement. Each Party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that no Party, in seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 6.7, shall be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction.

 

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Section 6.8 Consent To Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. Any Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement may be brought in federal and state courts located in the State of Delaware, and each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any Party to serve process in any manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other Party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action brought pursuant to this Section 6.8. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

Section 6.9 Amendments; Waivers.

 

(a) This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed by each of the Parties in the same manner as this Agreement and which makes reference to this Agreement.

 

(b) At any time and from time to time, any Party hereto may, to the extent legally allowed and except as otherwise set forth herein, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the any other Party, as applicable and (b) subject to the requirements of applicable law, waive compliance by any other Party with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein applicable to such Party. Any agreement to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the waiving Party. Any delay in exercising any right pursuant to this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of such right.

 

Section 6.10 Assignment. No Party shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 6.10 shall be null and void, ab initio.

 

Section 6.11 No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement may only be brought against, the entities that are expressly named as Parties and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such Party. Except to the extent a Party (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such Party in this Agreement), (a) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, sponsor, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any Party and (b) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, sponsor, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the Parties under this Agreement of or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
   
  Global Gas Corporation
     
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Name:  William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  DUNE:
     
  Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC
     
  By:  /s/ Carter Glatt
    Name: Carter Glatt
    Title: Managing Member

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 

 

 

  GHE FOUNDERS:
   
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Name:  William Bennett Nance, Jr.
   
  By: /s/ Sergio Martinez
  Name: Sergio Martinez
   
  By: /s/ Barbara Guay Martinez
  Name: Barbara Guay Martinez

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

GHE Founders   Address
William Bennett Nance, Jr.   99 Wall St., Ste. 436
New York, New York 10005
Sergio Martinez   99 Wall St., Ste. 436
New York, New York 10005
Barbara Guay Martinez   99 Wall St., Ste. 436
New York, New York 10005

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

Execution Version

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 21, 2023, is made and entered into by and among Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (f/k/a Dune Acquisition Corporation) (the “Company”), Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), the members of the Sponsor identified on the signature pages hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor and any person or entity deemed an “Existing Holder”, an “Existing Holder” and collectively the “Existing Holders”) and the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under the heading “New Holders” (each such party, and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “New Holder” and collectively the “New Holders” and the New Holders and Existing Holders being referred to collectively hereafter as the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Existing Holders are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2020 (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, on May 14, 2023, the Company, Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Holdings”), William Bennett Nance, Jr., an individual (“W. Nance”), Sergio Martinez, an individual (“S. Martinez”), Barbara Guay Martinez, an individual (“B. Martinez” and, together with W. Nance and S. Martinez, the “Sellers”), and Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global Hydrogen”), entered into that certain Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties to the Purchase Agreement will undertake the transactions described therein (the “Business Combination”);

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor holds 4,312,500 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), of the Company, which will be converted automatically upon consummation of the Business Combination into shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation;

 

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Business Combination, certain of the Existing Holders will own certain warrants of the Company, each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “Warrants”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, upon consummation of the Business Combination, each of the Sellers will receive common equity units of Holdings (“Holdings Common Units”) and shares of Class B Common Stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Global Hydrogen;

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, on the date hereof, the Company, Holdings and the Sellers will enter into that certain Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will issue to the Sellers one share of Class A Common Stock in exchange for (x) one Holdings Common Unit and (y) one share of Class B Common Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Company and the Existing Holders of a majority-in-interest of the “Registrable Securities” (as such term was defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) at the time in question; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and all of the Existing Holders desire to terminate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement in order to provide the Existing Holders and the New Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

B. Martinez” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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

 

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable law to close.

 

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

 

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

 

Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Commission Guidance” shall mean (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the Commission staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

Common Stock” shall mean the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.

 

Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.1.

 

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

 

Exchange Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Existing Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

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

 

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

 

Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(a).

 

Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b).

 

Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Global Hydrogen” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Holdings Common Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

 

Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact necessary to make the statements in a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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New Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of any lock-up period applicable to such Registrable Securities (provided, in each case, such transfer is not prohibited by any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or its respective Permitted Transferees and the Company), and any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

  

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares, (b) the Warrants (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants), (c) the shares of Class B Common Stock issued or issuable in connection with the Business Combination and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, (d) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder upon consummation of the Business Combination (including shares of Common Stock or other equity security of the Company transferred to a Permitted Transferee) and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

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Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(a) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed;

 

(b) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(c) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(d) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(e) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(f) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Demand to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Underwritten Offering.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.

 

Rule 415” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

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

 

Shelf Registrations” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b).

 

S. Martinez” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

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Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

Suspension Event” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4.

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Demand” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

 

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

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

 

W. Nance” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS

 

Section 2.1 Registration.

 

2.1.1 Shelf Registration. (a) The Company agrees that, within thirty (30) days after the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will file with the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement registering the resale of all Registrable Securities permitted to be registered for resale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i) of the Securities Act (“Rule 415”) on a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

(b) The Company agrees that, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is eligible to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”) (but in any event not less than 45 days thereafter), the Company will file with the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement registering the resale of all Registrable Securities not included on Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to subsection 2.1.1(a) (collectively, the “Shelf Registrations”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

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2.1.2 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5 and Section 2.4 hereof and provided that the Company does not have an effective Registration Statement pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 outstanding covering all the Registrable Securities, following the twelve (12) month anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination, either (a) the Existing Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the Existing Holders, or (b) the New Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the New Holders (the “Demanding Holders”), in each case, may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand, a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable, but not more than forty-five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than (x) an aggregate of two (2) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration by the Existing Holders under this subsection 2.1.2, and (y) an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration with respect to any or all Registrable Securities held by the New Holders; provided, however, that a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Registration Statement that may be available at such time has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders and the Demanding Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders and the Demanding Holders in such Registration Statement (subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5) have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

2.1.3 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration or Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration or Demand Registration, as applicable, has been declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to rules promulgated by, the Commission. Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Shelf Registration or Demand Registration on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (x) as shall be selected by the Company and (y) as shall permit the resale of the applicable Registrable Securities by the Holders.

 

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2.1.4 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5 and Section 2.4. of this Agreement, any Demanding Holder may make a written demand to the Company for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement or a new Registration Statement if such Demanding Holders’ Registrable Securities are not then registered by a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 or permitted to be offered in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 (an “Underwritten Demand”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Underwritten Demand, notify, in writing, all other Holders of such demand, and each Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand shall so notify the Company, in writing, within two (2) Business Days (one (1) Business Day if such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s), such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.4 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Demanding Holders initiating the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Offerings within any twelve (12)-month period pursuant to this subsection 2.1.4 and is not obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.4 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering (or such shorter period if permitted by applicable lock-up agreements). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Underwritten Demand will be effective hereunder unless the net proceeds (net of underwriting fees and commissions) to the Holders from the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such request are reasonably expected to exceed $10,000,000 or such request includes all Registrable Securities owned by the Requesting Holders at such time.

 

2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which an Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company held by other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.1.6 Registration Withdrawal. The Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.4 of this Agreement shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering or, if applicable, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Demand prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.6.

 

Section 2.2 Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If the Company proposes to (a) file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities of the Company, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities of the Company, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (b) consummate an Underwritten Offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed action to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable (but in the case of filing a Registration Statement, not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement), which notice shall (x) describe the amount and type of securities to be included, the intended method(s) of distribution and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, and (y) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) Business Days in the case of filing a Registration Statement and (2) two Business Days in the case of an Underwritten Offering (unless such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering, then one (1) Business Day), in each case after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Piggyback Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to include Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

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2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of the equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (a) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (b) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (c) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

(a) If the Registration or Underwritten Offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; or

 

(b) If the Registration or Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, of such requesting persons or entities other than the Holders and the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities, Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that each requesting persons, entities and Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities, Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that such persons, entities and Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), and (B), Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to, as applicable, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or the launch of the Underwritten Offering with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or abandon an Underwritten Offering in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration or Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.3 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.

 

2.3.1 Block Trade and Other Coordinated Offering Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1 or subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”) or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, (x) with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $10,000,000 or (y) for all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least ten (10) days prior to the proposed day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use reasonable best efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters or brokers, sales agents or placement agents (each, a “Financial Counterparty”) prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.

 

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2.3.2 Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and Financial Counterparty (if any). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.3.2.

 

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

 

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

 

2.3.5 Maximum Demands. A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than four (4) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.3 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (a) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (b) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and in the good faith judgment of the Board that such Underwritten Offering would be materially detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement or the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be materially detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed or to undertake such Underwritten Offering in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement or undertaking of such Underwritten Offering. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing or offering for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any twelve (12)-month period.

 

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Section 2.5 Rule 415; Removal. If at any time the Commission takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to this Article II is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to use reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the Commission Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09) or requires a Holder to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall (i) promptly notify each holder of Registrable Securities thereof (or in the case of the Commission requiring a Holder to be named as an “underwriter,” the Holders) and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to persuade the Commission that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Holders is an “underwriter.” The Holders whose Registrable Securities are subject to such position of the Commission shall have the right to select one (1) legal counsel designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities subject to such position of the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2.5, including participation in any meetings or discussions with the Commission regarding the Commission’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the Commission with respect thereto. No such written submission regarding the Holders with respect to this matter shall be made to the Commission to which the applicable Holders’ counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2.5, the Commission refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Removed Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the Commission may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415; provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Holder as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Holder. In the event of a share removal pursuant to this Section 2.5, the Company shall give the applicable Holders at least five (5) days’ prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment. Any removal of shares of the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be allocated between the Holders on a Pro Rata basis based on the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities held by the Holders. In the event of a share removal of the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.5, the Company shall promptly register the resale of any Removed Shares pursuant to Section 2.1.1 hereof and in no event shall the filing of such Registration Statement on Form S-1 or subsequent Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to the terms of Section 2.1.1 be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement. Until such time as the Company has registered all of the Removed Shares for resale pursuant to Rule 415 on an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall not be able to defer the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

 

ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.1 General Procedures. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and to the extent applicable:

 

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission, within the time period required by subsection 2.1.1, a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective, including filing a replacement Registration Statement, if necessary, until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding (such period, the “Effectiveness Period”);

 

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3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Demanding Holders or any Underwriter or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;

 

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;

 

3.1.4 notify the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement promptly in all events within five (5) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any Prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such Prospectus will not contain a Misstatement, and promptly make available to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment;

 

3.1.5 prior to any Registration of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

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3.1.6 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

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

 

3.1.8 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.9 during the Effectiveness Period, furnish a conformed copy of each filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, promptly after such filing of such documents with the Commission to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;

 

3.1.10 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act;

 

3.1.11 subject to the provisions of this Agreement, notify the Holders of the happening of any event as a result of which a Misstatement exists, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement;

 

3.1.12 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriters to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided  further, the Company may not include the name of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;

 

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3.1.13 obtain a comfort letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.14 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter;

 

3.1.15 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

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

 

3.1.17 use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.18 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

 

Section 3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

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Section 3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

Section 3.4 Suspension of Sales. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to (a) delay or postpone the (i) initial effectiveness of any Registration Statement or (ii) launch of any Underwritten Offering, in each case, filed or requested pursuant to this Agreement, and (b) from time to time to require the Holders not to sell under any Registration Statement or Prospectus or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event, the Board reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Company in the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement or Prospectus would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Board, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement or Prospectus to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend a Registration Statement, Prospectus or Underwritten Offering on more than two occasions, for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of a Suspension Event while a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event a Misstatement exists, each Holder agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of Registrable Securities under each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement until the Holder receives copies of a supplemental or amended Prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the relevant misstatements or omissions and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of information included in such written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Company, the Holders will deliver to the Company or, in Holders’ sole discretion destroy, all copies of each Prospectus covering Registrable Securities in Holders’ possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy shall not apply (A) to the extent the Holders are required to retain a copy of such Prospectus (x) to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (y) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.

 

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Section 3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions.

 

ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 4.1 Indemnification.

 

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Persons”) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons’ rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use therein.

 

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons’ rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the Holder so furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use therein. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

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4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (b) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.

 

4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 of this Agreement, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third Business Day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: Global Gas Corporation, c/o Dune Acquisition Corporation, 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, Attention: Carter Glatt, E-mail: carter@duneacq.com, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.

 

Section 5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities, as the case may be, hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company or the Holders of Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound as a Holder by equivalent transfer restrictions as such Registrable Securities were subject to prior to such assignment or delegation as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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

 

5.2.3 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto or do not hereafter become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement.

 

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5.2.4 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (a) written notice provided in accordance with Section 5.1 of this Agreement and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

 

Section 5.3 Captions; Counterparts. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile, electronic signature or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

Section 5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 5.5 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section 5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

Section 5.7 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that affects either of (x) the Existing Holders as a group or (y) the New Holders as a group, respectively, in a manner that is materially different from any other Holders, as applicable, shall require the prior written consent of (1) a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities held by such Existing Holders or (2) a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities held by such New Holders, as applicable, prior to entering into such amendment or waiver; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that affects one Holder or group of affiliated Holders, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder or group of affiliated Holders so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

Section 5.8 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

Section 5.9 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Holders may proceed to protect and enforce their rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

Section 5.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties hereto further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties hereto.

 

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Section 5.11 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a Holder of Registrable Securities and (b) the holders of the Company’s warrants pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2020, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. The Company and all of the Existing Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that this Agreement supersedes the Existing Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety and the Existing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby terminated. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. From and after the date of this Agreement and except for any agreement entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall not, without the approval of the Holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any Registrable Securities that would grant such holder or prospective holder any registration rights more favorable in any material respect than those rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 5.12 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (b) with respect to any Holder, the date as of which such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article V shall survive any termination.

 

Section 5.13 Legend Removal. If a Holder holds Registrable Securities that are eligible to be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act (other than the restriction set forth under Rule 144(i)) or pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, then, at such Holder’s request, accompanied by such additional representations and other documents as the Company shall reasonably request, the Company shall cause the Company’s transfer agent to remove any restrictive legend set forth on the Registrable Securities held by such Holder in connection with any sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 or the effective Registration Statement, as applicable (including, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, by delivering to the Company’s transfer agent a direction letter and opinion of counsel).

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
   
  GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION, a
  Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Name: William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  EXISTING HOLDERS:
   
  DUNE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC, a
  Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Carter Glatt
    Name: Carter Glatt
    Title: Managing Member

 

Signature Page to
Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

NEW HOLDERS:

   
 

WILLIAM BENNETT NANCE, JR.

   
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
     
  SERGIO MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Sergio Martinez
     
  BARBARA GUAY MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Barbara Guay Martinez

 

Signature Page to
Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

Execution Version

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the sole managing member of the Company (“PubCo”), and the holders of Units (as defined below) and shares of Class B Common Stock (as defined below) from time to time party hereto (each, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide for the exchange of Units together with shares of Class B Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined below), in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein made and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND USAGE

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

(a) The following terms shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this Agreement:

 

Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority or Regulatory Agency that is binding upon or applicable to such Person or its assets, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise.

 

Board” means the board of directors of PubCo.

 

Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks located in New York, New York are authorized or required by Applicable Law to close.

 

Cash Exchange Payment” means an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the product of (x) the number of applicable Paired Interests, (y) the then-applicable Exchange Rate and (z) the Class A Common Stock Value (determined by treating the last full Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable Exchange Date as the final measurement date of such five-day period used to calculate the Class A Common Stock Value).

 

Class A Common Stock” means Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of PubCo.

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock Value” means with respect to any Exchange, the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the five consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable measurement date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Class A Common Stock Value shall be determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board or a committee of disinterested directors of the Board.

 

Class B Common Stock” means Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of PubCo.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations promulgated thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of the Code, as the same may be adopted.

 

Deliverable Common Stock” means Class A Common Stock or the common stock then publicly listed and issued by PubCo.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Blackout Period” means (i) any “black out” or similar period under PubCo’s policies covering trading in PubCo’s securities to which the applicable Exchanging Holder is subject (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Stock), which period restricts the ability of such Exchanging Holder to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Exchanging Holder in connection with a Share Settlement and (ii) the period of time commencing on (x) the date of the declaration of a dividend by PubCo and ending on the first day following (y) the record date determined by the Board with respect to such dividend declared pursuant to clause (x), which period of time shall be no longer than 10 Business Days; provided that in no event shall an Exchange Blackout Period which respect to clause (ii) of the definition hereof occur more than four times per calendar year.

 

Exchange Date” means, in the case of any Unrestricted Exchange, the date that is five Business Days after the date the Exchange Notice is given pursuant to Section 2.01(b), unless the Exchanging Holder submits a written request to extend such date and PubCo in its sole discretion agrees in writing to such extension, and in any other case, the Quarterly Exchange Date; provided, that if the Exchange Date for any Exchange with respect to which PubCo elects to make a Share Settlement would otherwise fall within any Exchange Blackout Period, then the Exchange Date shall occur on the next Business Day following the end of such Exchange Blackout Period.

 

Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which one Paired Interest is entitled to be Exchanged under this Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be one, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Agreement.

 

-2-

 

 

Exchanging Holder” means a Holder effecting an Exchange pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Governmental Authority” means any entity or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to United States federal, state, local, or municipal government, or foreign, international, multinational or other government, including any department, commission, board, agency, bureau, official or other regulatory, administrative or judicial authority thereof.

 

LLC Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and each other party thereto, as amended from time to time.

 

Lockup Agreement” means that certain Lockup Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among PubCo, Sponsor and each other party thereto, as amended from time to time.

 

Manager” has the meaning assigned to it in the LLC Agreement.

 

Paired Interest” means one Unit together with one share of Class B Common Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.03.

 

Permitted Exchange Event” means any of the following events, which has or is occurring, or is otherwise satisfied, as of the Exchange Date:

 

(i) The Exchange is part of one or more Exchanges by a Holder and any related persons (within the meaning of Section 267(b) or 707(b)(1) of the Code) that is part of a “block transfer” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(e)(2) (for this purpose, treating PubCo as a “general partner” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(k)(1)),

 

(ii) The Exchange is in connection with a PubCo Offer; provided, that any such Exchange pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the closing of the PubCo Offer date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such PubCo Offer is not consummated), or

 

(iii) The Exchange is permitted by PubCo, in its sole discretion, in connection with circumstances not otherwise set forth herein, if PubCo determines, after consultation with Tax Counsel, that the Company would not reasonably be expected to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code (or any successor or similar provision) as a result of or in connection with such Exchange.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an incorporated or unincorporated association, a joint venture, a joint stock company or any other entity or body.

 

-3-

 

 

Private Placement Safe Harbor” means the “private placement” safe harbor set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1).

 

PubCo Charter” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PubCo, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Purchase Agreement” means that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2023, by and among the PubCo, the Company and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or waived from time to time

 

Quarterly Exchange Date” means, either (x) for each fiscal quarter, the first Business Day occurring after the 60th day after the expiration of the applicable Quarterly Exchange Notice Period or (y) such other date as PubCo shall determine in its sole discretion; provided, that (i) such date is at least 60 days after the expiration of the Quarterly Exchange Notice Period, (ii) PubCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that at least one Quarterly Exchange Date occurs each fiscal quarter and (iii) PubCo shall not permit more than four Quarterly Exchange Dates to occur in a fiscal year unless advised by Tax Counsel that each Quarterly Exchange Date after the fourth Quarterly Exchange Date in a fiscal year would not reasonably be expected (at a “should” or higher level of confidence) to cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

Quarterly Exchange Notice Period” means, for each fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the third Business Day after the day on which PubCo releases its earnings for the prior fiscal period, beginning with the first such date that falls on or after the waiver or expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of PubCo that may be applicable to a Holder (or such other date within such quarter as PubCo shall determine in its sole discretion) and ending five Business Days thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, PubCo may change the definition of Quarterly Exchange Notice Period with respect to any Quarterly Exchange Notice Period scheduled to occur in a calendar quarter subsequent to the then-current calendar quarter if (x) the revised definition provides for a Quarterly Exchange Notice Period occurring at least once in each calendar quarter, (y) the first Quarterly Exchange Notice Period pursuant to the revised definition will occur no less than 10 Business Days from the date written notice of such change is sent to each Holder (other than PubCo) and (z) the revised definition, together with the revised Quarterly Exchange Date resulting therefrom, do not materially adversely affect the ability of Holders to exercise their Exchange rights pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among PubCo, Sponsor and each other party thereto, as amended from time to time.

 

Regulatory Agency” means the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., the Financial Services Authority, any non-U.S. regulatory agency and any other regulatory authority or body (including any state or provincial securities authority and any self-regulatory organization) with jurisdiction over the Company, PubCo or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

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Reorganization Documents” means the LLC Agreement, Lockup Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Tax Counsel” means a nationally recognized law or accounting firm.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Units” has the meaning assigned to it in the LLC Agreement.

 

Unrestricted Exchanges” means any Exchange that is in connection with a Permitted Exchange Event or that occurs during a taxable year in which the Company reasonably expects to satisfy the requirements of the Private Placement Safe Harbor.

 

(b) Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the LLC Agreement.

 

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

 

Term   Section
Agreement   Preamble
Cash Exchange Payment Notice   Section 2.02(e)
Company   Preamble
e-mail   Section 4.03
Exchange   Section 2.01
Exchange Agent   Section 2.02(a)
Holder   Preamble
Non-Foreign Person Certificate   Section 4.11(a)
Notice of Exchange   Section 2.02(a)
Permitted Transferee   Section 4.01
PubCo   Preamble
PubCo Offer   Section 2.04
Restricted Retraction Notice   Section 2.02(d)
Share Settlement   Section 2.01(b)

 

Section 1.02 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute as amended from time to time and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. References to “law,” “laws” or to a particular statute or law shall be deemed also to include any Applicable Law. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, all references to any Holder shall be deemed to refer solely to such Person in its capacity as such Holder and not in any other capacity.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

EXCHANGE

 

Section 2.01 Exchange of Paired Interests for Class A Common Stock. Subject to Sections 2.02 and 2.03, and to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, LLC Agreement, PubCo Charter and the Lockup Agreement (including any “Lock-up Period” or transfer restrictions set forth in any of them), each Holder shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, to surrender Paired Interests to the Company, for the account of either the Company or PubCo, in exchange (such exchange, an “Exchange”) for the delivery by the Company to such Holder, at the option of the Board (acting by a majority of disinterested members of the Board or a committee of disinterested directors of the Board), of:

 

(a) A Cash Exchange Payment by the Company; or

 

(b) a number of shares of Class A Common Stock distributed by the Company that is equal to the product of the number of Paired Interests surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate (a “Share Settlement”);

 

provided, that (i) any such Exchange is for a minimum of the lesser of (A) 100,000 Units (which minimum shall be equitably adjusted in accordance with any adjustments to the Exchange Rate) and (B) all of the Units held by such Holder and (ii) PubCo shall have the option following receipt of a Notice of Exchange from a Holder to effect a Cash Exchange Payment or Share Settlement, as applicable, directly with such Holder.

 

Section 2.02 Exchange Procedures; Notices and Revocations.

 

(a) Subject to Sections 2.02(b) and (c), a Holder may exercise the right to effect an Exchange as set forth in Section 2.01 by delivering a written notice of exchange in respect of the Paired Interests to be Exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Notice of Exchange”), duly executed by such Holder, to PubCo and the Company at the address set forth in Section 4.03 during normal business hours, or if any agent for the Exchange is duly appointed and acting (the “Exchange Agent”), to the office of the Exchange Agent during normal business hours. If Units and/or the Class B Common Stock are then represented by certificates, certificate(s) representing at least the number of Units and/or Class B Common Stock being Exchanged, with instrument(s) of transfer reasonably acceptable to PubCo and the Company and executed in blank, shall be delivered by the Exchanging Holder to PubCo and the Company at the address set forth in Section 4.03 during normal business hours or to the offices of the Exchange Agent during normal business hours. If such certificates have been lost, the Exchanging Holder may deliver, in lieu of such certificate(s), an affidavit of lost certificates.

 

(b) A Holder may deliver a Notice of Exchange with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange at any time, and, in any other case, during the Quarterly Exchange Notice Period preceding the desired Exchange Date. A Notice of Exchange with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange may specify that the Exchange is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering or otherwise) of the Class A Common Stock into which the Paired Interests are exchangeable, or contingent (including as to timing) upon the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event in which such Class A Common Stock would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if, in connection with an Exchange in accordance with this Section 2.1, a filing is required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”), then the Exchange Date with respect to all Paired Interests which would be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock resulting from such Exchange shall be delayed until the earlier of (i) such time as the required filing under the HSR Act has been made and the waiting period applicable to such Exchange under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated or (ii) such filing is no longer required, at which time such Exchange shall automatically occur without any further action by the holders of any such Paired Interests. Each of the Holders and PubCo agree to promptly take all actions required to make such filing under the HSR Act and the filing fee for such filing shall be paid by the Company.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that the Company is otherwise eligible for the Private Placement Safe Harbor in any taxable year, the Company and the Pubco shall use commercially reasonable efforts to restrict issuances of Units in an amount sufficient for the Company to continue to be eligible for the Private Placement Safe Harbor, and, to the extent that the Company or the Pubco determines that the Company does not meet the requirements of the Private Placement Safe Harbor at any point in any taxable year, the Company or the Pubco may impose such additional restrictions on Exchanges during such taxable year as the Company or the Pubco may determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code; provided, that the restrictions imposed pursuant to this sentence shall not apply to any Unrestricted Exchange. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Exchange shall be permitted (and, if attempted, shall be void ab initio) if, in the good faith determination of the Company or of the Pubco, such an Exchange would pose a material risk that the Company would be a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to prohibit a Block Transfer unless a change in applicable Law after the date of the signing of the Purchase Agreement modifies the application or availability of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(e)(2).

 

(d) Revocation by Holders. An Exchanging Holder may elect to retract its Notice of Exchange with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange by giving written notice of such election to PubCo and the Company no later than one Business Day prior to the Exchange Date. Subject to the last two sentences of this Section 2.02(d), if, in the case of an Exchange that is not an Unrestricted Exchange, the Class A Common Stock Value (determined by treating the last full Trading Day that is three Business Days immediately prior to the applicable Exchange Date as the final measurement date of such five-day period used to calculate the Class A Common Stock Value) decreases by more than 10% from the Class A Common Stock Value (determined by treating the last full Trading Day that is immediately prior to the date of delivery the applicable Notice of Exchange as the final measurement date of such five-day period used to calculate the Class A Common Stock Value), the Exchanging Holder may elect to retract its Notice by giving written notice of such election (a “Restricted Retraction Notice”) to PubCo and the Company no later than three Business Days prior to the Exchange Date. The giving of any notice pursuant to this Section 2.1(d) shall terminate all of the Exchanging Holder’s, PubCo’s and the Company’s rights and obligations under this Article II arising from such retracted Notice of Exchange (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, from any Notice of Exchange not retracted or that may be delivered in the future). An Exchanging Holder may deliver a Restricted Retraction Notice only once in every 12-month period (and any additional Restricted Retraction Notice delivered by such Exchanging Holder within such 12-month period shall be deemed null and void ab initio and ineffective with respect to the revocation of the Exchange specified therein). An Exchanging Holder who revokes an Exchange pursuant to a Restricted Retraction Notice may not participate in the Exchange to occur on the next Quarterly Exchange Date immediately following the Quarterly Exchange Date with respect to which the Restricted Retraction Notice pertains.

 

(e) PubCo shall provide notice to the Exchanging Holder of its intention to consummate an Exchange through a Cash Exchange Payment on the third Business Day immediately following the receipt of a Notice of Exchange (a “Cash Exchange Payment Notice”). If PubCo does not timely deliver a Cash Exchange Payment Notice, then PubCo shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method under Section 2.01(b).

 

(f) Each Exchange shall be deemed to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date, and, unless such Exchange is to be settled with a Cash Exchange Payment, the Exchanging Holder (or other Person(s) whose name or names in which the Deliverable Common Stock is to be issued) shall be deemed to be a holder of Deliverable Common Stock from and after the effectiveness of the Exchange. As promptly as practicable on or after the Exchange Date, (i) if the Exchange is to be settled with a Share Settlement, then PubCo shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Exchanging Holder (or other Person(s) whose name or names in which the Deliverable Common Stock is to be issued) the number of shares of Deliverable Common Stock, deliverable upon such Exchange, registered in the name of such Holder (or other Person(s) whose name or names in which the Deliverable Common Stock is to be issued) or (ii) if the Exchange is to be settled with a Cash Exchange Payment, then PubCo shall deliver or caused to be delivered to the Exchanging Holder (or such other Person(s) as may be directed by such Exchanging Holder) the Cash Exchange Payment as promptly as practicable (but not later than five Business Days) after the Exchange Date. To the extent any Deliverable Common Stock is settled through the facilities of DTC, PubCo, will, subject to Section 2.02(i) below, upon the written instruction of an Exchanging Holder, deliver or cause to be delivered the shares of Deliverable Common Stock deliverable to such Holder (or other Person(s) whose name or names in which the Deliverable Common Stock is to be issued), through the facilities of DTC, to the account of the participant of DTC designated by such Holder.

 

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(g) Subject to Section 2.02(h), the shares of Deliverable Common Stock issued upon an Exchange shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW), OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

(h) If (i) any shares of Deliverable Common Stock may be sold pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the SEC, (ii) all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 are met, or (iii) the legend (or a portion thereof) otherwise ceases to be applicable, PubCo, upon the written request of the Holder thereof shall promptly provide such Holder or its respective transferees, without any expense to such Persons (other than applicable transfer taxes and similar governmental charges, if any) with new certificates (or evidence of book-entry share) for securities of like tenor not bearing the provisions of the legend with respect to which the restriction has terminated. In connection therewith, such Holder shall provide PubCo with such information in its possession as PubCo may reasonably request in connection with the removal of any such legend.

 

(i) PubCo, the Company and each exchanging Holder shall bear their own respective expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange by such Holder, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated; provided, however, that the Company will pay any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange, and the Company shall bear any expenses attributable to consultations with or advice received by the Company or PubCo from Tax Counsel; provided, further, that if any shares of Deliverable Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Holder that requested the Exchange (or DTC or its nominee for the account of a participant of DTC that will hold the shares for the account of such Holder), then such Holder and/or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered shall pay to PubCo or the Company, as applicable, the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of PubCo and the Company that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article II, a Holder shall not be entitled to effect an Exchange (and, if attempted, any such Exchange shall be void ab initio), and PubCo and the Company shall have the right to refuse to honor any request to effect an Exchange, at any time or during any period, if PubCo or the Company shall reasonably determine that such Exchange (i) would be prohibited by any Applicable Law (including the unavailability of any requisite registration statement filed under the Securities Act or any exemption from the registration requirements thereunder), provided this subsection Section 2.02(j) shall not limit PubCo or the Company’s obligations under Section 2.06(c), (ii) would not be permitted under (x) the LLC Agreement, (y) other agreements with PubCo, the Company or any of their respective controlled Affiliates to which such Exchanging Holder may be party or (z) any written policies of PubCo, the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries related to unlawful or inappropriate trading applicable to its directors, officers or other personnel to which the Exchanging Holder is subject or (iii) would require regulatory approval but such approval has not been obtained; provided, that, PubCo and the Company shall, at the request of any Holder, use their reasonable best efforts to make any applicable regulatory filings as promptly as practicable following the receipt of a Notice of Exchange from such Holder. Upon such determination, PubCo or the Company (as applicable) shall notify the Holder requesting the Exchange of such determination, which such notice shall include an explanation in reasonable detail as to the reason that the Exchange has not been honored. Notwithstanding the foregoing, PubCo and the Company shall not enter into any agreement if a principal purpose of such agreement is to restrict or otherwise impair in any material respect the Holders’ rights to consummate Exchanges.

 

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Section 2.03 Adjustment.

 

(a) The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Units that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock. If there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, an Exchanging Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Exchanging Holder would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.03(a) shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property. This Agreement shall apply to, mutatis mutandis, and all references to “Paired Interests” shall be deemed to include, any security, securities or other property of PubCo or the Company which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of shares of Class B Common Stock or Units, as applicable, by reason of stock or unit split, reverse stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, combination, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, exchange (other than an Exchange) or other transaction.

 

(b) This Agreement shall apply to the Paired Interests held by the Holders and their Permitted Transferees as of the date hereof, as well as any Paired Interests hereafter acquired by a Holder and his or her or its Permitted Transferees.

 

Section 2.04 Tender Offers and Other Events with Respect to PubCo. In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to Class A Common Stock (a “PubCo Offer”) is proposed by PubCo or is proposed to PubCo or its stockholders and approved by the Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Board, the Holders of Paired Interests shall be permitted to participate in such PubCo Offer by delivery of a Notice of Exchange (which Notice of Exchange shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of such PubCo Offer (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be contingent upon the consummation of such PubCo Offer and not be effective if such PubCo Offer is not so consummated)). In the case of a PubCo Offer proposed by PubCo, PubCo will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Holders of Paired Interests to participate in such PubCo Offer to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock without discrimination; provided, that without limiting the generality of this sentence (and without limiting the ability of any Holder to Exchange Paired Interests at any time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), PubCo will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Holders may participate in each such PubCo Offer without being required to Exchange Paired Interests. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Holders of Paired Interests be entitled to receive in such PubCo Offer aggregate consideration for each Paired Interest that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with a PubCo Offer.

 

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Section 2.05 Listing of Deliverable Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, PubCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange to be listed on the same national securities exchange upon which the outstanding Class A Common Stock may be listed or traded at the time of such issuance.

 

Section 2.06 Deliverable Common Stock to be Issued; Class B Common Stock to be Cancelled.

 

(a) PubCo shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, the maximum number of shares of Deliverable Common Stock as shall be deliverable upon Exchange of all then-outstanding Paired Interests; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude PubCo or the Company from satisfying its obligations in respect of an Exchange by delivery of shares of Deliverable Common Stock that are held in the treasury of PubCo or any of its subsidiaries or by delivery of purchased shares of Deliverable Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of PubCo or any subsidiary thereof). PubCo and the Company represent, warrant and covenant that all shares of Deliverable Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(b) When a Paired Interest has been Exchanged in accordance with this Agreement, (i) the share of Class B Common Stock constituting a component of such Paired Interest shall be cancelled by PubCo and (ii) the Unit constituting a component of such Paired Interest shall be deemed transferred from the Exchanging Holder to PubCo.

 

(c) Subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, PubCo and the Company covenant and agree to deliver shares of Deliverable Common Stock, if requested, pursuant to an effective registration statement with respect to any Exchange to the extent that a registration statement is effective and available for such shares with respect to such Exchange. In the event that any Exchange in accordance with this Agreement is to be effected at a time when any required registration statement has not become effective or otherwise is unavailable, upon the request and with the reasonable cooperation of the Holders requesting such Exchange, PubCo and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to promptly facilitate such Exchange pursuant to an available exemption from such registration requirements.

 

(d) PubCo agrees that it has taken all or will take such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and to be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions from, or dispositions to, PubCo of equity securities of PubCo (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities that may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of PubCo for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each officer or director of PubCo, including any director by deputization. The authorizing resolutions shall be approved by either PubCo’s Board or a committee thereof composed solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors (as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) of PubCo.

 

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Section 2.07 Distributions. No Exchange shall impair the right of the Exchanging Holder to receive any distributions payable on the Units that are to be exchanged in respect of a record date that occurs prior to the Exchange Date for such Exchange. No adjustments in respect of dividends or distributions on any Unit will be made on the Exchange of any Paired Interest, and if the Exchange Date with respect to a Unit occurs after the record date for the payment of a dividend or other distribution on Units but before the date of the payment, then the registered Holder of the Unit at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to receive the dividend or other distribution payable on the Unit on the payment date notwithstanding the Exchange of the Paired Interests or a default in payment of the dividend or distribution due on the Exchange Date, and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Exchanging Holder shall have the right to receive any distributions (including tax distributions) on any exchanged Unit with a record date that occurs from and after any Exchange Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Exchanging Holder shall be entitled to receive, in respect of a single record date, distributions or dividends both on Units exchanged by such Holder and on shares of Deliverable Common Stock received by such Holder in such Exchange.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 3.01 Representations and Warranties of PubCo and of the Company.

 

(a) Each of PubCo and the Company represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power, as applicable, and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and, in the case of PubCo, to issue the Deliverable Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, in the case of PubCo, the issuance of the Deliverable Common Stock) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action on its part, as applicable, and (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of it enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

(b) Each of PubCo and the Company represents that it does not have any contracts, other agreements, duties or obligations that are inconsistent with its duties and obligations (whether or not in its capacity as Manager) under this Agreement and covenants that, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, the LLC Agreement or the Stockholder Agreement, it will not enter into any contracts or other agreements or undertake or acquire any other duties or obligations that are inconsistent with such duties and obligations.

 

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Section 3.02 Representations and Warranties of the Holders. Each Holder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants that (i) if it is not a natural person, that it is duly incorporated or formed and, the extent such concept exists in its jurisdiction of organization, is in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (ii) it has all requisite legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) if it is not a natural person, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other entity action on the part of such Holder and (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Holder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally. Additionally, each Holder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants that it is aware of the restrictions on Transfer (as defined in the LLC Agreement) contained in Article X of the LLC Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 4.01 Additional Holders.

 

(a) To the extent that a Holder validly transfers any or all of such Holder’s Paired Interests to another Person in a transaction in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the LLC Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable, then such transferee (each, a “Permitted Transferee”) shall have the right, in connection with such transaction, to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall become a Holder hereunder.

 

(b) To the extent the Company issues additional Units, then any holder of such Units shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such holder shall become a Holder hereunder; provided, however, that PubCo may delay the initial exercisability of the Exchange right by such new Holder to the extent PubCo in its sole discretion deems appropriate to facilitate compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.02 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute, acknowledge, deliver, file and record such further certificates, amendments, instruments and documents, and to do all such other acts and things, as may be required by law or as, in the reasonable judgment of PubCo and the Company, may be necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Section 4.03 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission and electronic mail (“e-mail”) transmission, so long as a receipt of such e-mail is requested and received by non-automated response). All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt. All such notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be given to such party as follows:

 

(a) if to PubCo or the Company to:

 

Global Gas Corporation

c/o Dune Acquisition Corporation

700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attention: Carter Glatt

Telephone: (917) 742-1904

E-mail: carter@duneacq.com

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10166

Attention: Jason D. Osborn

Facsimile: 212-294-4700

Email: JOsborn@winston.com

 

and

 

Sidley Austin LLP

One South Dearborn

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Michael P. Heinz

Facsimile: 312-853-7036

Email: mheinz@sidley.com

 

(b) if to any other Holder, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of PubCo or the Company from time to time, or to such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

Section 4.04 Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. No provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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Section 4.05 Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts located in the State of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery for the purpose of adjudicating any dispute arising hereunder. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court any objection to such jurisdiction, whether on the grounds of hardship, inconvenient forum or otherwise. Each party further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section 4.03 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 4.05.

 

Section 4.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 4.07 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and, as applicable, the other Reorganization Documents constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall create any third-party beneficiary rights in favor of any Person or other party hereto.

 

Section 4.08 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 4.09 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended or modified, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time by a written instrument signed by (i) PubCo, (ii) the Company, (iii) the Holders of Units holding a majority of the then outstanding Units of the Company and (iv) Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), to the extent Sponsor is then a Holder. In the event that this Agreement is amended, whether or not the prior written consent of any Holder is required under the foregoing sentence, PubCo or the Company shall provide a copy of such amendment to all Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including this Section 4.09), the execution and delivery of a joinder to this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.01 shall not require the consent of any Holder or any other party hereto and shall not be deemed to be an amendment or modification to this Agreement.

 

-14-

 

 

Section 4.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law rules of such State that would result in the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

Section 4.11 Certain Tax Matters.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Company, PubCo and their agents and affiliates shall have the right to deduct and withhold taxes (including Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the amount of such taxes) from any payments to be made pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement if, in their reasonable opinion, such withholding is required by law. The Company, PubCo and their agents and affiliates shall further be permitted to remit any such taxes to the relevant taxing authority. In connection with any Exchange, the Exchanging Holder shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to deliver such form, deliver to the Company or PubCo (as applicable) a certificate, dated on the applicable Specified Exchange Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company or PubCo (as applicable), certifying as to such Exchanging Holder’s taxpayer identification number and that such Exchanging Holder is a not a foreign person for purposes of Section 1445 and Section 1446(f) of the Code (which certificate may be an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 if then sufficient for such purposes under applicable law) (such certificate a “Non-Foreign Person Certificate”). If an Exchanging Holder is unable to provide a Non-Foreign Person Certificate in connection with an Exchange, then such Exchanging Holder shall provide (i) the appropriate series of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 and (ii) a certificate substantially in the form described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(ii)(B) setting forth the liabilities of the Company allocated to the Units subject to the Exchange under Section 752 of the Code, and the Company or PubCo, as applicable, shall be permitted to withhold the required portion of the amount realized (as reasonably determined by the parties) by such Exchanging Holder in respect of such Exchange as provided in Section 1446(f) of the Code and any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (including Proposed Treasury Regulations) and consistent with the certificate provided pursuant to clause (ii). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Exchanging Holder shall reasonably cooperate upon the reasonable request of the other party to provide such certifications or other information that the Company or the Exchanging Holder (as applicable) is legally permitted to provide to the extent necessary to reduce or eliminate any withholding with respect to an Exchange. To the extent that any amount is deducted and withheld from any payments to be made pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been delivered and paid to the recipient of the payments in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be treated as part of the LLC Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c). As required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations, the parties shall report any Exchange consummated hereunder as a taxable sale of the Units by a Holder to PubCo, and no party shall take a contrary position on any income tax return or amendment thereof. Within 30 days following the Exchange Date, PubCo shall deliver a notification to the Company in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1(k)(2).

 

-15-

 

 

Section 4.12 Independent Nature of Holders’ Rights and Obligations. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder under hereunder. The decision of each Holder to enter into to this Agreement has been made by such Holder independently of any other Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 4.13 Specific Enforcement. The parties hereto acknowledge that the remedies at law of the other parties for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, any party to this Agreement, without posting any bond, and in addition to all other remedies that may be available, shall be entitled to equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy that may then be available.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

-16-

 

 

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

 

  PUBCO
   
  GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Name:  William Bennett Nance, Jr.
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  COMPANY
   
  GLOBAL GAS HOLDINGS LLC
     
  By: Dune Acquisition Corporation
  By: Its Sole Member
     
  By: /s/ Carter Glatt
    Name: Carter Glatt
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to the Exchange Agreement]

 

 

 

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

 

  HOLDERS
   
  WILLIAM BENNETT NANCE, JR.
   
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
   
  SERGIO MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Sergio Martinez
   
  BARBARA GUAY MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Barbara Guay Martinez

 

[Signature Page to the Exchange Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]

NOTICE OF EXCHANGE

 

[●]

Attn: [●]

Email: [●]

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), and the holders of Units (as defined therein) and shares of Class B Common Stock (as defined therein) from time to time party hereto (each, a “Holder”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

The undersigned Holder hereby transfers to PubCo (or the Company, if applicable) effective as of the Exchange Date and, in the case of a contingent exchange, subject to the occurrence of the contingency set forth below, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock plus Units set forth below (together, the “Paired Interests”) in Exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Deliverable Common Stock”) to be issued in its name as set forth below, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement.

 

Legal Name of Holder: [                            ]  

 

Address: [                            ]  
  [                            ]  
  [                            ]  

 

Number of Paired Interests to be Exchanged: [                             ]  

 

Timing / Contingent Exchanges (complete either (a) or (b))

 

(a) Exchange Date: [                            ]

 

(b) If Exchange is contingent upon the occurrence of any event pursuant to Section 2.02(d), please describe such contingency: [                                 ]

 

A-1

 

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Notice of Exchange and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Notice of Exchange has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Paired Interests subject to this Notice of Exchange are being transferred to PubCo (or the Company, if applicable) free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim; and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Paired Interests subject to this Notice of Exchange is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Paired Interests to the Company.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of PubCo or the Company as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to PubCo (or the Company, if applicable) the Paired Interests subject to this Notice of Exchange and to deliver to the undersigned the shares of Deliverable Common Stock to be delivered in Exchange therefor.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A-2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

By:
  Name:   
  Title:  

 

A-3

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF]

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This Joinder Agreement (“Joinder Agreement”) is a joinder to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023 (as amended from time to time, the “Agreement”), by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), and the holders of Units (as defined therein) and shares of Class B Common Stock from time to time party hereto (each, a “Holder”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such State that would result in the application of the laws of any other State. In the event of any conflict between this Joinder Agreement and the Agreement, the terms of this Joinder Agreement shall control.

 

The undersigned, having acquired shares of Class B Common Stock and Units, hereby joins and enters into the Agreement. By signing and returning this Joinder Agreement to PubCo, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of a Holder contained in the Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of a Holder thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of a Holder set forth in Section 3.02 of the Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein. The parties to the Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder Agreement by PubCo and by the Company, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Agreement.

 

Name: [                            ]  

 

Address for Notices: [                            ]  
    [                            ]  
    [                            ]  
With Copies to: [                            ]  
  [                            ]  
  [                            ]  

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

B-1

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Joinder Agreement to be executed and delivered by the undersigned.

 

By:  
   Name: 
   Title: 

 

 

B-2

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

of

 

GLOBAL GAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

dated as of December 21, 2023

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page
   
Article I  
   
GENERAL DEFINITIONS  
   
1.1 Definitions 2
   
1.2 Interpretation 10
   
Article II  
   
ORGANIZATION  
   
2.1 Formation 10
   
2.2 Name 10
   
2.3 Purposes 10
   
2.4 Duration 10
   
2.5 Registered Office and Registered Agent; Principal Office 10
   
2.6 No State-Law Partnership 11
   
Article III  
   
MEMBERS  
   
3.1 Members 11
   
3.2 Units 12
   
3.3 Recapitalization 12
   
3.4 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units 12
   
3.5 Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock 13
   
3.6 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units 14
   
3.7 Negative Capital Accounts 14
   
3.8 No Withdrawal 14
   
3.9 Loans From Members 15
   
3.10 PubCo Equity Plans 15
   
3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan 15

 

i

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

  Page
   
Article IV  
   
DISTRIBUTIONS  
   
4.1 Distributions 16
   
Article V  
   
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS  
   
5.1 Capital Accounts 17
   
5.2 Allocations 18
   
5.3 Regulatory Allocations 18
   
5.4 Final Allocations 20
   
5.5 Tax Allocations 20
   
5.6 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member 21
   
Article VI  
   
MANAGEMENT  
   
6.1 Authority of Manager; Officer Delegation 22
   
6.2 Actions of the Manager 23
   
6.3 Resignation; No Removal 23
   
6.4 Vacancies  
   
6.5 Transactions Between the Company and the Manager 23
   
6.6 Reimbursement for Expenses 23
   
6.7 Delegation of Authority 24
   
6.8 Limitation of Liability of Manager 24
   
6.9 Investment Company Act 25
   
Article VII  
   
RIGHTS, POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS  
   
7.1 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members 25
   
7.2 Lack of Authority 26

 

ii

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

  Page
   
7.3 No Right of Partition 26
   
7.4 Indemnification 26
   
Article VIII  
   
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS  
   
8.1 Records and Accounting 27
   
8.2 Fiscal Year 27
   
Article IX  
   
TAX MATTERS  
   
9.1 Preparation of Tax Returns 28
   
9.2 Tax Elections 28
   
9.3 Tax Controversies 29
   
Article X  
   
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS  
   
10.1 Transfers by Members 29
   
10.2 Permitted Transfers 30
   
10.3 Restricted Units Legend 30
   
10.4 Transfer 31
   
10.5 Assignee’s Rights 31
   
10.6 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations 31
   
10.7 Overriding Provisions 32
   
10.8 Spousal Consent 33
   
10.9 Drag-Along Rights 33
   
Article XI  
   
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS  
   
11.1 Substituted Members 34

 

iii

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

  Page
   
11.2 Additional Members 34
   
Article XII  
   
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS  
   
12.1 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members 35
   
Article XIII  
   
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION  
   
13.1 Dissolution 35
   
13.2 Winding Up 36
   
13.3 Deferment; Distribution in Kind 36
   
13.4 Cancellation of Certificate 37
   
13.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up 37
   
13.6 Return of Capital 37
   
Article XIV  
   
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
   
14.1 Power of Attorney 37
   
14.2 Confidentiality 38
   
14.3 Amendments 39
   
14.4 Title to Company Assets 40
   
14.5 Addresses and Notices 40
   
14.6 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries 41
   
14.7 Creditors 41
   
14.8 Waiver 41
   
14.9 Counterparts 41
   
14.10 Applicable Law 41
   
14.11 Severability 42
   
14.12 Further Action 42
   
14.13 Execution and Delivery by Electronic Signature and Electronic Transmission 42

 

iv

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

  Page
   
14.14 Right of Offset 42
   
14.15 Entire Agreement 42
   
14.16 Remedies 42
   
14.17 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation 43

 

Schedule I – Schedule of Members

 

Exhibit A – Form of Joinder

 

Exhibit B-1 – Form of Agreement and Consent of Spouse

 

Exhibit B-2 – Form of Spouse’s Confirmation of Separate Property

 

v

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

of Global Gas Holdings LLC

 

a Delaware Limited Liability Company

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 21, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and any Person who is currently a member of the Company and any other Person who shall hereafter execute this Agreement as a Member of the Company (any such current members and any such other Person being herein referred to individually as a “Member” and collectively as the “Members”).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to organize the Company under and pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, and was originally governed by the initial Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of May 14, 2023 (the “Original Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, on May 14, 2023, the Company entered into that certain Unit Purchase Agreement by and among Global Gas Corporation (formerly known as Dune Acquisition Corporation), a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), and the other parties thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, (i) (x) PubCo contributed to the Company all of its assets (excluding its interests in the Company and the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to fund SPAC Stockholder Redemptions (as defined in the Purchase Agreement)), and (y) in exchange therefor, the Company issued to PubCo a number of Original Units equaling the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock of PubCo issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing of the Transactions (which took into account the any equity financing agreements entered into by PubCo between the date of the Purchase Agreement and the Closing and giving effect to all SPAC Stockholder Redemptions) (such transactions, the “PubCo Contribution”), and (ii) immediately after the PubCo Contribution, the Persons who comprised of all of the equityholders of Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (“GHE”) as of immediately prior to the Closing, transferred, conveyed, assigned and delivered all of the issued and outstanding units of GHE to the Company, and the Company accepted such transfer, conveyance, assignment and delivery, in exchange for the Aggregate Consideration (as defined in the Purchase Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, the Members desire to continue the Company without dissolution and amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Date to reflect, among other things, (i) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Transactions”), including the conversion of the Original Units into Common Units (the “Recapitalization”), (ii) the addition of PubCo as a Member and its designation as the sole Manager of the Company and (iii) the other rights and obligations of the Members, the Company, the Manager and PubCo, in each case, as provided and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement as of the Effective Date, at which time the Original Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements made herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall each have the meanings set forth in this Article I, (unless the context otherwise requires).

 

Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such Act.

 

Additional Member” has the meaning specified in Section 11.2.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:

 

(a) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and

 

(b) increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to minimum gain).

 

Admission Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6.

 

Affiliate” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Affiliated”) means, when used with reference to a specific Person (or when not referring to a specific Person shall mean an Affiliate of a Member), any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specific Person.

 

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Approved Qualified Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 10.9(a).

 

Assignee” means a Person to whom a Unit has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to Article XI.

 

2

 

 

Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Member, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the product of (A) the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by (B) the estimated or actual cumulative taxable income or gain of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member for full or partial Fiscal Years commencing on or after the Effective Date over (ii) the sum of the cumulative Tax Distributions made to such Member after the Effective Date pursuant to Sections 4.1(b)(i), 4.1(b)(ii) and 4.1(b)(iii); provided that such Assumed Tax Liability (x) shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Sections 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, (y) to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreements, shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the PubCo to meet both its tax obligations for the relevant Taxable Year and (z) unless otherwise determined by Manager in its sole discretion, shall not take into account any allocations under Section 704(c) of the Code (including “reverse” 704(c) allocations) to a Member.

 

Available Cash” means, with respect to any Fiscal Period, the amount of cash on hand which the Manager, in its sole discretion, deems available for distribution to the Members, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company then due and amounts which the Manager, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Company’s operations.

 

Base Rate” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

 

Book Value” means, with respect to any property of the Company, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).

 

Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Member pursuant to Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member (or such Member’s predecessor) contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to Article III hereof.

 

Cash Exchange Payment” has the meaning specified in the Exchange

Agreement.

 

Certificate of Formation” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company described in Section 2.1.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of PubCo.

 

Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of PubCo.

 

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

 

3

 

 

Common Unit” means a Unit designated as a “Common Unit” and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unitholder” means a Member who is the registered holder of Common Units.

 

Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2(a).

 

Credit Agreements” means any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a borrower, as such instruments or agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancing or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt.

 

Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

Distributable Cash” means, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.1(a), the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Company for such purposes in accordance with the Credit Agreements (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of any of the Credit Agreements).

 

Distribution” means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however, that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Members or any exchange of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units or (b) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, or 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.

 

Distribution Tax Rate” means a rate equal to the highest effective combined marginal federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to individual taxpayers residing in New York City, taking into account the character of the relevant tax items (e.g., ordinary or capital), the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such taxes are deductible under the Code), and any deduction under Code Section 199A or any similar state or local law, in each case, as reasonably determined by the Manager.

 

Drag-Along Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(b).

 

Drag-Along Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(b).

 

Drag-Along Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(a).

 

Drag Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(a).

 

4

 

 

Effective Date” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Equity Plan” means any stock or equity purchase plan, restricted stock or equity plan or other similar equity compensation plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or PubCo, including the PubCo Long Term Incentive Plan.

 

Equity Securities” means (a) Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Event of Withdrawal” means the bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iii) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Units of such trust that is a Member).

 

Exchange Agreement” means the Exchange Agreement dated on or about the date hereof, by and among the Company, PubCo and the other parties thereto.

 

Exchanging Holder” has the meaning specified in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value” of a specific asset of the Company will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 13.2, the Liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

 

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.

 

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Fiscal Year” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.2.

 

Governmental Entity” means any Federal, state, county, city, local or foreign governmental, administrative or regulatory authority, commission, committee, agency or body (including any court, tribunal or arbitral body and any self-regulating authority such as FINRA).

 

Indemnified Person” has the meaning specified in Section 7.4(a).

 

Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

Joinder” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A hereto.

 

Law” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity.

 

Liquidator” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

LLC Employee” means an employee of, or other service provider (including, without limitation, any management member whether or not treated as an employee for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax) to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case acting in such capacity.

 

Lock-Up Period” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of (A) twelve (12) months after (and excluding) the Effective Date and (B) subsequent to the Effective Date, the date on which PubCo completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization, bankruptcy or other similar transaction that results in all of the outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock being converted into cash, securities or other property.

 

Losses” means items of loss or deduction of the Company determined according to Section 5.1(b).

 

Manager” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1(a).

 

Market Price” means, with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock as of a specified date, the last sale price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in shares of Class A Common Stock selected by the PubCo Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the PubCo Board.

 

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Member” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members named on the Schedule of Members and (b) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with Article XI, but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units, each in its capacity as a member of the Company.

 

Minimum Gain” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Net Loss” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Fiscal Year over Profits for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 and Section 5.4).

 

Net Profit” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Fiscal Year over Losses for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 and Section 5.4).

 

Officer” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b).

 

Optionee” means a Person to whom a stock option is granted under any Equity

Plan.

 

Other Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 10.4.

 

Original Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

Original Units” means the Units, as defined in the Original Agreement, including any Class A Unit or Class B Unit as defined therein.

 

Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

 

Percentage Interest” means, as among an individual class of Units and with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing the number of such Member’s Units of such class by the total number of Units of all Members of such class at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Member shall be calculated to the fourth decimal place.

 

Permitted Transfer” has the meaning specified in Section 10.2.

 

Permitted Transferee” has the meaning specified in Section 10.2.

 

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Person” shall be construed in its broadest sense and means and includes a natural person, general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust, business trust, governmental agency, cooperative, association, individual or other entity, and the heirs, executors, administrations, legal representatives, successors and assigns of such person, as the context may require.

 

Pro rata,” “pro rata portion,” “according to their interests,” “ratably,” “proportionately ,” “proportional,” “in proportion to,” “based on the number of Units held,” “based upon the percentage of Units held,” “based upon the number of Units outstanding,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.

 

Profits” means items of income and gain of the Company determined according to Section 5.1(b).

 

PubCo” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

PubCo Board” means the board of directors of PubCo.

 

PubCo Long Term Incentive Plan” means any stock option plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or by PubCo, including the GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan.

 

Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

Qualified Transaction” means any merger, consolidation or other business combination of PubCo, whether effectuated through one transaction or series of related transactions (including a tender offer followed by a merger in which holders of Class A Common Stock receive the same consideration per share paid in the tender offer), unless, following such transaction, all or substantially all of the holders of the voting power of all outstanding classes of Common Stock and any series of preferred stock issued by PubCo that are generally entitled to vote in the election of directors prior to such transaction or series of transactions, continue to hold a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity (or its parent) resulting from such transaction or series of transactions in substantially the same proportions as immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Quarterly Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b)(i).

 

Recapitalization” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(f).

 

Required Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(a).

 

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74.

 

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Schedule of Members” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(b).

 

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

 

Selling Members” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

Share Settlement” has the meaning specified in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Stock Exchange” means the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person the majority of whose equity securities or voting securities are directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.

 

Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 11.1.

 

Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b)(i).

 

Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.2.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferred” and “ Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units; provided, that, the pledge of Units by a Member that creates a mere security interest in such Units pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction so long as such Member continues to exercise sole voting control over such pledged Units shall not be considered a “Transfer”; provided further, however, that a foreclosure on such Units or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a “Transfer.”

 

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department pursuant to the Code.

 

Units” means the fractional interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions of the Company, and otherwise having the rights and obligations specified with respect to “Units” in this Agreement; provided , however, that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement applicable to such class or group of Units.

 

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Unvested Corporate Shares” means shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under the PubCo Long Term Incentive Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.

 

Vested Corporate Shares” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards granted under the PubCo Long Term Incentive Plan that are vested pursuant to the terms thereof or any award or similar agreement relating thereto.

 

Vesting Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c)(ii).

 

1.2 Interpretation. Each definition in this Agreement includes the singular and the plural, and reference to the neuter gender includes the masculine and feminine where appropriate. References to any statute or Treasury Regulations mean such statute or regulations as amended at the time and include any successor legislation or regulations. The headings to the Articles and Sections are for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Except as otherwise stated, reference to Articles, Sections and Schedules mean the Articles, Sections and Schedules of this Agreement. The Schedules are hereby incorporated by reference into and shall be deemed a part of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION

 

2.1 Formation. The Company has been organized as a Delaware limited liability company under and pursuant to the Act by the filing of a Certificate of Formation with the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware as required by the Act. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation, the terms of the Certificate of Formation shall prevail.

 

2.2 Name. The name of the Company is Global Gas Holdings LLC”. The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. To the extent permitted by the Act, the Company may conduct its business under one or more assumed names deemed advisable by the Manager.

 

2.3 Purposes. The purposes of the Company are to engage in any activity and/or business for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act. The Company shall possess and, subject to the limitations herein expressed, may exercise, all powers necessary, convenient or incidental to the conduct, promotion or attainment of its business, purposes or activities to the fullest extent provided by the Act.

 

2.4 Duration. The Company shall continue in existence until it is dissolved and its affairs wound up in accordance with the Act or this Agreement.

 

2.5 Registered Office and Registered Agent; Principal Office.

 

(a) The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered office named in the Certificate of Formation or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Manager may designate from time to time in the manner provided by the Act.

 

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(b) The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate of Formation or such other Person or Persons as the Manager may designate in the manner provided by the Act.

 

(c) The principal office of the Company shall be at c/o Dune Acquisition Corporation, 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, or at such place as the Manager may designate from time to time, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there for inspection as required by the Act. The Company may have such other offices as the Manager may designate from time to time.

 

2.6 No State-Law Partnership. No provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article VIII) shall be deemed or construed to constitute the Company a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, or any Member or Manager a partner or joint venturer of or with any other Member or Manager, for any purposes other than federal and state tax purposes.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MEMBERS

 

3.1 Members.

 

(a) On the Effective Date and concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions, PubCo shall be automatically admitted to the Company as a Member.

 

(b) The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member; (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member; (iii) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that has been made by the Members with respect to their Units; and (iv) the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Members with respect to their Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “Schedule of Members”). The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Act.

 

(c) No Member shall be required or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.1 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to (i) loan any money or property to the Company, (ii) borrow any money or property from the Company or (iii) make any additional Capital Contributions.

 

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3.2 Units.

 

(a) Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. At the Effective Date, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units.

 

(b) Subject to Section 3.4(a), the Manager may (i) issue additional Common Units at any time in its sole discretion and (ii) create one or more classes or series of Units or preferred Units solely to the extent such new class or series of Units or preferred Units are substantially economically equivalent to a class of common or other stock of PubCo or class or series of preferred stock of PubCo, respectively; provided, that as long as there are any Members (other than PubCo and its Subsidiaries) (i) no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the allocations and distributions they would have received, and the other rights and benefits to which they would have been entitled, in respect of their Units if such new class or series of Units had not been created and (ii) no such new class or series of Units may be issued, in each case, except to the extent (and solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the aggregate distributions that would be made in respect of such new class or series of Units if the Company were liquidated immediately after the issuance of such new class or series of Units.

 

(c) Subject to Sections 14.3(b) and Section 14.3(c), the Manager may amend this Agreement, without the consent of any Member or any other Person, in connection with the creation and issuance of such classes or series of Units, pursuant to Sections 3.2(b), 3.4(a) or 3.10.

 

3.3 Recapitalization. In order to effect the Recapitalization, the number of Original Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Members immediately prior to the Effective Time are hereby converted, as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, into the number of Common Units set forth opposite the name of the respective Member on the Schedule of Members attached hereto as Schedule I, and such Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time.

 

3.4 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

 

(a) The Company shall undertake all actions, including an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by PubCo and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) Unvested Corporate Shares, (ii) treasury stock or (iii) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by PubCo that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by PubCo to the equity capital of the Company). In the event PubCo issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned by PubCo will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. In the event PubCo issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems PubCo’s preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, PubCo holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any purchase or redemption) equity interests in the Company which (in the good faith determination by the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of PubCo so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. PubCo shall, concurrently with any action taken by the Company pursuant to the requirements of this Section 3.4 , contribute the net proceeds (if any) received by PubCo in respect of the events which gave rise to the Company’s obligation to undertake any action pursuant to the requirements of this Section 3.4 to the equity capital of the Company. The Company shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, Common Unit distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by PubCo and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by PubCo and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.4(a).

 

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(b) The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.2, this Section 3.4, Section 3.10 and Section 3.11. Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Common Units authorized under this Agreement at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and the Manager shall amend this Agreement as necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Common Units and admission of additional Members under this Section 3.4 without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

 

(c) At any time an Exchanging Holder exchanges Common Units for a Cash Exchange Payment pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the Company shall cancel such Common Units upon receipt of such Common Units from such Exchanging Holder (provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.4(c) shall not apply in the case of any exchanges effectuated pursuant to a Share Settlement under the Exchange Agreement).

 

3.5 Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager in connection with the use of cash or other assets held by PubCo, if at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by PubCo for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by PubCo, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by PubCo (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by PubCo; provided, if PubCo uses funds received from distributions from the Company or the net proceeds from an issuance of Class A Common Stock to fund such repurchase or redemption, then the Company shall cancel a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by PubCo for no consideration. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.

 

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3.6 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units.

 

(a) Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. No Units shall be treated as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless all Units then outstanding are certificated; notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, including Section 14.3, the Manager is authorized to amend this Agreement in order for the Company to opt-in to the provisions of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code without the consent or approval of any Member of any other Person.

 

(b) If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

(c) To the extent Units are certificated, upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

 

3.7 Negative Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).

 

3.8 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

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3.9 Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1(c), the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

 

3.10 PubCo Equity Plans.

 

(a) Equity Plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain PubCo from adopting, modifying or terminating any Equity Plan or from issuing Vested Corporate Shares or Unvested Corporate Shares. The Company is expressly authorized to issue Units in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to any such Equity Plan, without further act, approval or vote of any Member or any other Persons. The Members acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such plan is adopted, modified or terminated by PubCo, amendments to this Section 3.10 may become necessary or advisable and that any approval or consent to any such amendments requested by PubCo shall be deemed granted by the Manager and the Members, as applicable, without the requirement of any further consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

 

(b) Anti-dilution adjustments. For all purposes of this Section 3.10, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the corresponding number of Common Units shall be determined after giving effect to all anti-dilution or similar adjustments that are applicable, as of the date of exercise or vesting, to the option, warrant, restricted stock or other equity interest that is being exercised or becomes vested under the applicable Equity Plan and applicable award or grant documentation.

 

3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III, all amounts received or deemed received by PubCo in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by PubCo to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if PubCo elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by PubCo to the Company in exchange for additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to PubCo a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

4.1 Distributions.

 

(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions. To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate; such Distributions shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.1(b)(v)) as of the close of business on such record date; provided , however, that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Sections 4.1(b) and 13.2; and provided further that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section 4.1(a), the Manager shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, it is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) in such amounts as shall enable PubCo to pay dividends or to meet its obligations (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section 4.1(b)).

 

(b) Tax Distributions.

 

(i) With respect to each Fiscal Year or portion thereof ending after the Effective Date, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, make cash distributions (“Tax Distributions”) to each Member in an amount to ensure that each such Member receives a distribution at least equal to such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability, if any, with respect to the relevant taxable period to which the distribution relates. Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(i) shall be estimated by the Company on a quarterly basis and, to the extent feasible, shall be distributed to the Members (together with a statement showing the calculation of such Tax Distribution and an estimate of the Company’s net taxable income allocable to each Member for such period) on a quarterly basis on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th and January 15th (of the succeeding year) (or such other dates for which individuals are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (each, a “Quarterly Tax Distribution”); provided, that the foregoing shall not restrict the Company from making a Tax Distribution on any other date. Quarterly Tax Distributions shall take into account the estimated taxable income or loss of the Company for the Fiscal Year through the end of the relevant quarterly period. A final accounting for Tax Distributions shall be made for each Fiscal Year after the allocation of the Company’s actual net taxable income or loss has been determined and any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions a Member received for such Fiscal Year based on such final accounting shall promptly be distributed to such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any excess Tax Distributions a Member receives with respect to any Fiscal Year shall reduce future Tax Distributions otherwise required to be made to such Member with respect to any subsequent Fiscal Year.

 

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(ii) A Tax Distribution to a Member in respect of any Unit shall be charged against current or future distributions to which such Member would otherwise have been entitled under Section 4.1(a) or Section 13.2(c) in respect of such Unit; provided, however, that all Units shall participate in distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) on a Pro rata basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) any distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) shall be made to the Members on a Pro rata basis, (B) to the extent of Available Cash, the Pro rata amount to be distributed to each Member shall be calculated based on the distribution to the Member that would have the highest Tax Distribution under this Section 4.1(b) on a per-Unit basis, calculated without regard to this sentence and (C) if there is insufficient Available Cash to make all of the distributions described in clause (B), the amount that would have been distributed to each Member pursuant to clause (B) shall be reduced on a Pro rata basis and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions as soon as there is sufficient Available Cash to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members were otherwise entitled under clause (B).

 

(iii) In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for which no election is made pursuant to Section 6226 thereof and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section 4.1(a) and this Section 4.1(b) in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall.

 

(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) for periods ending after the Effective Date, if any, shall be made to a Member only to the extent all previous Tax Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.1(b) with respect to such Fiscal Year are less than the Tax Distributions such Member otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 4.1(b).

 

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 4.1 shall be effective for the portion of the Fiscal Year beginning on the day after the Effective Date, and no further distributions shall be made after the date hereof pursuant to the Original Agreement (or, for the avoidance of doubt, the operating agreement of GHE) in respect of the portion of the Fiscal Year that ends on the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

 

5.1 Capital Accounts.

 

(a) The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of the Company’s property.

 

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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to the Company to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however, that:

 

(i) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Sections 705(a)(l)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includible in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(ii) If the Book Value of any property of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.

 

(iii) Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of property of the Company having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.

 

(iv) Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to property of the Company having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

 

(v) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset of the Company pursuant to Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).

 

5.2 Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.3 and Section 5.4, Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

5.3 Regulatory Allocations.

 

(a) Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

 

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(b) Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.3(a), if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.3(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(c) If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Sections 5.3(a) and 5.3(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.3(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(d) If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.2 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.3(d).

 

(e) Profits and Losses described in Section 5.1(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).

 

(f) The allocations set forth in Section 5.3(a) through and including Section 5.3(e) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to the Company shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 5.3(a) or Section 5.3(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Members may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

 

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5.4 Final Allocations. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.3, the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.

 

5.5 Tax Allocations.

 

(a) The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

 

(b) Items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company after the date hereof shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(c) If the Book Value of any asset of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.1(b), including adjustments to the Book Value of any asset of the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(d) Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

 

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(e) For purposes of determining a Member’s share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be determined pursuant to any proper method, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided, that each year the Manager shall use its reasonable best efforts (using in all instances any proper method, including without limitation the “additional method” described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3)) to allocate a sufficient amount of the excess nonrecourse liabilities to those Members who would have at the end of the applicable Taxable Year, but for such allocation, taxable income due to the deemed distribution of money to such Member pursuant to Section 752(b) of the Code that is in excess of such Member’s adjusted tax basis in its Units.

 

(f) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.5 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other items of the Company pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

5.6 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member. If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal income taxes, additions to tax, interest and penalties as a result of obligations of the Company pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes), then such Member shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Member is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.6. A Member’s obligation to make payments to the Company under this Section 5.6 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Company. In the event that the Company has been terminated prior to the date such payment is due, such Member shall make such payment to the Manager (or its designee), which shall distribute such funds in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.6, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any Laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled. The Company may withhold any amount that it reasonably determines is required to be withheld from any amount otherwise payable to any Member hereunder, and any such withheld amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Member for purposes of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any taxes, penalties and interest payable under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions by the Company or any fiscally transparent entity in which the Company owns an interest shall be treated as specifically attributable to the Members and the Manager shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such taxes, penalties or interest to those Members to whom such amounts are specifically attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion. Any indemnity or payment pursuant to this Section 5.6 shall not be a Capital Contribution but shall, to the extent necessary to properly maintain Capital Accounts, increase a Member’s Capital Account.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

MANAGEMENT

 

6.1 Authority of Manager; Officer Delegation.

 

(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in PubCo, as the sole managing member of the Company (PubCo, in such capacity, the “Manager”), (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company and (iii) no other Member shall have any right, authority or power to vote, consent or approve any matter, whether under the Delaware Act, this Agreement or otherwise. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware Act. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Delaware Act with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.4.

 

(b) Without limiting the authority of the Manager to act on behalf of the Company, the day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “Officer” and collectively, the “Officers”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement (including in Section 6.6 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall be limited to such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them. Unless the Manager decides otherwise, if the title is one commonly used for officers of a business corporation formed under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authorities and duties that are normally associated with that office. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Manager.

 

(c) Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, conversion, division, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, for the avoidance of doubt, without the prior consent of any Member or any other Person being required.

 

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6.2 Actions of the Manager. The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

6.3 Resignation; No Removal. The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.

 

6.4 Transactions Between the Company and the Manager. The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided, that such contracts and dealings (other than contracts and dealings between the Company and its Subsidiaries) are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length or are approved by the Members and otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreements; provided that the foregoing shall in no way limit the Manager’s rights under Sections 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.10. The Members hereby approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager, the Company and their respective Affiliates entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance with the Original Agreement or that the board of managers of the Company or the PubCo Board has approved in connection with the Recapitalization or the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement as of the date of this Agreement.

 

6.5 Reimbursement for Expenses. The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and, therefore, the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including without limitation all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including without limitation public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, Stock Exchange fees, transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees, offering expenses, officer compensation, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, accounting and legal costs and litigation costs and damages arising from litigation) and maintaining its corporate existence. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.5 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.

 

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6.6 Delegation of Authority. The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, general counsel, senior vice president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons which may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

 

6.7 Limitation of Liability of Manager.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates or Manager’s officers, employees or other agents shall be liable to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the manager of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement (including the Manager or its designee in its capacity as the Partnership Representative); provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future material breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the Other Agreements with the Company. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The Manager shall be entitled to rely upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, and any act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager.

 

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of Law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, other Members or any other Person.

 

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or duty otherwise, existing at Law or in equity, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith or in accordance with such other express standard, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates and shall be deemed approved by all Members.

 

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6.8 Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RIGHTS, POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

 

7.1 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.

 

(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company and no Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debts, obligations, contracts or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or the Manager (except to the extent and under the circumstances set forth in any non-waivable provision of the Act). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.

 

(b) In accordance with the Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Article IV or Article XIII shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Act. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person, unless such distribution was made by the Company to its Members in clerical error. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

 

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (but subject, and without limitation, to Section 6.7 with respect to the Manager) or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of Law or equity or otherwise, the parties hereto hereby agree that to the extent that any Member (other than the Manager in its capacity as such) (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Unit or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Unit and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Unit and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

 

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7.2 Lack of Authority. No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

 

7.3 No Right of Partition. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any property of the Company, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

 

7.4 Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5.6, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “Indemnified Person”) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or an Affiliate thereof (other than as a result of an ownership interest in PubCo) or is or was serving as the Manager or a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Manager, or a director, manager, Officer, employee or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise or is or was serving as the Partnership Representative; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in Other Agreements with the Company. Reasonable expenses, including out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

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(b) The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.4 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.

 

(c) The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.4(a) whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.4. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the Manager, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.

 

(d) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in this Section 7.4 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only. No Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a non-appealable decision by a court of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company. The Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.4 and (ii) shall be fully responsible for the advancement of all expenses and the payment of all damages or liabilities with respect to such Indemnified Person which are addressed by this Section 7.4.

 

(e) If this Section 7.4 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.4 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.4 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

8.1 Records and Accounting. The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Article IV and Article V and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.

 

8.2 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

TAX MATTERS

 

9.1 Preparation of Tax Returns and Positions.

 

(a) The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes, and not as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code, and agree to take (or refrain from taking) such actions as may be necessary to receive and maintain such treatment and refrain from taking any actions inconsistent therewith.

 

(b) The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) furnish, within ninety (90) days of the close of each Taxable Year, to each Member a completed IRS Schedule K-1 (and any comparable state income tax form) and such other information as is reasonably requested by such Member relating to the Company that is necessary for such Member to comply with its tax reporting obligations (provided, however, that if the Company is unable to deliver a completed IRS Schedule K-1 by March 30 following the close of the Taxable Year, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide a requesting Member with a good faith estimate of such information and, by August 15 of each taxable year, such final information (including a final Schedule K-1)) and (ii) furnish, as soon as reasonably possible after the close of each of the Company’s first three quarters of each Taxable Year, such information concerning the Company as is reasonably required to enable the Member to calculate and pay estimated taxes. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, PubCo (or its designee) shall have the authority to prepare (or cause to be prepared) the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including without limitation the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Units of its Members. Each Member agrees that such Member shall not, except as otherwise required by applicable Law, treat, on such Member’s separate income tax returns, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit relating to such Member’s interest in the Company in a manner inconsistent with the treatment of such item by the Company as reflected in the IRS Schedule K-1 or other information statement furnished by the Company to such Member pursuant to this Section 9.1(b).

 

9.2 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.2, unless otherwise required by Section 706 of the Code. The Manager shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law) effective for the Taxable Year that includes the date hereof and all future Taxable Years. The Manager shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Person in which the Company owns a direct or indirect equity interest (other than a Subsidiary) that is so treated as a partnership to have in effect any such election for each Taxable Year. Each Member will upon reasonable request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

 

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9.3 Tax Controversies. The Manager shall cause the Company to take all necessary actions required by Law to designate PubCo (or its designee) as the “partnership representative” of the Company as provided in Section 6223(a) of the Code (the “Partnership Representative”). The Company and the Members shall cooperate fully with each other and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause PubCo (or its designee) to become the Partnership Representative with respect to any taxable period of the Company with respect to which the statute of limitations has not yet expired (and causing any tax matters partner, partnership representative or designated individual designated prior to the Effective Date to resign, be revoked or replaced, as applicable), including (as applicable) by filing certifications pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(d) and completing IRS Form 8979 or any other form or certificate required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6223-1(e)(1). The Partnership Representative may exercise any authority granted to it under the Code. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Partnership Representative and to use commercially reasonable efforts to do or refrain from doing any or all things requested by the Partnership Representative (including paying any and all resulting taxes, additions to tax, penalties and interest in a timely fashion) in connection with any examination of the Company’s affairs by any federal, state, or local tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings. The Partnership Representative may retain, at the Company’s expense, such outside counsel, accountants and other professional consultants as it may reasonably deem necessary in the course of fulfilling its obligations as the Partnership Representative. The Partnership Representative is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including any resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any audit or other proceeding, the Partnership Representative shall be entitled to cause the Company (and any of its Subsidiaries) to make any available elections pursuant to Section 6226 of the Code (and similar provisions of state, local and other Law). The Company shall reimburse the Partnership Representative for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative, including reasonable fees of any outside counsel, accountants and other professional consultants, in carrying out its duties as the Partnership Representative. The provisions of this Section 9.3 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the termination of the Company, and shall remain binding on each Member for the period of time necessary to resolve all tax matters relating to the Company.

 

ARTICLE X

 

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

 

10.1 Transfers by Members. No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 10.2 and 10.9, (b) approved in advance and in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager, or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include (i) an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3, a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Sections 336 or 338 of the Code, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state Law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Units of such trust that is a Member) or (ii) any indirect Transfer of Units held by the Manager by virtue of any Transfer of Equity Securities in PubCo.

 

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10.2 Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.1 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “ Permitted Transfer” and each transferee, a “Permitted Transferee”) in connection with: (a)(i) an “Exchange” pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement (as defined therein) or (ii) a Transfer by a Member to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) a Transfer by any Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants are the sole beneficial owners; (c) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliate of such Member (which may include special purpose investment vehicles wholly owned by one or more Affiliated investment funds but shall not include portfolio companies); or (d) a Transfer by a Member to any other Member; provided, however, that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (b) and (c), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee and the number of Units to be transferred and (C) in the case of the foregoing clause (d), the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company, which notice will disclose the identity of the proposed transferee and the number of Units to be transferred. In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units, the transferring Member shall be required to transfer an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock corresponding to the proportion of such Member’s Common Units that were transferred in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.7(b).

 

10.3 Restricted Units Legend. The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or if an exemption from such registration is then available with respect to such sale. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED ON DECEMBER 21, 2023, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED, OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ARIS MORTGAGE HOLDING COMPANY, LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

 

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The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any Units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.

 

10.4 Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units, the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate to which the transferor was a party (collectively, the “Other Agreements”) by executing and delivering to the Company counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.

 

10.5 Assignee’s Rights.

 

(a) The Transfer of a Unit in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of such Transfer (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other items of the Company shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee according to Section 706 of the Code, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made on or after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

 

(b) Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XI, the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that, without relieving the Transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.6, such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein by which a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Units (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Units).

 

10.6 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Unit in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.6, duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.8 and 7.4 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XI (the “Admission Date”), (i) such Transferring Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Units that may exist as of the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the Other Agreements with the Company.

 

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10.7 Overriding Provisions.

 

(a) Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of this Agreement or the Exchange Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.5 and 10.6 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Agreement or the Exchange Agreement shall not become a Member and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company with respect to the applicable Units. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.1) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange Agreement, in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:

 

(i) result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

 

(ii) result in the violation of the Exchange Agreement;

 

(iii) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

 

(iv) in the reasonable determination of the Manager, be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any obligation under any Credit Agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company or the Manager;

 

(v) be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority of age under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors); or

 

(vi) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or any successor provision thereto under the Code.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Member that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code Transfer any Units, unless such Member and the transferee have delivered to the Company, in respect of the relevant Transfer, written evidence that all required withholding under Section 1446(f) of the Code will have been done and duly remitted to the applicable taxing authority or duly executed certifications (prepared in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations or other authorities) of an exemption from such withholding. The Manager and the Company shall reasonably cooperate upon the reasonable request and at the expense of the transferor Member and/or transferee Member to provide such certifications or other information that it is legally permitted to provide with respect to the Company to the extent necessary to reduce or eliminate any such withholding.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Member (or a Permitted Transferee of any Member) effect any Transfer or make a public announcement of any intention to effect any Transfer of any Units during the Lock-Up Period applicable to such Units, in each case other than a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with Sections 10.2(b) or 10.2(c).

 

10.8 Spousal Consent. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member who is a natural person will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit B-1 attached hereto or a Member’s spouse confirmation of separate property in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause his or her spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.

 

10.9 Drag-Along Rights.

 

(a) In the event that the PubCo Board and the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding capital stock of PubCo approve a Qualified Transaction (the “Approved Qualified Transaction”), each Member (each, a “Required Member”) agrees to Transfer all of such Required Member’s Units in connection with such Approved Qualified Transaction (the “Drag-Along Right”) for an amount of consideration per Unit equal to the amount of consideration to be received per share of Class A Common Stock by the holders thereof (the “Drag Price”), and otherwise with respect to such Units on the same terms and conditions as apply to the shares of Class A Common Stock in such Approved Qualified Transaction, with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Manager, to reflect the fact that Units rather than shares of Class A Common Stock will be Transferred in the first instance by such Member. Such Transfer shall be structured in the sole discretion of the Manager and, without limitation to any other structure, the Manager will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Members to participate in such Approved Qualified Transaction to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock without discrimination; provided that, without limiting the generality of this sentence, the Manager will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Members may participate in each such Approved Qualified Transaction without being required to have their Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock redeemed (or, if so required, to ensure that any such redemption shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of such Approved Qualified Transaction, or, as applicable, to the extent necessary to exchange the number of Common Units being repurchased).

 

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(b) PubCo shall send written notice (the “Drag-Along Notice”) to the Company and the Required Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction notifying them that such Required Members will be required to sell all (but not less than all) of their Units in such sale (the “Drag-Along Amount”), and setting forth (i) a copy of the written proposal or agreement pursuant to which the Approved Qualified Transaction will be effected, (ii) the Drag Price, (iii) the terms and conditions of transfer and payment and (iv) the date and location of and procedures for selling the Units. In the event that the information set forth in the Drag-Along Notice changes from that set forth in the initial Drag-Along Notice, a subsequent Drag-Along Notice shall be delivered by PubCo no less than seven (7) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any of the foregoing information to be included in the Drag-Along Notice is publicly available, PubCo shall not be required to include such information in the Drag-Along Notice or deliver a subsequent Drag-Along Notice. Each Required Member shall thereafter be obligated to sell their Units on the terms set forth in the Drag-Along Notice.

 

(c) Upon receipt of a Drag-Along Notice, each Required Member receiving such notice shall be obligated to sell all of its Units in the Approved Qualified Transaction as contemplated by the Drag-Along Notice for the Drag Price, on the terms and conditions described in this Section 10.9, including by executing any document containing customary representations, warranties and agreements with respect to itself and its ownership of the Units or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, as requested by the Manager in connection with the Approved Qualified Transaction, which representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements shall be substantially the same as those contained in any letter of transmittal to be executed by the holders of Class A Common Stock with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Manager, to reflect the fact that Units rather than shares of Class A Common Stock will be transferred by such Required Member. The Company and each Member shall cooperate in good faith in connection with the consummation of the Approved Qualified Transaction.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

 

11.1 Substituted Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Unit hereunder, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.

 

11.2 Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not a Member as of the Effective Date may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as may reasonably be requested by the Manager). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

 

12.1 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.6 and the Manager’s right to resign pursuant to Section 6.3, no Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIII. Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIII , but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIII, shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.6, such Member shall cease to be a Member.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

13.1 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a) the decision of the Manager together with the written approval of the Common Unitholders holding a majority of the Common Units to dissolve the Company (excluding for purposes of such calculation PubCo and all Common Units held directly or indirectly by it);

 

(b) a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801(4) of the Delaware Act, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant thereto; or

 

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act;

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIII, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not in and of itself cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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13.2 Winding Up. Subject to Section 13.5 , on dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “Liquidator”). The Liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as an expense of the Company. Until final distribution, the Liquidators shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, continue to operate the properties of the Company with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the Liquidators are as follows:

 

(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the Liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

 

(b) the Liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from the Company’s funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine) the following: first, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to creditors other than the Members in satisfaction of the liabilities of the Company (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), including all expenses incurred in connection with the liquidations; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to the Members (other than any payments or distributions owed to such Members in their capacity as Members pursuant to this Agreement); and

 

(c) following any payments pursuant to the foregoing Section 13.2(b), all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 4.1(a) by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation).

 

The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.2 and Section 13.3 below shall constitute a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all of the Company’s property and shall constitute a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.

 

13.3 Deferment; Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.2, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the Liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the Liquidators may, in their sole discretion and the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy the Company’s liabilities (other than loans to the Company by any Member(s)) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 13.2, the Liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining assets in-kind of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2(c), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2(c), undivided interests in all or any portion of such assets of the Company or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in-kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the Liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any assets of the Company distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The Liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed.

 

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13.4 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. The Company shall continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 13.4.

 

13.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 13.2 and 13.3 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

 

13.6 Return of Capital. The Liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from assets of the Company).

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

14.1 Power of Attorney.

 

(a) Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the Liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:

 

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, substitution or resignation of any Member pursuant to Article XI or Article XII; and

 

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(ii) sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

 

14.2 Confidentiality.

 

(a) Each of the Members (other than PubCo) agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose or use such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes all non-public information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of such Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to such Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Member in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel of the Company or of PubCo, or any other officer designated by the Manager; (d) is disclosed to such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of such Member, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or their respective representatives without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

 

(b) Solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement, each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such Member is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential; provided, that such Member shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 14.2 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 14.2).

 

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(c) Notwithstanding Section 14.2(a) or Section 14.2(b), each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such Member is required by Law (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders (each of whom are bound by customary confidentiality obligations) the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; or (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Common Units held by such Member (provided, in each case, that such Member determines in good faith that such prospective purchaser would be a Permitted Transferee), or a prospective merger partner of such Member (provided, that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 14.2 by any such Persons (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 14.2)). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 14.2 will restrict in any manner the ability of PubCo to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.

 

14.3 Amendments. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, this Agreement may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Manager, together with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the Common Units then outstanding (excluding all Common Units held directly or indirectly by PubCo). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:

 

(a) to this Section 14.3 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members;

 

(b) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter; and

 

(c) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which would (A) reduce the amounts distributable to a Member pursuant to Article IV and Article XIII in a manner that is not pro rata with respect to all Members, (B) increase the liabilities of such Member hereunder, (C) otherwise materially and adversely affect a holder of Units (with respect to such Units) in a manner materially disproportionate to any other holder of Units of the same class or series (with respect to such Units) (other than amendments, modifications and waivers necessary to implement the provisions of Article XI) or (D) materially and adversely affect the rights of any Member under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 7.1, Section 7.4, or Article X, shall be effective against such affected Member or holder of Units, as the case may be, without the prior written consent of such Member or holder of Units, as the case may be.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Manager may make any amendment (i) of an administrative nature that is necessary in order to implement the substantive provisions hereof, without the consent of any other Member; provided, that any such amendment does not adversely change the rights of the Members hereunder in any respect, or (ii) to reflect any changes to the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or the issuance of any other capital stock of PubCo.

 

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14.4 Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Company or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All assets of the Company shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.

 

14.5 Addresses and Notices. All notices and other communications to be given to any party hereunder shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service, or when received in the form of an electronic transmission (receipt confirmation requested), and shall be directed to the address set forth below, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the Company or the sending party or, with respect to any Member, at such address as indicated by the Company’s records.

 

To the Company:

 

Global Hydrogen Energy LLC

99 Wall St., Ste. 436

New York, New York 1004

Attn: William Bennett Nance, Jr.

Email: william@globalhydrogen.co

 

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

 

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Michael P. Heinz

E-mail: mheinz@sidley.com

 

To PubCo:

 

Global Gas Corporation

700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attn: Carter Glatt

Email: carter@duneacq.com

 

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

 

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Michael P. Heinz

E-mail: mheinz@sidley.com

 

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14.6 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

14.7 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property of the Company other than as a secured creditor; provided , that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 14.7 shall not apply to any Member or the Manager who is also a creditor of the Company with respect to such Member or Manager’s rights under this Agreement or interests in the Company arising from their status as a Member or Manager.

 

14.8 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

14.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

 

14.10 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 14.5 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY.

 

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14.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

14.12 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

14.13 Execution and Delivery by Electronic Signature and Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby or entered into by the Company in accordance herewith, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic signature and/or electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic signature or electronic transmission to execute and/or deliver a document or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

14.14 Right of Offset. Whenever the Company or PubCo is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV ) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company or PubCo which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to PubCo shall not be subject to this Section 14.14.

 

14.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein, any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Original Agreement with any member of the board of managers at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Original Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Date and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.

 

14.16 Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

 

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14.17 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates set below their names, to be effective on the date first above written.

 

  COMPANY
   
  GLOBAL GAS HOLDINGS LLC
   
  By: Dune Acquisition Corporation
  By: Its Sole Member
   
  By: /s/ Carter Glatt
  Name:  Carter Glatt
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  MEMBERS
   
  GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ William Nance
  Name:  William Nance
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  WILLIAM BENNETT NANCE, JR.
   
  By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
   
  SERGIO MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Sergio Martinez    
   
  BARBARA GUAY MARTINEZ
   
  By: /s/ Barbara Guay Martinez

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

AGREEMENT

OF GLOBAL GAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

Schedule of Members

 

 

Sched. I-1

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of _________________, 20___ (this “Joinder”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”) of Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), by and among the Company, Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company (“PubCo”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

1.Joinder to the LLC Agreement. Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to PubCo, the undersigned hereby is admitted as and hereafter will be a Member under the LLC Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the LLC Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

 

2.Incorporation by Reference. All terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

3.Address. All notices under the LLC Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

Global Gas Holdings LLC

700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attention: Carter Glatt

Telephone: (917) 742-1904

E-mail: carter@duneacq.com

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

  [NAME OF NEW MEMBER]
   
  By:                     
   
  Name:   
   
  Title:  

 

Exh. A-1

 

 

Exhibit B-1

 

FORM OF AGREEMENT AND CONSENT OF SPOUSE

 

The undersigned spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”), a party

to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) of Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), by and among the Company, Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company, and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledges on his or her own behalf that:

 

I have read the Agreement and understand its contents. I acknowledge and understand that under the Agreement, any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in the Units owned by the Member is subject to the terms of the Agreement which include certain restrictions on Transfer.

 

I hereby consent to and approve the Agreement. I agree that said Units and any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in such Units are subject to the provisions of the Agreement and that I will take no action at any time to hinder operation of the Agreement on said Units or any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in said Units.

 

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of the Agreement have been explained fully to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Agreement and consent without any duress and of free will.

 

Dated: _____________________________

 

  [NAME OF SPOUSE]
   
  By:                     
   
  Name:   
   
  Title:  

 

Exh. B-1-1

 

 

Exhibit B-2

 

FORM OF SPOUSE’S CONFIRMATION OF SEPARATE PROPERTY

 

I, the undersigned, the spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”),

who is a party to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) of Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), by and among the Company, Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company, and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledge and confirm on that the Units owned by said Member are the sole and separate property of said Member, and I hereby disclaim any interest in same.

 

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property have been fully explained to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property without any duress and of free will.

 

Dated: _____________________________

 

  [NAME OF SPOUSE]
   
  By:                     
   
  Name:          
   
  Title:  

 

Exh. B-2-1

 

Exhibit 10.11

 

Amendment No. 1 to Promissory Note

 

Effective as of December 21, 2023

 

Global Gas Corporation
99 Wall Street, Suite 436
New York, New York 10005

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Promissory Note (the “Promissory Note”), dated as of June 21, 2023, by and between Global Gas Corporation (f/k/a Dune Acquisition Corporation), a Delaware corporation (the “Maker”), and Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Payee”). Effective as of December 21, 2023, the Maker and the Payee hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) the Maturity Date of the Promissory Note shall be extended to June 30, 2024 and (ii) the principal amount of the Promissory Note shall be $170,000 (and the Maker shall not request any advances under the Promissory Note in excess of such amount). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Promissory Note. Except to the extent provided above, the Promissory Note shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

A copy of a signature delivered by email or other method of electronic delivery shall be treated as, and enforceable the same as, an original signature. Please sign this letter below to confirm our mutual understandings and agreements.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
 

Global Gas Corporation

   
  /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  By: William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED  
   

Dune Acquisition Holdings Llc

 
   
/s/ Carter Glatt  
By: Carter Glatt  
Title: Managing Member of Dune Acquisition Holdings LLC  

 

 

Exhibit 10.13

 

Amendment No. 1 to Promissory Note

 

Effective as of December 21, 2023

 

Global Hydrogen Energy LLC
99 Wall Street, Suite 436
New York, New York 10005

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Promissory Note (the “Promissory Note”), dated as of June 21, 2023, by and between Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (the “Maker”), and Carter Glatt, an individual (the “Payee”). Effective as of December 21, 2023, the Maker and the Payee hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) the Maturity Date of the Promissory Note shall be extended to June 30, 2024 and (ii) the principal amount of the Promissory Note shall be $103,950 (and the Maker shall not request any advances under the Promissory Note in excess of such amount). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Promissory Note. Except to the extent provided above, the Promissory Note shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

A copy of a signature delivered by email or other method of electronic delivery shall be treated as, and enforceable the same as, an original signature. Please sign this letter below to confirm our mutual understandings and agreements.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Global Hydrogen Energy LLC
   
  /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  By: William Bennett Nance, Jr.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED  
   
Carter Glatt  
   
/s/ Carter Glatt
By: Carter Glatt  

Exhibit 10.14

 

GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of December 21, 2023, and is between Global Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [_] (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee’s service to the Company substantially benefits the Company;

 

WHEREAS, individuals are reluctant to serve as directors or officers of corporations or in certain other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of such service;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). The bylaws and certificate of incorporation and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection currently provided by applicable law, the Company’s governing documents and any insurance as adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as a director or officer without additional protection;

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, Indemnitee as permitted by applicable law; and

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the indemnification provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and this Agreement shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor shall this Agreement be deemed to limit, diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder. However, to the extent that the provisions of this Agreement confer on Indemnitee broader rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses (as that term is defined below) than are provided for in the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the parties do hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions.

 

(a)Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise.

 

(b)Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(c)Change in Control” means a transaction other than a bona fide equity financing or series of financings in which any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of a sufficient number of shares of all classes of stock then outstanding of the Company ordinarily entitled to vote in the election of directors, empowering such “person” or “group” to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, who did not have such power before such transaction.

 

(d)Expenses” include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and costs of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include: (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or their equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 11(c) of this Agreement, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(e)Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a partner (or, if applicable, member) of such a law firm, selected by Indemnitee that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to indemnification matters) or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(f)Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, formal or informal government or self-regulatory agency investigation or inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or is threatened to be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken, or failure to act, by Indemnitee or of any action taken, or failure to take action, on the Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Company or by reason the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or any advance of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement; provided, however, that the term “Proceeding” shall not include any action, suit or arbitration initiated by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

2. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(a)Reference to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

3. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the extent that Indemnitee is a party to or a participant in and is successful (on the merits or otherwise) in defense of any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 4, the term “successful” shall include, but not be limited to, (i) any termination, withdrawal or dismissal (with or without prejudice) of such Proceeding without any express finding of liability or guilt against Indemnitee, (ii) the expiration of 120 days after the making of such Proceeding without the institution of the same and without any promise or payment made to induce a settlement or (iii) the settlement of such Proceeding pursuant to which the Indemnitee pays less than $10,000 irrespective of whether other parties make payments which may be deemed to be on behalf of Indemnitee.

 

5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

6. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

 

(a)for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to (i) any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision or (ii) any insurance policy to the extent paid for the by the Indemnitee or any increase in premiums resulting from the amount paid under such policy;

 

(b)for an accounting, disgorgement or return of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

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(c)for any claim, issue or matter initiated or brought by Indemnitee, except (i) with respect to counterclaims or affirmative defenses or to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to receive Expenses or indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification or (ii) if the Board has approved the initiation or bringing of such claim;

 

(d)for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(e)initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise authorized in Section 11(c) of this Agreement or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law;

 

(f)if prohibited by applicable law; or

 

(g)for any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have (i) entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or (ii) received a final, unappealable judgment or verdict of guilty or its equivalent in any criminal proceeding.

 

7. Advances of Expenses. The Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days, after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditure made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice). Advances shall be unsecured and interest free and made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay such advances. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 7 shall not apply to the extent advancement is prohibited by law and shall not apply to any Proceeding for which indemnity is not permitted under this Agreement but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 6(b) or 6(d) of this Agreement prior to a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

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8. Procedures for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include, in reasonable detail, a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights, except to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

(b)If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a Proceeding pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of the Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall thereafter take all commercially reasonable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)In the event the Company may be obligated to make any indemnity in connection with a Proceeding, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee for any fees or expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding. Notwithstanding the Company’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Company shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel to the extent (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee is authorized by the Company, (ii) counsel for the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense such that Indemnitee needs to be separately represented, (iii) the fees and expenses are non-duplicative and reasonably incurred in connection with Indemnitee’s role in the Proceeding despite the Company’s assumption of the defense, (iv) the Company is not financially or legally able to perform its indemnification obligations or (v) the Company shall not have retained, or shall not continue to retain, such counsel to defend such Proceeding. The Company shall have the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole discretion. Regardless of any provision in this Agreement, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in any Proceeding at Indemnitee’s personal expense. The Company shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company.

 

(d)Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation in connection with the Proceeding as may be reasonably appropriate.

 

(e)The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee for any settlement of any Proceeding (or any part thereof) without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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9. Procedures upon Application for Indemnification; Any Repayment of Advances After Disposition of a Proceeding.

 

(a)The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (or any part thereof) without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(b)To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and as is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Proceeding. The Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Any delay in providing the request will not relieve the Company from its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent such failure is prejudicial.

 

(c)Promptly following the disposition of a Proceeding, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and to retain any advances given to Indemnitee shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, by majority vote of the directors who are neither parties, nor threatened to be made parties, to any Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum (in either case, the “Disinterested Directors”) or, if there are no Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel.

 

(d)If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board if a Change in Control shall not have occurred or, if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Indemnitee. The Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may within ten (10) days after written notice of such selection, deliver to the Company or the Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a) of this Agreement and the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or the Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee or the Company to the selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

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10. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(b)In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification. Neither the failure of the Company nor of the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any advance or indemnification action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company or by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel, as applicable, that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense available to the Company to the advance or indemnification action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct necessary to obtain an advance or indemnification.

 

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(c)The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere other than to a felony, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith to the extent Indemnitee relied in good faith on (i) the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or its board of directors or counsel selected by any committee of the board of directors or (iv) information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant, an appraiser, investment banker or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise or its board of directors or any committee of the board of directors. The provisions of this Section 10(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

11. Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)Neither the knowledge, actions nor failure to act of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

(b)Subject to Section 11(f) in the event that (i) a determination is made by the Disinterested Directors (and for the avoidance of doubt, not by Independent Counsel) pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 11(c) of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after the later of the receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification or the final disposition of the Proceeding, (iv) payment of indemnification pursuant to this Agreement is not made (A) within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (B) with respect to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4, 5 and 11(c) of this Agreement, within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) the Company or any other person or entity takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 11(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(c)In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(d)To the extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to the extent Indemnitee is successful in such action and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than sixty (60) days, after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee.

 

(e)If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(f)The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or any advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company only if Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, in the suit for which indemnification or an advance is being sought.

 

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(g)Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein.

 

12. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amounts incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events and transactions giving rise to such Proceeding and (ii) the relative fault of Indemnitee and the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) in connection with such events and transactions. The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

13. Non-exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors or otherwise. No supplement, modification, alteration, waiver, repeal or amendment of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such supplement, modification, alteration, waiver, repeal or amendment. To the extent that after the date of this Agreement a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change, subject to the restrictions expressly set forth herein or therein. Except as expressly set forth herein, no right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. Except as expressly set forth herein, the assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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14. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment for such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

15. Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, trustees, general partners, managing members, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies to the same extent as the most favorably-insured persons under such policy or policies in a comparable position.

 

16. Subrogation. In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(a)The Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to (a) maintain an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise and (b) to provide that until at least the sixth (6th) anniversary of the date of expiration of the Indemnitee’s period of service with the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

17. Duration. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other Enterprise, as applicable; or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement relating thereto.

 

18. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in Corporate Status even though Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any Proceeding.

 

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19. Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (ii) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto and (iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

20. Enforcement. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

 

21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law.

 

22. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, alteration, waiver, repeal or amendment of this Agreement or any provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No supplement, modification, alteration, waiver, repeal or amendment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall adversely affect, limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such supplement, modification, alteration, waiver, repeal or amendment. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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23. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, sent by facsimile or electronic mail or otherwise delivered by hand, messenger or courier service addressed:

 

(a)if to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee’s address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as shown on the signature page of this Agreement or in the Company’s records, as may be updated in accordance with the provisions hereof; or

 

(b)if to the Company, to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the address as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or at such other current address as the Company shall have furnished to Indemnitee, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Mike Heinz at Sidley Austin LLP at mheinz@sidley.com.

 

Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective or having been given (i) if delivered by hand, messenger or courier service, when delivered (or if sent via a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, freight prepaid, specifying next-business-day delivery, one business day after deposit with the courier), (ii) if sent via mail, at the earlier of its receipt or five (5) days after the same has been deposited in a regularly-maintained receptacle for the deposit of the United States mail, addressed and mailed as aforesaid, or (iii) if sent via facsimile, upon confirmation of facsimile transfer or, if sent via electronic mail, upon confirmation of delivery when directed to the relevant electronic mail address, if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, or if not sent during normal business hours of the recipient, then on the recipient’s next business day.

 

24. Internal Revenue Code 409A. The Company intends for this Agreement to comply with the indemnification exception under Section 1.409A-1(b)(10) of the regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which provides that indemnification of, or the purchase of an insurance policy providing for payments of, all or part of the expenses incurred or damages paid or payable by Indemnitee with respect to a bona fide claim against Indemnitee or the Company do not provide for a deferral of compensation, subject to Section 409A of the Code, where such claim is based on actions or failures to act by Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a service provider of the Company. The parties intend that this Agreement be interpreted and construed with such intent.

 

25. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

14

 

 

26. Counterparts and Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature, electronic mail (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign) or other transmission method, and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper- based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

27. Captions. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

(signature page follows)

 

15

 

 

The parties are signing this Indemnification Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

  GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
   
  By:
  Name:                        
  Title:
     
  Address:  
     
  INDEMNITEE:
   
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  Address:   

 

[Signature page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.15

 

Execution Version

 

GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION
2023 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. Purpose. The purpose of the GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide a means through which (a) Dune Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Affiliates may attract, retain and motivate qualified persons as employees, directors, consultants, and other individual service providers, thereby enhancing the profitable growth of the Company and its Affiliates and (b) persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the Company and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Awards, Dividend Equivalents, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards, Substitute Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any person or entity, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other organization that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person or entity. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote more than 50% of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(b) “ASC Topic 718” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, as amended or any successor accounting standard.

 

(c) “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash Award, or Substitute Award, together with any other right or interest, granted under the Plan.

 

(d) “Award Agreement” means any written instrument (including any employment, severance or change in control agreement) that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Award, in addition to those set forth under the Plan.

 

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f) “Cash Award” means an Award denominated in cash granted under Section 6(i).

 

 

 

 

(g) “Change in Control” means, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date:

 

(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the GHE Group) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of Stock (the “Outstanding Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of clause (iii) below;

 

(ii) The individuals constituting the Board on the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) will be considered as though such individual were an Incumbent Director, but excluding, for purposes of this proviso, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest with respect to election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), in each case, other than the Board, which individual, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this definition, regardless of whether such individual was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors;

 

(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another entity (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) the Outstanding Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities which represent or are convertible into more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Company, its subsidiaries and any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or the entity resulting from such Business Combination (or any entity controlled by either the Company or the entity resulting from such Business Combination), beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body of such entity except to the extent that such ownership results solely from direct or indirect ownership of the Company that existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or similar governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

 

 

 

(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2(g), for purposes of an Award that provides for a deferral of compensation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, to the extent the impact of a Change in Control on such Award would subject a Participant to additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, a Change in Control described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above with respect to such Award will mean both a Change in Control and a “change in the ownership of a corporation,” “change in the effective control of a corporation,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets” within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules as applied to the Company.

 

(h) “Change in Control Price” means the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever the Committee determines is applicable, as follows: (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control or other event without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control or other event and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control or other event takes place or (v) if such Change in Control or other event occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 2(h), the value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 2(h) or in Section 8(e) consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.

 

(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.

 

(j) “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Qualified Members.

 

(k) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g), to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

 

 

 

(l) “Effective Date” means December 21, 2023.

 

(m) “Eligible Person” means any individual who, as of the date of grant of an Award, is an officer or employee of the Company or of any Affiliate, and any other person who provides services to the Company or any Affiliate, including directors of the Company; provided, however, that, any such individual must be an “employee” of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Stock. An employee on leave of absence may be an Eligible Person.

 

(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(o) “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock means, as of any specified date, (i) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date (or if no sales occur on such date, on the last preceding date on which such sales of the Stock are so reported); (ii) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter on such date, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded on or preceding the specified date; or (iii) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate, including the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Notwithstanding this definition of Fair Market Value, with respect to one or more Award types, or for any other purpose for which the Committee must determine the Fair Market Value under the Plan, the Committee may elect to choose a different measurement date or methodology for determining Fair Market Value so long as the determination is consistent with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and all other applicable laws and regulations.

 

(p) “GHE Family Members” means (a) William Bennett Nance, Jr., Sergio Martinez or Barbara Guay Martinez, (b) any spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of any person named in clause (a); (c) any lineal descendent of any person identified in clause (a) or (b) and any spouse or former spouse of any such Person, including adoptive relationships and stepchildren; (d) any trust established by, and in which at least 75% of the beneficial interest is directly or indirectly held by or for the benefit of, any one or more Persons identified in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (g) of this definition and one or more Persons exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code; (e) any limited liability company, partnership or other estate planning or family business vehicle of which one or more Persons identified in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (g) of this definition serves as managing member, manager, general partner or otherwise, as applicable, and in which at least 75% of the economic interest is directly or indirectly held by or for the benefit of any one or more of such Persons; (f) any tax-exempt foundation, charitable trust, non-profit entity or other entity established by any person or entity identified in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (g) of this definition, so long as the voting and disposition authority with respect to the Common Stock are controlled by or under the appointment of any person or entity identified in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (g) of this definition; and (g) executors, administrators or beneficiaries of the estates of any such now or hereafter deceased Person, guardians or members of a committee for any such Person who is or becomes incompetent, or similar Persons duly authorized by law to administer the estate or assets of any such Person identified in this definition.

 

 

 

 

(q) “GHE Group” means the GHE Family Members and their respective Affiliates.

 

(r) “ISO” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(s) “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules” means the limitations and requirements of Section 409A of the Code, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.

 

(t) “Nonstatutory Option” means an Option that is not an ISO.

 

(u) “Option” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b), to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods, which may either be an ISO or a Nonstatutory Option.

 

(v) “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(h).

 

(w) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan that remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(x) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Board who is (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), and (ii) “independent” under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.

 

(y) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d) that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(z) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e), to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).

 

(aa) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

(bb) “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c).

 

(cc) “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(dd) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(ee) “Stock” means the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or re-substituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 8.

 

(ff) “Stock Award” means unrestricted shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(f).

 

(gg) “Substitute Award” means an Award granted under Section 6(j).

 

3. Administration.

 

(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.” Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:

 

(i) designate Eligible Persons as Participants;

 

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person;

 

(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock or amount of cash to be covered by Awards;

 

(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, cancelled or forfeited (including conditions based on continued employment or service requirements or the achievement of one or more performance goals);

 

(v) modify, waive or adjust any term or condition of an Award that has been granted, which may include the acceleration of vesting, waiver of forfeiture restrictions, modification of the form of settlement of the Award (for example, from cash to Stock or vice versa), early termination of a performance period, or modification of any other condition or limitation regarding an Award;

 

(vi) determine the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or other service relationship;

 

 

 

 

(vii) impose a holding period with respect to an Award or the shares of Stock received in connection with an Award;

 

(viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any Award Agreement;

 

(ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award Agreement; and

 

(x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, Affiliates, stockholders, Participants, beneficiaries, and permitted transferees under Section 7(a) or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant. The Committee’s determinations need not be uniform with respect to Participants, and need not apply consistently across Awards.

 

(b) Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company where such action is not taken by the full Board may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (ii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the full Board may take any action relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.

 

(c) Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided, that such delegation does not (i) violate state or corporate law, or (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” other than in Section 8, shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee. Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards; provided, however, that such subcommittee members and any such officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may also appoint agents who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering the Plan, provided, however, that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Stock. 

 

 

 

 

(d) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

(e) Participants in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to comply with applicable laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any Affiliate operates or has employees, directors or other service providers from time to time, or to ensure that the Company complies with any applicable requirements of foreign securities exchanges, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which of the Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Persons outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Persons outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign exchange; (iv) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such sub-plans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices), provided, however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 4(a); and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is granted, that it deems advisable to comply with any applicable governmental regulatory exemptions or approval or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange. For purposes of the Plan, all references to foreign laws, rules, regulations or taxes shall be references to the laws, rules, regulations and taxes of any applicable jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

 

4. Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a) Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with Section 8, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery with respect to Awards under the Plan is equal to 1,400,000 shares of Stock (of which, 225,000 shares of Stock shall be reserved for individual consultants of the Company and an additional 500,000 shares of stock may be used for joint venture, consulting, or other strategic business partnerships or relationships), and such number of shares of Stock shall be available for the issuance of shares upon the exercise of ISOs.

 

(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. Subject to Section 4(c), no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

 

 

 

(c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards. If all or any portion of an Award expires or is cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated, the shares of Stock subject to such Award (including (i) shares forfeited with respect to Restricted Stock, and (ii) the number of shares withheld or surrendered to the Company in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to Awards) shall not be considered “delivered shares” under the Plan, shall be available for delivery with respect to Awards. If an Award may be settled only in cash, such Award need not be counted against any share limit under this Section 4.

 

(d) Shares Available Following Certain Transactions. Substitute Awards granted in accordance with applicable stock exchange requirements and in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary combines shall not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan or the limitations on grants to non-employee members of the Board under Section 5(b), nor shall shares subject to such Substitute Awards be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan as provided above (whether or not such Substitute Awards are later cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated).

 

(e) Stock Offered. The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.

 

5. Eligibility; Award Limitations for Non-Employee Members of the Board.

 

(a) Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.

 

(b) In each calendar year during any part of which the Plan is in effect, a non-employee member of the Board may not be granted Awards for such individual’s service on the Board having a value (determined, if applicable, pursuant to ASC Topic 718) on the date of grant in excess of $100,000 (for any non-employee member of the Board, not including the Chairman of the Board), and $125,000 (for any non-employee Chairman of the Board); provided, that for any calendar year in which a non-employee member of the Board (i) first commences service on the Board, (ii) serves on a special committee of the Board, or (iii) serves as lead director or chairman of the Board, additional Awards may be granted to such non-employee member of the Board in excess of such limit; provided, further, that the limit set forth in this Section 5(b) shall be applied without regard to (A) cash fees paid to a non-employee member of the Board during such calendar year (or grants of Awards, if any, made to a non-employee member of the Board in lieu of all or any portion of such cash fees) or (B) grants of Awards, if any, made to a non-employee member of the Board during any period in which such individual was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate or was otherwise providing services to the Company or to any Affiliate other than in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

 

 

 

6. Specific Terms of Awards.

 

(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with any other Award. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including subjecting such awards to service- or performance-based vesting conditions. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, with respect to any performance-based conditions, (i) the Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance goals applicable to an Award, and (ii) any such performance goals may relate to the performance of the Participant, the Company (on a consolidated basis), or to specified subsidiaries, business or geographical units or operating areas of the Company, (iii) the performance period or periods over which performance goals will be measured shall be established by the Committee, and (iv) any such performance goals and performance periods may differ among Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Committee may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award.

 

(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be designated as either ISOs or Nonstatutory Options, to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Exercise Price. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Option shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “Exercise Price”) established by the Committee; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 6(j) or in Section 8, the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock as of the date of grant of the Option if the Option (1) does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral exception set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules or (2) provides for a deferral of compensation and is compliant with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise; Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares or through a cashless exercise, i.e., “net settlement”, a broker-assisted exercise, or other reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Option), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d), and any other terms and conditions of any Option. In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued based on the Stock’s Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise. No Option may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, for a period of more than five years following the date of grant of the ISO).

 

 

 

 

(iii) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. ISOs may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or employees of a parent or any subsidiary corporation of the Company. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code, unless notice has been provided to the Participant that such change will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of the Plan or the approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other incentive stock options of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under Section 422 of the Code, such excess shall be treated as Nonstatutory Options in accordance with the Code. As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the ISO is granted. If a Participant shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to an ISO under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to disqualifying dispositions), the Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within the time provided to do so in the applicable award agreement.

 

(c) SARs. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Right to Payment. An SAR is a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

 

(ii) Grant Price. Each Award Agreement evidencing an SAR shall state the grant price per share of Stock established by the Committee; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 6(j) or in Section 8, the grant price per share of Stock subject to an SAR shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the grant price of an SAR may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock subject to an SAR as of the date of grant of the SAR if the SAR (1) does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral exception set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules or (2) provides for a deferral of compensation and is compliant with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

 

 

 

(iii) Method of Exercise and Settlement; Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the form of consideration payable upon settlement, the method by or forms in which Stock (if any) will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. SARs may be either free-standing or granted in tandem with other Awards. No SAR may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the SAR.

 

(iv) Rights Related to Options. An SAR granted in connection with an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying (A) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by (B) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised. The Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered. SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement governing the Option, which shall provide that the SAR is exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferrable.

 

(d) Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose. Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(iii) and (iv), during the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hedged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

(ii) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may allow a Participant to elect, or may require, that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Award Agreement, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(e) Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Award and Restrictions. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose.

 

(ii) Settlement. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon vesting or upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). Restricted Stock Units shall be settled by delivery of (A) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or (B) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

 

 

 

(f) Stock Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Awards to Eligible Persons as a bonus, as additional compensation, or in lieu of cash compensation any such Eligible Person is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.

 

(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons, entitling any such Eligible Person to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends or other distributions paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award (other than an Award of Restricted Stock or a Stock Award). The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or at a later specified date and, if distributed at a later date, may be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles or accrued in a bookkeeping account without interest, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify. With respect to Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with another Award, absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the Award with respect to which the dividends accrue and shall not be paid unless and until such Award has vested and been earned.

 

(h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, specified Affiliates. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Other-Stock Based Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(i) Cash Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Cash Awards, on a free-standing basis or as an element of, a supplement to, or in lieu of any other Award under the Plan to Eligible Persons in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate, including for purposes of any annual or short-term incentive or other bonus program.

 

(j) Substitute Awards; No Repricing. Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other Award granted under the Plan or under another plan of the Company or an Affiliate or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or an Affiliate. Awards may also be granted under the Plan in substitution for awards held by individuals who become Eligible Persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an Affiliate. Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or SARs may have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, Section 424 of the Code and the Guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder, if applicable, and other applicable laws and exchange rules. Except as provided in this Section 6(j) or in Section 8, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to (i) reduce the Exercise Price or grant price of an outstanding Option or SAR, (ii) grant a new Option or SAR in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Option or SAR that has the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or grant price thereof, (iii) exchange any Option or SAR for Stock, cash or other consideration when the Exercise Price or grant price per share of Stock under such Option or SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock or (iv) take any other action that would be considered a “repricing” of an Option or SAR under the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed (if any).

 

 

 

 

7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a) Limit on Transfer of Awards.

 

(i) Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(iii) and (iv), each Option and SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(a), an ISO shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(ii) Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(i), (iii) and (iv), no Award, other than a Stock Award, and no right under any such Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(iii) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee and permitted pursuant to Form S-8 and the instructions thereto, an Award may be transferred by a Participant on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish; provided, however, that no Award (other than a Stock Award) may be transferred to a third-party financial institution for value.

 

(iv) An Award may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of a written request for such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

 

(b) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any Affiliates upon the exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, including cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis (which may be required by the Committee or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee); provided, however, that any such deferred or installment payments will be set forth in the Award Agreement. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.

 

 

 

 

(c) Evidencing Stock. The Stock or other securities of the Company delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise, and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Stock or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal, state or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Further, if certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Company may retain physical possession of the certificates and may require that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, related to the Restricted Stock.

 

(d) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine, but shall not be granted for less than the minimum lawful consideration.

 

(e) Additional Agreements. Each Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Eligible Person’s termination of employment or service to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition or other restricted covenant agreement in favor of the Company and the Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

8. Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization.

 

(a) Existence of Plans and Awards. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b) Additional Issuances. Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, including upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Stock, if applicable.

 

 

 

 

(c) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares. The terms of an Award and the share limitations under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock or in the event the Company distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then-outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then-outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions; provided, however, that in the case of an extraordinary cash dividend that is not an Adjustment Event, the adjustment to the number of shares of Stock and the Exercise Price or grant price, as applicable, with respect to an outstanding Option or SAR may be made in such other manner as the Committee may determine that is permitted pursuant to applicable tax and other laws, rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Awards that already have a right to receive extraordinary cash dividends as a result of Dividend Equivalents or other dividend rights will not be adjusted as a result of an extraordinary cash dividend.

 

(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then-outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then-outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

(d) Recapitalization. In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an “equity restructuring” within the meaning of ASC Topic 718 and, in each case, that would result in an additional compensation expense to the Company pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary or otherwise not required (each such an event, an “Adjustment Event”), then the Committee shall equitably adjust (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be delivered under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the terms and conditions of Awards, including the purchase price or Exercise Price of Awards and performance goals, as applicable, and (iv) the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) to equitably reflect such Adjustment Event (“Equitable Adjustments”). In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would not be considered an Adjustment Event, and is not otherwise addressed in this Section 8, the Committee shall have complete discretion to make Equitable Adjustments (if any) in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

 

 

 

(e) Change in Control and Other Events. In the event of a Change in Control or other changes in the Company or the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change occurring after the date of the grant of any Award, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may exercise any power enumerated in Section 3 (including the power to accelerate vesting, waive any forfeiture conditions or otherwise modify or adjust any other condition or limitation regarding an Award) and may also effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual holder:

 

(i) accelerate the time of exercisability of an Award so that such Award may be exercised in full or in part for a limited period of time on or before a date specified by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(ii) redeem in whole or in part outstanding Awards by requiring the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then vested or exercisable) as of a date, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash or other consideration per Award (other than a Dividend Equivalent or Cash Award, which the Committee may separately require to be surrendered in exchange for cash or other consideration determined by the Committee in its discretion) equal to the Change in Control Price, less the Exercise Price with respect to an Option and less the grant price with respect to an SAR, as applicable to such Awards; provided, however, that to the extent the Exercise Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration;

 

(iii) cancel Awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of a Change in Control or other such event without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or

 

(iv) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or other such event (including the substitution, assumption, or continuation of Awards by the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof); provided, however, that so long as the event is not an Adjustment Event, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding. If an Adjustment Event occurs, this Section 8(e) shall only apply to the extent it is not in conflict with Section 8(d).

 

 

 

 

9. General Provisions.

 

(a) Tax Withholding. The Company and any Affiliate are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award, including from a distribution of Stock, taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company, the Affiliates and Participants to satisfy the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the form of payment acceptable for such tax withholding obligations, including the delivery of cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including through delivery of previously owned shares, net settlement, a broker-assisted sale, or other cashless withholding or reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable or delivered pursuant to the Award), other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate. Any determination made by the Committee to allow a Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3 to pay taxes with shares of Stock through net settlement or previously owned shares shall be approved by either a committee made up of solely two or more Qualified Members or the full Board. If such tax withholding amounts are satisfied through net settlement or previously owned shares, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be so withheld or surrendered shall be the number of shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or surrender equal to the aggregate amount of such tax liabilities determined based on the greatest withholding rates for federal, state, foreign and/or local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment for the Company with respect to such Award, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

(c) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under the Plan, the Company and each Participant who accepts an Award hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware.

 

 

 

 

(d) Severability and Reformation. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act) or Section 422 of the Code (with respect to ISOs), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or Section 422 of the Code, in each case, only to the extent Rule 16b-3 and such sections of the Code are applicable. With respect to ISOs, if the Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided, further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed a Nonstatutory Option for all purposes of the Plan.

 

(e) Unfunded Status of Awards; No Trust or Fund Created. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.

 

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

 

(g) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Stock or whether such fractional shares of Stock or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.

 

 

 

 

(h) Interpretation. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and, where appropriate, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of an Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. References herein to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by the Plan.

 

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

 

(j) Conditions to Delivery of Stock. Nothing herein or in any Award Agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. In addition, each Participant who receives an Award under the Plan shall not sell or otherwise dispose of Stock that is acquired upon grant, exercise or vesting of an Award in any manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws, the Plan or the rules, regulations or other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed. At the time of any exercise of an Option or SAR, or at the time of any grant of any other Award, the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or SAR or settlement of any other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. Stock or other securities shall not be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including any Exercise Price, grant price, or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

 

 

 

 

(k) Section 409A of the Code. It is the general intention, but not the obligation, of the Committee to design Awards to comply with or to be exempt from the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, and Awards will be operated and construed accordingly. Neither this Section 9(k) nor any other provision of the Plan is or contains a representation to any Participant regarding the tax consequences of the grant, vesting, exercise, settlement, or sale of any Award (or the Stock underlying such Award) granted hereunder, and should not be interpreted as such. In no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Participant on account of non-compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules) becomes entitled to a payment under an Award that would be subject to additional taxes and interest under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules if the Participant’s receipt of such payment or benefits is not delayed until the earlier of (i) the date of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the date that is six months after the Participant’s “separation from service,” as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules (such date, the “Section 409A Payment Date”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to the Participant until the Section 409A Payment Date. Any amounts subject to the preceding sentence that would otherwise be payable prior to the Section 409A Payment Date will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest on the Section 409A Payment Date. The applicable provisions of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules are hereby incorporated by reference and shall control over any Plan or Award Agreement provision in conflict therewith.

 

(l) Clawback. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are subject to any written clawback policies that the Company, with the approval of the Board or an authorized committee thereof, may adopt either prior to or following the Effective Date, including any policy adopted to conform to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC and that the Company determines should apply to Awards. Any such policy may subject a Participant’s Awards and amounts paid or realized with respect to Awards to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture or recoupment if certain specified events or wrongful conduct occur, including an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with financial reporting regulations or other events or wrongful conduct specified in any such clawback policy. No recovery of cash payments or shares of Common Stock under such clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or assert “constructive termination” (or any similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any subsidiary.

 

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

 

(n) Plan Effective Date and Term. The Plan was adopted by the Board to be effective on the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan on and after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. However, any Award granted prior to such termination (or any earlier termination pursuant to Section 10), and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall extend beyond such termination until the final disposition of such Award.

 

10. Amendments to the Plan and Awards. The Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award or Award Agreement, the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Committee action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Committee may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other changes to the Plan to stockholders for approval; provided, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 8 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.16

 

Execution Version

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on May 14, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and William Bennett Nance, Jr. (“Executive”), and is conditioned upon the occurrence of, and shall become effective concurrently with, the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company, Dune Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Holdings”), and the other parties thereto, dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

Agreement

 

1.Employment Period. Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term commencing on the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and ending on December 31, 2026 (such period, the “Initial Period”); provided, however, Executive’s employment hereunder (if not earlier terminated) shall automatically renew for successive 12-month following the expiration of the Initial Period and each anniversary thereafter (each such 12-month extension period, a “Renewal Period”), unless either party provides the other party with written notice, at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then-existing Initial Period or Renewal Period of an intent not to renew the Employment Period (a “Notice of Non-Renewal”) following the end of the then-existing Initial Period or Renewal Period, as applicable. The period that Executive is employed hereunder is referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

2.Terms of Employment.

 

(a)Position and Duties.

 

(i) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall perform such duties as are usual and customary for such positions and such other duties as the board of directors (the “Board”) of Parent shall from time to time reasonably assign to Executive. Executive shall report directly to the Board.

 

(ii) During the Employment Period, Executive agrees to devote Executive’s full business time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder in a manner that will faithfully and diligently further the business and interests of the Company, Parent and their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the Company, Parent, and their direct and indirect subsidiaries are referred to herein as the “Company Group”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees consistent with Parent’s conflicts of interests policies and corporate governance guidelines in effect from time to time, (B) manage Executive’s personal investments, in each case so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities to any member of the Company Group or breach any restrictive covenant obligation to any Company Group member (or (C) serve on other boards of director subject to the Company’s policies and procedures.

 

 

 

(b)Compensation.

 

(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, Executive shall receive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the annualized rate of $200,000, less applicable taxes and withholdings. The Base Salary shall be paid in installments at such intervals as the Company pays executive salaries generally, but not less often than monthly. During the Employment Period, the Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually for possible increase, in the discretion of the Board. The term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so adjusted.

 

(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be eligible to earn, beginning in 2024 and for each calendar year ending during the Employment Period thereafter (each, a “Bonus Year”), an annual discretionary cash performance bonus (the “Annual Bonus). The Annual Bonus payable, if any, in respect of any Bonus Year, is subject to Executive’s continuous employment through the last day of the Bonus Year to which it relates, and shall be paid no later than the March 15 of the year immediately following the end of such Bonus Year. There are two potential tranches of the Annual Bonus based on the Free Cash Flow (as defined below) produced by the Company as of December 31st of the relevant Bonus Year (the “Fiscal Year End”). The “Free Cash Flow” shall be as defined as the Company’s net cash funds provided from Company operations, minus all Capital Expenditures (as defined below) incurred, in each case as of the relevant Fiscal Year End. For purposes of this Agreement, “Capital Expenditures” shall mean the sum of (i) the Company’s purchases of property, plant, and equipment (“PPE”) as of the Fiscal Year End, minus (ii) the Company’s PPE as of the prior year’s Fiscal Year End, plus (iii) the Company’s depreciation expenses as of the relevant Fiscal Year End. If the Company has produced $5 million in Free Cash Flow at Fiscal Year End, the Executive is eligible for $50,000 Annual Bonus, less applicable taxes and withholdings. If the Company has produced $10 million in Free Cash Flow at Fiscal Year End, the Executive is eligible for $100,000 Annual Bonus, less applicable taxes and withholdings. All determinations of the Free Cash Flow produced and amount of the Annual Bonus earned (if any) shall be made by the Board in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall not be eligible to receive an Annual Bonus with respect to the 2023 calendar year.

 

(iii) Equity Awards. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Dune Acquisition Corporation 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “LTIP”), and any other equity incentive plan of the Company, as in effect from time to time. Such eligibility and awards granted under the LTIP or any such plan shall be subject in all respects to, and governed by, the terms and conditions set forth in the LTIP or such plan, as applicable, as in effect from time to time and the award agreement(s) evidencing any such awards. Beginning in 2024 and for each calendar year ending during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for two potential tranches of awards under the LTIP (collectively, the “Equity Awards”) based on the Free Cash Flow produced by the Company at Fiscal Year End. If the Company has produced $5 million in Free Cash Flow at Fiscal Year End, then Executive shall be eligible to receive an Equity Award of 10,000 shares of Company Stock,subject to the Board’s approval and Executive’s continued employment through the issuance of any such Equity Award, which shall be March 31st of the year immediately following that in which such Equity Award was earned. If the Company has produced $10 million in Free Cash Flow at Fiscal Year End, then Executive shall be eligible to receive an Equity Award 10,000 shares of Company Stock, subject to the Board’s approval and Executive’s continued employment through the issuance of any such Equity Award, which shall be March 31st of the year immediately following that in which such Equity Award was earned. All determinations of the Free Cash Flow produced shall be made by the Board in its reasonable discretion.

 

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(iv) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in the same benefit plans, practices, policies and programs in which similarly situated executives of the Company are eligible to participate, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans, practices, policies and programs in effect from time to time. However, the Company shall not, by reason of this Section 2(b)(iv), be obligated to institute, maintain, or refrain from changing, amending, or discontinuing, any such plan, practice, policy or program, so long as such changes are similarly applicable to similarly situated executives of the Company generally.

 

(v) Business Expenses. During the Employment Period, subject to Section 10(e), Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses actually incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement so long as Executive timely submits all documentation for such expenses, as required by the applicable policy of the Company in effect from time to time. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of such documentation (but in any event not later than the close of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Executive). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Executive for any expenses incurred after the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company other than to the extent incurred with the prior written consent of the Company.

 

(vi) Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation time each calendar year (pro-rated for any partial year of service) in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to similarly situated executives; provided, however, that Executive shall not receive less than 20 business days of paid vacation time per calendar year (except to the extent that paid vacation time is pro-rated for any partial year of service in accordance with the foregoing). Executive may carry over accrued but unused vacation time for any applicable calendar year or portion thereof for up to one (1) month after the beginning of the next calendar year, after which time such vacation time shall be forfeited unless otherwise required by applicable law.

 

3.Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding Section 1 above, Executive’s employment hereunder and the Employment Period may end prior to the end of any then-existing Initial Period or Renewal Period, as applicable, pursuant to any of the circumstances described in this Section 3. Executive’s employment with the Company and the Employment Period may be terminated by the Company immediately upon notice to Executive for an involuntary termination of employment for Cause (as defined below), without Cause or due to Executive’s Disability (as defined below). Executive’s employment with the Company, and the Employment Period, shall automatically terminate upon Executive’s death. Executive’s employment with the Company, and the Employment Period, may be terminated by Executive for (i) any reason with no less than forty-five (45) days’ advance written notice to the Company or (ii) for Good Reason in accordance with Section 3(c) below).

 

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(a) Death or Disability. Executive’s employment hereunder shall automatically (and without any further action by any person or entity) terminate upon Executive’s death and may terminate upon notice from the Company as a result of Executive’s Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall exist if the Company determines that Executive is unable, by reason of physical or mental impairment that continues for or is reasonably expected to continue for 120 consecutive days or a total of 180 days, whether or not consecutive (or for any longer period as may be required by applicable law), in any 12-month period, to fulfill Executive’s obligations hereunder (after accounting for reasonable accommodation, if applicable and required by applicable law). The Company is not, however, required to make unreasonable accommodations for Executive or accommodations that would create an undue hardship on the Company.

 

(b) Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder at any time for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s failure or refusal, other than due to Disability, to perform Executive’s lawful duties or responsibilities for the Company or any member of the Company Group, which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following a written notice being delivered to Executive, which notice specifies such failure or refusal;

 

(ii) Executive’s indictment for any felony or other crime on account of action taken by Executive constituting the commission of, fraud, theft, embezzlement, self-dealing, misappropriation or other malfeasance in the performance of Executive’s lawful duties or responsibilities for the Company or any member of the Company Group;

 

(iii) Executive’s repeated refusal and failure to comply with any lawful policy of the Company or the Company Group or any reasonable directive of the Board or its designee applicable to Executive which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following a written notice being delivered to Executive, which notice specifies the applicable breach;

 

(iv) Executive’s commission of acts or omissions constituting gross misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of any aspect of Executive’s lawful duties or responsibilities which have or are reasonably expected to have an adverse effect on the Company Group which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following a written notice being delivered to Executive, which notice specifies the applicable act or omission;

 

(v) The indictment of Executive, conviction of Executive, or entry by Executive of a guilty or nolo contendere plea to any felony;

 

(vi) Any breach by Executive of Executive’s fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty to the Company or any member of the Company Group which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following a written notice being delivered to Executive, which notice specifies the applicable breach;

 

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(vii) Executive’s commission of any act or omission that as of the date of such act or omission is reasonably expected to materially damage the financial condition, business or reputation of the Company Group, which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following a written notice being delivered to Executive, which notice specifies the applicable act or omission; or

 

(viii) Executive’s violation or breach of any restrictive covenant obligation in any material respect or any material term of this Agreement, or any other written agreement between Executive and a member of the Company Group which, if capable of cure, is not cured within 30 days following written notice thereof from the Company.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have terminated for “Cause” if, on the date Executive’s employment terminates, facts and circumstances exist that would have justified a termination pursuant to the “Cause” grounds set forth above, even if such facts and circumstances are discovered after Executive’s termination.

 

(c) Good Reason. Executive’s employment may be terminated by Executive for Good Reason or by Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without Executive’s prior consent:

 

(i) A material reduction in Executive’s title, duties, authority, or reporting relationships (in each case other than in conjunction with the Company’s investigating any allegation of wrongdoing against Executive); or

 

(ii) A reduction of Executive’s Base Salary that is greater than ten (10%) percent of the amount of such Base Salary .

 

For purposes of this Agreement, a termination of employment by Executive shall not be deemed to be for Good Reason unless (A) Executive gives the Company written notice describing the event or events which are the basis for such termination within ninety (90) days after the event or events occur, (B) such grounds for termination are not corrected by the Company within thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of such notice, and (C) Executive terminates Executive’s employment no later than forty-five (45) days after Executive provides notice to the Company in accordance with clause (A) of this paragraph.

 

(d) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means the date on which Executive’s employment terminates.

 

4.Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.

 

(a) Without Cause, for Good Reason, or Due to Company Non-Renewal. If Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated due to the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment without Cause (and not due to death or Disability), due to Executive’s resignation for Good Reason, or upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period following the Company’s issuance of a Notice of Non-Renewal, then Executive shall be paid or shall receive the following:

 

(i) The following, to the extent applicable: (A) Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (B) payment for accrued but unused vacation time existing as of the Date of Termination, (C) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus payable to Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any Bonus Year immediately preceding the year in which the Date of Termination occurs (if applicable), and (D) any vested amounts due to Executive under any plan, program or policy of the Company or Parent, to the extent not previously paid (if any) (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”), which shall be paid or provided, in each case, in the time periods required by applicable law;

 

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(ii) All unvested equity-based awards subject to time-based vesting granted under the Equity Plan that are held by Executive as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination shall immediately vest in full and such awards shall be eligible for settlement in accordance with the terms and conditions provided in the applicable award agreements governing such awards (the “Accelerated Vesting”), subject to Executive’s timely execution and non-revocation of a Release (as defined below);

 

(iii) An amount (the “Severance Amount”) equal to either:

 

(A) If the Date of Termination occurs outside of the period beginning on the date that is three (3) months before a Change in Control (as defined in the LTIP) and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (the “Change in Control Period”), one (1) times the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, which Severance Amount shall be paid on the Company’s regular pay dates for executive employees over the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that follows the date that the Release (as defined below) has been timely returned to the Company and any revocation period set forth therein has elapsed without Executive having exercised Executive’s revocation right (such first pay date, the “First Payment Date”); or

 

(B) If the Date of Termination occurs during the Change in Control Period, two and one half (2.5) times the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, which Severance Amount shall be paid on the Company’s regular pay dates for executive employees over the thirty (30) month period beginning on the First Payment Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the installments of the Severance Amount that would otherwise be paid pursuant to this paragraph after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs (the “Applicable March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum on the Applicable March 15 (or the first business day preceding the Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a business day) and the installments of the Severance Amount payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess). Further, if any Severance Amount is “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code (as defined in Section 5(e)(v)) and the period to consider the Release and, if applicable, revoke the Release plus the first regular payroll date thereafter spans two calendar years, then no portion of the Severance Amount shall be paid until the Company’s first payroll payment date in the year following the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, and any amount that is not paid prior to such date due to such restriction shall be paid in a lump sum along with the installment scheduled to be paid on that date; and

 

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(iv) The COBRA Benefit (as defined below), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4(d).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive’s employment terminates within the three (3) month period prior to a Change in Control and, at the time the Severance Amount under Section 4(a)(iii)(B) becomes payable due to the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive has already been paid any installments of the Severance Amount pursuant to Section 4(a)(iv)(A) (the “Prior Severance Payment”), then Executive shall only be entitled to receive an amount equal to the Severance Amount payable under Section 4(a)(iv)(B) less the Prior Severance Payment, which amount shall be paid over the remaining schedule described in Section 4(a)(iii)(B).

 

Further notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it shall be a condition to Executive’s right to receive the Severance Amount, the Accelerated Vesting, and the COBRA Benefit that Executive execute and deliver to the Company within twenty-one (21) days (or forty-five (45) days, if required by applicable law) after receipt from the Company, and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so (which revocation period shall not exceed seven (7) days following the date that Executive signs the Release unless otherwise required by law), a separation agreement and release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Release”), which Release shall release each member of the Company Group and their respective affiliates, and the foregoing entities’ respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company and any other member of the Company Group or the termination of such employment, but excluding all claims to the Severance Amount, the Accelerated Vesting, or COBRA Benefit or any other claim that may first arise after the date the Release has been executed by Executive and all claims that may not be released pursuant to applicable law or regulation. The Release shall be provided to Executive within five (5) days following the Date of Termination.

 

(b) Death or Disability. If Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by reason of Executive’s death or Disability, Executive shall be paid or shall receive:

 

(i) The Accrued Obligations, which shall be paid to Executive or, if applicable, Executive’s estate or beneficiaries, in the time provided by applicable law;

 

(ii) The Accelerated Vesting; and

 

(iii) The COBRA Benefit, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4(d).

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it shall be a condition to Executive’s right to receive the Accelerated Vesting, the Ongoing Vesting and the COBRA Benefit that Executive (or, if applicable, Executive’s estate) execute and deliver to the Company within twenty-one (21) days (or forty-five (45) days, if required by applicable law) after receipt from the Company, and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so (which potential revocation period shall not exceed seven (7) days after the date that Executive (or, if applicable, a representative of Executive’s estate) signs the Release, unless otherwise required by law), the Release. The Release shall be provided to Executive (or a representative of Executive’s estate) within five (5) days following the Date of Termination.

 

(c) Other Terminations. If Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, or upon the end of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period following Executive’s issuance of a Notice of Non-Renewal, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations within the thirty (30) day period following the Date of Termination or such earlier date as may be required under applicable law and shall have no further severance obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

 

(d) COBRA Benefit. If Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated in circumstances described in Section 4(a) or 4(b) and Executive satisfies the conditions necessary to receive the payments or benefits described in Sections 4(a) or 4(b) then, if Executive timely elects to continue coverage for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents, if any, under the group health plan in which Executive participated in as of the Date of Termination pursuant to Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall promptly reimburse Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executive employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plans (the “COBRA Benefit”). Each payment of the COBRA Benefit shall be paid to Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date in the calendar month immediately following the calendar month in which Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) submits to the Company documentation of the applicable premium payment having been paid by Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death), which documentation shall be submitted to the Company within thirty (30) days following the date on which the applicable premium payment is paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) shall only be eligible to receive such reimbursement payments until the earliest of: (1) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (the “COBRA Expiration Date”); (2) the date Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage; and (3) the date on which Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) becomes eligible to receive coverage under a group health plan sponsored by another employer (and any such eligibility shall be promptly reported to the Company); provided, however, that the election of COBRA continuation coverage and the payment of any premiums due with respect to such COBRA continuation coverage shall remain Executive’s (or his eligible dependents’, in the event of Executive’s death) sole responsibility, and the Company shall not assume any obligation for payment of any such premiums relating to such COBRA continuation coverage. Further notwithstanding the foregoing, if the provision of the COBRA Benefit cannot be provided in the manner described above without penalty, tax or other adverse impact on the Company or any of its affiliates, then the Company and Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) shall negotiate in good faith to determine an alternative manner in which the Company may provide substantially equivalent benefits to Executive (or his eligible dependents, in the event of Executive’s death) without such adverse impact on the Company or any of its affiliates.

 

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5.Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreements to the contrary, if Executive is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), and any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement or otherwise would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280Gof the Code (a “280G Payment”) and would, but for this Section 5, be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such 280G Payment shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such 280G Payment shall be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such 280G Payment received by Executive shall be subject to the Excise Tax or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable Excise Tax and any other applicable taxes). The reduction of such 280G Payment, if applicable, shall be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash hereunder in the order in which such payment or benefit would be paid or provided (beginning with the payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to the payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder in a similar order. The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of a 280G Payment is necessary shall be made by the Company or Parent in good faith. If a reduced 280G Payment is made or provided and through error or otherwise exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to the applicable payor upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 5 shall require the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, any Excise Tax.

 

6.Confidentiality; Return of Materials.

 

(a) In the course of Executive’s employment hereunder, Executive will be provided, and Executive will have access to, Confidential Information (as defined below). Both during the Employment Period and thereafter, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or by written directive of the Board, Executive shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any person or entity and shall not use any Confidential Information except for the benefit of the Company Group. The covenants of this Section 6(a) shall apply to all Confidential Information, whether now known or later to become known to Executive during the period that Executive is employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any provision of Section 6(a) to the contrary, Executive may make the following disclosures and uses of Confidential Information:

 

(i) disclosures to other employees and contractors of a member of the Company Group who have a need to know the information in connection with the businesses of the Company Group;

 

(ii) disclosures to customers, advisers, regulators and suppliers when, in the reasonable and good faith belief of Executive, such disclosure is in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement and is in the best interests of the Company Group; or

 

(iii) disclosures to a person or entity that has (x) been retained by a member of the Company Group to provide services to one or more members of the Company Group, and (y) agreed in writing to abide by the terms of a confidentiality agreement in a form acceptable to the Company or may be required by applicable law, regulation or legal process in the good faith determination of Executive.

 

(c) Upon the expiration of the Employment Period, and at any other time upon written request of the Company, Executive shall promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executive’s possession, custody or control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group (excluding any documents relating to the terms of Executive’s compensation, agreements between Executive and any member of the Company Group, and any documents relating to Executive’s employee benefits, and awards under the applicable equity incentive plans). Within five (5) days of the expiration of the Employment Period or any such Company request, Executive shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.

 

(d) All trade secrets, non-public or competitively valuable information, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by or disclosed to Executive, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period that Executive is employed or engaged by the Company or any other member of the Company Group (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to any member of the Company Group’s businesses or properties, products or services (including all such information relating to corporate opportunities, operations, future plans, methods of doing business, business plans, strategies for developing business and market share, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or acquisition targets or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within customers’ organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) is defined as “Confidential Information.” Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, e-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, drawings, architectural renditions, models and all other writings or materials of any type including or embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or the other applicable member of the Company Group and be subject to the same restrictions on disclosure applicable to all Confidential Information pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or wrongful act of Executive or any of Executive’s agents; (ii) was available to Executive on a non-confidential basis before its disclosure by a member of the Company Group; or (iii) becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a member of the Company Group; provided, however, that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation with respect to confidentiality to, a member of the Company Group.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Executive from lawfully: (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by, any governmental authority regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Executive from any such governmental authority (including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission); (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in any action or proceeding by any such governmental authority relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law. Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (B) is made to the individual’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against the individual for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (C) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement requires Executive to obtain prior authorization before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Executive has engaged in any such conduct.

 

7.Ownership of Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Executive agrees that the Company shall own, and Executive shall (and hereby does) assign, all right, title and interest (including patent rights, copyrights, trade secret rights, mask work rights, trademark rights, and all other intellectual and industrial property rights of any sort throughout the world) relating to any and all inventions (whether or not patentable), discoveries, developments, improvements, innovations, works of authorship, mask works, designs, know-how, ideas, formulae, processes, techniques, data and information authored, created, contributed to, made or conceived or reduced to practice, in whole or in part, by Executive during the period in which Executive is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, whether or not registerable under U.S. law or the laws of other jurisdictions, that either (a) relate, at the time of conception, reduction to practice, creation, derivation or development, to any member of the Company Group’s businesses or actual or anticipated research or development, or (b) were developed on any amount of the Company’s or any other member of the Company Group’s time or with the use of any member of the Company Group’s equipment, supplies, facilities or Confidential Information (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as “Company Intellectual Property”), and Executive shall promptly disclose all Company Intellectual Property to the Company in writing. To support Executive’s disclosure obligation herein, Executive shall keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Company Intellectual Property made by Executive (solely or jointly with others) during the period in which Executive is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group in such form as may be specified from time to time by the Company. These records shall be available to, and remain the sole property of, the Company at all times.

 

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(b) All of Executive’s works of authorship and associated copyrights created during the period in which Executive is employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group and in the scope of Executive’s employment or engagement shall be deemed to be “works made for hire” within the meaning of the Copyright Act. To the extent any right, title and interest in and to Company Intellectual Property cannot be assigned by Executive to the Company, Executive shall grant, and does hereby grant, to the Company Group an exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable, irrevocable, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, reproduce, practice and otherwise commercialize such rights, title and interest.

 

(c) Executive recognizes that this Agreement will not be deemed to require assignment of any invention or intellectual property that Executive developed entirely on Executive’s own time without using the equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets, or Confidential Information of any member of the Company Group. In addition, this Agreement does not apply to any invention that qualifies fully for protection from assignment to the Company under any specifically applicable state law or regulation.

 

(d) To the extent allowed by law, this Section applies to all rights that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like, including without limitation those rights set forth in 17 U.S.C. §106A (collectively, “Moral Rights”). To the extent Executive retains any Moral Rights under applicable law, Executive hereby ratifies and consents to any action that may be taken with respect to such Moral Rights by or authorized by the Company or any member of the Company Group, and Executive hereby waives and agrees not to assert any Moral Rights with respect to such Moral Rights. Executive shall confirm any such ratifications, consents, waivers, and agreements from time to time as requested by the Company.

 

(e) All inventions (whether or not patentable), original works of authorship, designs, know-how, mask works, ideas, trademarks or names, information, developments, improvements, and trade secrets of which Executive is the sole or joint author, creator, contributor, or inventor that were made or developed by Executive prior to Executive’s employment with or affiliation with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, or in which Executive asserts any intellectual property right, and which are applicable to or relate in any way to the business, products, services, or demonstrably anticipated research and development or business of any member of the Company Group (“Prior Inventions”) are listed on Exhibit A, and Executive represents that Exhibit A is a complete list of all such Prior Inventions. If no such list is attached, Executive hereby represents and warrants that there are no Prior Inventions, and Executive shall make no claim of any rights to any Prior Inventions. If, in the course of Executive’s employment with or affiliation with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, Executive incorporates into the product, process, or device of any member of the Company Group a Prior Invention, the Company Group is hereby granted and will have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, import, export, offer for sale, sell and otherwise commercialize such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process, or device of any member of the Company Group.

 

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(f) Executive shall perform, during and after the period in which Executive is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by the Company to permit and assist each member of the Company Group, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights and title throughout the world in the Company Intellectual Property and Confidential Information assigned, to be assigned, or licensed to the Company under this Agreement. Such acts may include execution of documents and assistance or cooperation (i) in the filing, prosecution, registration, and memorialization of assignment of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask work, or other applications, (ii) in the enforcement of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask work, moral rights, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights, and (iii) in other legal proceedings related to the Company Intellectual Property or Confidential Information.

 

(g) In the event that the Company (or, as applicable, a member of the Company Group) is unable for any reason to secure Executive’s signature to any document required to file, prosecute, register, or memorialize the assignment of any patent, copyright, mask work or other applications or to enforce any patent, copyright, mask work, moral right, trade secret or other proprietary right under any Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property (including derivative works, improvements, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisionals, continuations in part, continuing patent applications, reissues, and reexaminations of such Company Intellectual Property), Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and each of the Company’s duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on Executive’s behalf and instead of Executive (i) to execute, file, prosecute, register and memorialize the assignment of any such application, (ii) to execute and file any documentation required for such enforcement, and (iii) to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the filing, prosecution, registration, memorialization of assignment, issuance, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, mask works, moral rights, trade secrets or other rights under the Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property, all with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive.

 

(h) In the event that Executive enters into, on behalf of any member of the Company Group, any contracts or agreements relating to any Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property, Executive shall assign such contracts or agreements to the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) promptly, and in any event, prior to Executive’s termination. If the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) is unable for any reason to secure Executive’s signature to any document required to assign said contracts or agreements, or if Executive does not assign said contracts or agreements to the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) prior to Executive’s termination, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) and each of the Company’s duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on Executive’s behalf and instead of Executive to execute said assignments and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the execution of said documents.

 

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(i) The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive has provided services to the Company or another member of the Company Group prior to the Effective Date. Accordingly, if and to the extent that, prior to the Effective Date: (a) Executive conceived, made, developed, acquired or received access to any information from or on behalf of the Company or any other member of the Company Group that would have been Confidential Information if conceived, made, developed, acquired or received after the Effective Date; or (b) Executive conceived, created, authored, invented, developed, or reduced to practice any item, including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto, that would have been Company Intellectual Property if conceived, created, authored, invented, developed, or reduced to practice after the Effective Date, then such information will be deemed Confidential Information under this Agreement and any such item will be deemed Company Intellectual Property under this Agreement, and this Agreement will apply to such information or item as if conceived, created, authored, invented, developed, or reduced to practice following the Effective Date.

 

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company Group shall obtain no legal rights of any kind to any work product of Executive produced on Executive’s own time, and not with the use of any equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets, or Confidential Information of any member of the Company Group.

 

8.Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement.

 

(a) The Company shall provide Executive access to Confidential Information for use only during the Employment Period, and Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company Group will be entrusting Executive, in Executive’s unique and special capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company Group, and in consideration of the Company providing Executive with access to Confidential Information and as an express incentive for the Company to enter into this Agreement and employ Executive hereunder, Executive has voluntarily agreed to the covenants set forth in this Section 8. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the limitations and restrictions set forth herein, including geographical and temporal restrictions on certain competitive activities, are reasonable in all respects, do not interfere with public interests, will not cause Executive undue hardship, and are material and substantial parts of this Agreement intended and necessary to prevent unfair competition and to protect the Company Group’s Confidential Information, goodwill and legitimate business interests.

 

(b) During the Prohibited Period (as defined below), Executive shall not, and shall cause Executive’s controlled affiliates not to, as applicable, without the prior written approval of the Board, directly or indirectly, for Executive or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person or entity of any nature:

 

(i) engage in or participate within the Market Area (as defined below) in competition with any member of the Company Group in any aspect of the Business (as defined below), which prohibition shall prevent Executive and Executive’s controlled affiliates, as applicable, from directly or indirectly: (A) owning, managing, operating, or being an officer or director of, any business that competes with any member of the Company Group in the Market Area, or (B) joining, becoming an employee or consultant of, or otherwise being affiliated with, any person or entity engaged in, or planning to engage in, the Business in the Market Area in competition, or anticipated competition, with any member of the Company Group in any capacity (with respect to this clause (B)) in which Executive’s duties or responsibilities: (x) are the same as or similar to the duties or responsibilities that Executive had on behalf of any member of the Company Group, or (y) involve direct or indirect oversight of, or responsibility for, duties or responsibilities that are the same or similar to the duties or responsibilities that Executive had on behalf of any member of the Company Group;

 

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(ii) appropriate any Business Opportunity (as defined below) of, or relating to, any member of the Company Group located in the Market Area;

 

(iii) solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any customer or supplier of any member of the Company Group with whom or which Executive had contact on behalf of any member of the Company Group to cease or lessen such customer’s or supplier’s business with any member of the Company Group; or

 

(iv) solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any employee or contractor of any member of the Company Group to terminate his, her or its employment or engagement with any member of the Company Group.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a violation of Section 8(b)(i) above for Executive to hold, as a passive investment, up to five percent (5%) of (i) the publicly traded securities of any company, or (ii) the equity or other interests in a privately held entity that engages in the Business so long as, in each instance, Executive does not have the power to direct or control the applicable entity.

 

(d) Executive shall not make any negative statements or communications to any Person that is intended to or is reasonably likely to harm the business or disparage the reputation of any member of the Company Group or any of their respective direct or indirect equity holders, directors, officers or employees. The Company shall direct its officers, managers, and directors to not make or cause to be made any negative statements or communications to any Person that is intended to or is reasonably likely to harm the business or disparage the reputation of Executive or Executive’s affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to require any person to make any untruthful statement or to violate any law.

 

(e) Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company Group as a result of a breach or threatened breach of the covenants set forth in Section 6, Section 7 and in this Section 8, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that would be caused to the members of the Company Group for which they would have no other adequate remedy, the Company and each other member of the Company Group shall be entitled to enforce the foregoing covenants, in the event of a breach or threatened breach as determined by the Board in its reasonable discretion, by injunctions and restraining orders from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall not be the Company’s or any other member of the Company Group’s exclusive remedy for a breach or threatened breach but instead shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and each other member of the Company Group at law and equity.

 

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(f) The covenants in this Section 8, and each provision and portion hereof, are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant (or portion thereof) shall not affect the provisions of any other covenant (or portion thereof). Moreover, in the event any arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent which such arbitrator or court deems reasonable, and this Agreement shall thereby be reformed.

 

(g) The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Agreement:

 

(i) “Business” shall mean the business and operations that are the same or similar to those performed by the Company and any other member of the Company Group for which Executive provides services or about which Executive obtains Confidential Information during the period that Executive is employed by any member of the Company Group, which business and operations include industrial air gas production and off-take (sales), air gas manufacturing and development including building plants, and securing feedstock as a source of energy.

 

(ii) “Business Opportunity” shall mean any commercial, investment or other business opportunity relating to the Business.

 

(iii) “Market Area” shall mean North America and Latin America.

 

(iv) “Prohibited Period” shall mean the period during which Executive is employed by any member of the Company Group and continuing for a period of: (A) twelve (12) months following the date that Executive is no longer employed by any member of the Company Group, with respect to the covenants set forth in Sections 8(b)(i) and 8(b)(ii) above; and (B) eighteen (18) months following the date that Executive is no longer employed by any member of the Company Group with respect to the covenants set forth in Sections 8(b)(iii) and 8(b)(iv) above.

 

9.Successors and Third-Party Beneficiaries.

 

(a) This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

 

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. In addition, each member of the Company Group that is not a signatory hereto shall be entitled to enforce Sections 6, 7 and 8 above as if a party hereto.

 

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10.Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 10(b) and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York.

 

(b) Arbitration

 

(i) Subject to Section 10(b)(ii), any dispute, controversy or claim between Executive and any member of the Company Group arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Executive’s employment or engagement with any member of the Company Group will be finally settled by arbitration in New York, New York in accordance with the then-existing American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) Employment Arbitration Rules. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both parties. Any arbitration conducted under this Section 10 shall be private, and shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA. The Arbitrator shall expeditiously hear and decide all matters concerning the dispute. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the Arbitrator shall have the power to (i) gather such materials, information, testimony and evidence as the Arbitrator deems relevant to the dispute before him or her (and each party will provide such materials, information, testimony and evidence requested by the Arbitrator), and (ii) grant injunctive relief and enforce specific performance. All disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and each party hereto hereby foregoes and waives any right to arbitrate any dispute as a class action or collective action or on a consolidated basis or in a representative capacity on behalf of other persons or entities who are claimed to be similarly situated, or to participate as a class member in such a proceeding. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, be final and binding upon the disputing parties and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. The party whom the Arbitrator determines is the prevailing party in such arbitration shall receive, in addition to any other award pursuant to such arbitration or associated judgment, reimbursement from the other party of all reasonable legal fees and costs associated with such arbitration and associated judgment.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 10(b)(i), either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Sections 6, 7 or 8 provided, however, that the remainder of any such dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 10(b). Further notwithstanding the foregoing, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to any award agreement or incentive equity plan (including the LTIP and any award agreement granted in connection therewith) shall be subject to resolution pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the applicable plan document and award agreement.

 

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(iii) By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 10(b), THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.

 

(iv) Nothing in this Section 10(b) shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (A) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (B) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement. Further, nothing in this Section 10(b) precludes Executive from filing a charge or complaint with a federal, state or other governmental administrative agency.

 

(c) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to Executive: at Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

 

If to the Company:

 

Global Hydrogen Energy LLC

c/o Dune Acquisition Corporation

700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 204

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attention: Carter Glatt

Telephone: (917) 742-1904

E-mail: carter@duneacq.com

 

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. For the avoidance of doubt, any written notice to or from Parent shall be deemed a written notice to or from the Company.

 

(d) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company or Parent determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(e) Section 409A.

 

(i) The parties agree that any amounts payable under this Agreement are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) or an exemption therefrom.

 

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided hereunder (including any right to a series of installment payments) shall be construed as a separate identified payment or a right to a series of separate payments for purposes of Section 409A. Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

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(iii) With respect to any reimbursement of expenses of, or any provision of in-kind benefits to, Executive, as specified under this Agreement, such reimbursement of expenses or provision of in-kind benefits shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in one taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in any other taxable year, except for any medical reimbursement arrangement providing for the reimbursement of expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code; (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made no later than the end of the year after the year in which such expense was incurred; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(iv) Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of Executive’s employment shall only be made if such termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A.

 

(v) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the Separation Date or if any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A if Executive’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the earlier of (A) the date of Executive’s death or (B) the date that is six (6) months after the Date of Termination (such date, the “Section 409A Payment Date”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Executive (or Executive’s estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date; provided that this paragraph shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A. Any amounts otherwise payable to Executive upon or in the six (6) month period following Executive’s separation from service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 10(e)(v) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in any event within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after Executive’s separation from service (provided that in the event of Executive’s death after such separation from service but prior to payment, then such payment shall be made as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of Executive’s death) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor Parent makes any representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A and in no event shall the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Executive on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

 

19

 

 

(f) Clawback. To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, amounts of incentive-based compensation paid or payable under this Agreement (including any Annual Bonus, Equity Awards, and compensation provided pursuant to Section 4 hereunder, other than the Accrued Obligations) shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures required by law or any applicable exchange listing standard (or any policies or procedures adopted by Parent, the Company or any other member of the Company Group), which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of incentive-based compensation paid or payable under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, the Company and each other member of the Company Group reserves the right, without the consent of Executive, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect. For the avoidance of doubt, no recovery of incentive-based compensation paid or payable under this Agreement under any such clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for Good Reason under this Agreement.

 

(g) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision or term hereof is deemed to have exceeded applicable legal authority or shall be in conflict with applicable legal limitations, such provision shall be reformed and rewritten as necessary to achieve consistency with such applicable law.

 

(h) Withholding. The Company may withhold and deduct from any amounts payable under this Agreement (a) all federal, state, local and other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and (b) any deductions consented to in writing by Executive.

 

(i) No Waiver. The Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Company may have hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

(j) Employment-At-Will. Executive acknowledges that Executive’s employment with the Company is “at-will” for all purposes and, subject to the termination and severance obligations contained in Sections 3 and 4 above, Executive hereby agrees that the Company (and any other member of the Company Group that employs Executive) may dismiss Executive and terminate Executive’s employment at any time, with or without Cause.

 

(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement will automatically become null and void in the event the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing. Upon the Closing, this Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof (including any prior employment agreement among the parties); provided, however, this Agreement will complement (and not supersede or replace) any other agreement between Executive, on the one hand, and any member of the Company Group, on the other hand, with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure, return of property, intellectual property and work product protections, non-competition or non-solicitation. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument executed by both parties hereto. Executive further represents and agrees that Executive has received all payments, bonuses, wages, and other compensation, and all rights and benefits, that Executive has been entitled to receive from any member of the Company Group for all services performed or provided through the Effective Date (other than any right to payment of base salary for services provided in that portion of the pay period in which the Effective Date occurs that is prior to the Effective Date).

 

20

 

 

(l) Survival. Section 4 (Obligations of the Company Upon Termination), Section 5 (Certain Excise Taxes), Section 6 (Confidentiality; Return of Materials), Section 7 (Ownership of Intellectual Property), Section 8 (Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement), Section 9 (Successors and Third-Party Beneficiaries), and Section 10(a) – 10(k) (Miscellaneous) of this Agreement shall survive termination or expiration of the Employment Period and shall continue in effect following such time.

 

(m) Representations and Warranties. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that (i) this Agreement is valid and binding upon and enforceable against him in accordance with its terms, (ii) Executive is not bound by or subject to any contractual or other obligation that would be violated by Executive’s execution or performance of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any non-competition agreement or other agreement or obligation with any third party or prior employer, and (iii) Executive is not subject to any pending or, to Executive’s knowledge, a judgment or order relating to any matter of the type referenced in Section 3(b)(iv). Executive has not entered into, and agrees that Executive will not enter into, any agreement either written or oral in conflict herewith. In performing Executive’s duties hereunder, Executive will not use or disclose any trade secrets or legally protected information belonging to any prior employer or any entity that is not a member of the Company Group.

 

(n) Consultation with Counsel. Executive acknowledges that Executive has had a full and complete opportunity to consult with counsel and other advisors of Executive’s own choosing concerning the terms, enforceability and implications of this Agreement, and that the Company has not made any representations or warranties to Executive concerning the terms, enforceability or implications of this Agreement other than as reflected in this Agreement.

 

(o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(p) Deemed Resignations. Except as otherwise determined by the Board or as otherwise agreed to in writing by Executive and any member of the Company Group prior to the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, Parent or any member of the Company Group, any termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute, as applicable, an automatic resignation of Executive: (i) as an officer of the Company and each member of the Company Group; (ii) from the Board; and (c) from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any member of the Company Group and from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any corporation, limited liability entity, unlimited liability entity or other entity in which any member of the Company Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) Executive serves as such Company Group member’s designee or other representative.

 

21

 

 

(q) Titles and Headings; Interpretation. The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes and headings to Sections hereof are for the purpose of reference only and shall in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the provisions hereof. Any and all Exhibits or Attachments referred to in this Agreement are, by such reference, incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references herein to an agreement, instrument or other document shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented, modified and restated from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof. The word “or” as used herein is not exclusive and is deemed to have the meaning “and/or.” All references to “dollars” or “$” in this Agreement refer to United States dollars. The words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other compounds of the word “here” shall refer to the entire Agreement, including all Exhibits attached hereto, and not to any particular provision hereof. Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party hereto, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of the parties hereto.

 

[Signatures follow on next page.]

 

22

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the Effective Date.

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

 

By: /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.  
Name:  William Bennett Nance, Jr.  
Its: Manager  

 

EXECUTIVE  
     
Signature:  /s/ William Bennett Nance, Jr.  
Print Name: William Bennett Nance, Jr.  

 

Signature page to

Employment agreement

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

PRIOR INVENTIONS

 

1. The following is a complete list of all Prior Inventions relevant to the subject matter of Executive’s employment by the Company that have been made or conceived or first reduced to practice by Executive alone or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with or affiliation with the Company or any other member of the Company Group:

Check appropriate space(s):

 

oNone.

 

oSee below:
   
   
   

 

oDue to confidentiality agreements with a prior employer, Executive cannot disclose certain Prior Inventions that would otherwise be included on the above-described list.

 

oAdditional sheets attached.

 

2. Executive proposes to bring to Executive’s employment the following devices, materials, and documents of a former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality that is not generally available to the public, which materials and documents may be used in Executive’s employment pursuant to the express written authorization of Executive’s former employer or such other person (a copy of which is attached to this Agreement):

 

Check appropriate space(s):

 

oNone.

 

oSee below.
   
   

 

oAdditional sheets attached.

 

 

Exhibit a

 

 

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

GLOBAL GAS CORPORATION

 

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

(Adopted by the Board of Directors, effective December 21, 2023)

 

Global Gas Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is committed to conducting its business in accordance with the highest standards of business conduct and ethics, and applicable laws, regulations, rules and standards. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “Code”) is designed to help to foster a culture of honesty and accountability by setting forth principles that govern how the Company does business, guidance in dealing with ethical issues and mechanisms to ask questions and report concerns. In addition, this Code does not reflect all policies and procedures of the Company, certain of which are set forth in other policies that are available upon request directed to the Company’s Chief Operating Officer or Human Resources designee.

 

APPLICABILITY AND CERTIFICATION

 

This Code applies to all employees, officers and directors of the Company, including all employees, officers and directors of the Company’s subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “you”), and applies whether you are working at the Company’s premises or at any other location, including working remotely. In addition, the Company seeks to do business with agents, consultants, contractors, suppliers and other third parties who act in a manner consistent with this Code.

 

You are required to become familiar with this Code and conduct yourself honestly, ethically and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards and the Company’s policies. You are required to certify, upon joining the Company and annually thereafter, as to your compliance with this Code.

 

ASKING QUESTIONS AND RAISING CONCERNS

 

There may be times when you are faced with a difficult situation not specifically addressed in this Code or other policy. If you are ever unsure about the right thing to do in a business situation, you should seek guidance. In addition, you have a responsibility to promptly report if you know of or suspect misconduct. Reporting concerns contributes to the Company’s ethical culture and helps the Company promptly address situations that, if left unaddressed, could adversely impact the Company and others.

 

The Company is committed to fostering an environment in which all employees are encouraged to ask questions and raise concerns about any potential, suspected or known violation that has occurred, may occur and/or is occurring of any applicable law, regulation, rule or standard, this Code or any other Company policy, free from fear of discrimination, harassment or other forms of retaliation.

 

Reports or concerns may be made confidentiality or anonymously through the Ethics Hotline or Reporting Website, which are operated by a third party contracted by the Company. These reporting mechanisms are designed to protect confidentiality and requested anonymity while providing the Company with information so that it can investigate reports of actual or suspected misconduct as appropriate.

 

 

 

 

REPORTING CONCERNS

 

Any person may report a concern in writing or orally by communicating it to one of the following:

 

Your manager

 

Compliance (supervised by the Chief Operating Officer unless another person has been designated by the Board of Directors)

 

Human Resources designee

 

The Chief Operating Officer

 

For accounting, auditing and financial disclosure related concerns: Audit Committee, 99 Wall St., Ste. 436, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Audit Committee Chair

 

Ethics Hotline: [To Come] (oral reporting only)

 

Reporting Website at [To Come] (written reporting only)

 

If you submit a concern orally to your manager, Compliance, Human Resources, the Chief Operating Officer or the Audit Committee, you should request written acknowledgment that you have submitted a concern.

 

If you make your report to the Ethics Hotline or the Reporting Website, a third party contracted by the Company will take your initial report and handle gathering any follow-up information. You will be assigned a case number that will serve as confirmation of your submission and facilitate the providing of additional information if needed or requested. The initial report and any additional information are then communicated to the Company.

 

All reported concerns will be reviewed by Compliance, and concerns regarding accounting, auditing and financial disclosure will also be communicated to the chair of the Audit Committee.

 

Confidential Reporting

 

You may request that your report of a concern through any of the channels listed above be treated confidentially subject to the Company’s interests in properly investigating the concern and/or taking other action to protect the health and safety of individuals and the Company’s interests.

 

Anonymous Reporting

 

You may also report concerns anonymously to:

 

For accounting, auditing and financial disclosure related concerns: Audit Committee, 99 Wall St., Ste. 436, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Audit Committee Chair

 

2

 

 

Ethics Hotline: [To Come] (oral reporting only)

 

Reporting Website at [To Come] (written reporting only)

 

If you submit a concern anonymously, please ensure that you provide sufficiently detailed information to enable the concern to be properly investigated (including, for example, details relating to the facts underlying the concern and the person(s) involved).

 

If you choose to make your report anonymously to the Ethics Hotline or the Reporting Website, a third party contracted by the Company will take your initial report and handle gathering any follow-up information. The initial report and any additional information are then communicated to the Company without disclosing any information about you. You will be assigned a case number that will serve as confirmation of your submission and facilitate the providing of additional information if needed or requested.

 

All anonymously reported concerns will be reviewed by Compliance, and concerns regarding accounting, auditing and financial disclosure will also be communicated to the chair of the Audit Committee.

 

While the Company encourages internal reporting to the Company of concerns, nothing in this Code restricts or limits your ability to report concerns directly to a regulatory agency.

 

 

Protection for Reporting Concerns / Anti-Retaliation Policy

 

Certain laws and regulations prohibit retaliatory action against employees who report potential wrongdoing in certain circumstances. The Company prohibits retaliation against employees for reporting concerns in good faith or for participating in an investigation. Making a report in “good faith” means that you have provided all the information you have and that you reasonably believe there has been a possible violation of applicable law, regulation, rule or standard, this Code or any other Company policy, even if your report turns out to be unsubstantiated. Retaliation includes any unfavorable job action (such as termination, demotion, suspension, discipline, reduced hours, transfer or adverse compensation action), threat, harassment or other discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment.

 

Retaliation is a violation of this Code and the Policy for Reporting Concerns and may also violate the law. Any retaliation should be reported in accordance with this Code and the policy for reporting concerns.

 

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CODE VIOLATIONS

 

Because this Code is a key component of the Company’s compliance program and plays an integral role in safeguarding the Company’s ethical culture and reputation, Code violations may result in serious disciplinary action—up to and including termination where permitted by law. In appropriate cases, the Company may also refer misconduct to the proper authorities for prosecution. This may subject the individuals involved to civil and/or criminal penalties.

 

WAIVERS

 

Any waiver of this Code for an officer or a director must be granted in writing by the Audit Committee and shall be publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Waivers for other employees must be granted in writing by the Chief Operating Officer or the Chief Operating Officer’s designee.

 

Refer to the policy for reporting concerns for more information about asking questions and reporting concerns, including confidential reporting and investigations.

 

3

 

 

MAINTAINING A SAFE AND FAIR WORKPLACE

 

Fair Employment

 

The Company is committed to providing a work environment in which each individual is treated with fairness and respect and without discrimination or harassment. This applies to recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, termination, promotions or any other terms and conditions of employment.

 

 

Do:

 

Seek out skilled individuals with integrity from a diverse range of cultural and educational backgrounds.

 

Promote a workplace that allows each employee, officer or director the opportunity to develop his or her full potential to strengthen the Company.

 

Make merit-based employment decisions.

 

Provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals in all aspects of the employment process.

 

Abide by wage and hour laws and regulations in the locations where the Company does business.

 

Do Not:

 

Discriminate against Company or non-Company personnel with whom the Company has a business relationship with regard to race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, citizenship status, military service or reserve or veteran status, marital status, age or other characteristic protected by law.

 

Employ children or forced labor or do business with third parties who do.

 

 

Non-Harassment

 

You must not harass others or create or allow an unprofessional, offensive or hostile work environment. Harassing behavior may be sexual or non-sexual and can include, for example, epithets, slurs, stereotyping, insulting jokes, unwelcome sexual advances or physical contact, offensive or sexually suggestive comments, touching, requests for sexual favors or the display or circulation of offensive or degrading images, text or other material.

 

Safe and Healthy Workplace

 

Employees, officers and directors of the Company each have a responsibility to the Company and to each other to promote a safe and secure workplace for all employees. It is your responsibility to know and follow the safety policies, procedures and local laws that apply to your job. You must ensure work areas are secured and free from hazards and workplace violence and report accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions.

 

4

 

 

Employees, officers and directors of the Company must not use, possess or be under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or any substance that could interfere with safely performing your work. While alcohol may be served at certain Company functions, you are reminded to consume at reasonable limits and to maintain a high level of professionalism at such functions.

 

As a government contractor, the Company will comply with all requirements for a United States federal drug free workplace. Company personnel shall report to work free from the influence of any substance that could impair job performance.

 

You must not possess, use or distribute pornographic, racist, sexist or otherwise offensive materials on the Company’s property or use the Company’s property or networks to obtain or view such information.

 

ACTING IN THE COMPANY’S BEST INTERESTS

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

A conflict of interest occurs when your personal interests interfere, or appear to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. Conflicts of interest can make it difficult for personnel to perform their jobs objectively and effectively. In general, you must avoid, where possible, any interest, investment or association in which a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict, might arise.

 

This Code requires the ethical handling of conflicts that cannot be avoided. Any situation, transaction or relationship that you are involved in that may give rise to an actual, apparent or potential conflict of interest must be disclosed in advance to and, if appropriate, approved by (a) for officers and directors, the Audit Committee and (b) for other employees, the Chief Operating Officer or the Chief Operating Officer’s designee.

 

 

Examples of Conflicts of Interest

 

Directly supervising a family member

 

Competing with the Company

 

Using Company property, information or position for personal gain

 

Engaging in a close personal relationship with someone in your department

 

Overseeing a customer or supplier in which a family member is the key contact/decision maker

 

Receiving a gift from a third party while negotiating, or during the course of a contractual relationship, on the Company’s behalf

 

 

See also the “Gifts and Entertainment” section below.

 

Corporate Opportunities

 

You are required to advance the Company’s legitimate business interests whenever possible. This means that you must not take for yourself any business opportunities that you discover through the use of Company property or information or through your position with the Company, unless disclosed in advance to and, if appropriate, approved by (a) for officers and directors, the Audit Committee and (b) for other employees, the Chief Operating Officer or the Chief Operating Officer’s designee.

 

5

 

 

Political and Charitable Contributions

 

The Company encourages giving personal time and funds to support the political candidates and charitable causes of your choice. However, employees, officers and directors of the Company cannot use Company resources or the Company’s name when making contributions to, or involving themselves in, such activities without first obtaining approval. Payments of corporate funds to any political party, candidate or campaign may be made only if permitted under applicable law and approved in writing in advance by the Chief Operating Officer. Payments of corporate funds to any charitable organization or cause may be made only if approved in advance by the Chief Operating Officer.

 

Refer to the Related Party Transaction Policy for more information about conflicts of interests and outside employment.

 

PROTECTING COMPANY ASSETS AND INFORMATION

 

Employees, officers and directors of the Company must ensure the proper and efficient use of Company property and protect it from theft, damage, loss and misuse. “Company property” includes the Company’s physical and intangible assets, such as facilities, equipment, vehicles, software, computers, funds and supplies, as well as the Company’s network and computer systems; power and energy sources; ideas and innovations; and confidential information and data.

 

Technological Equipment

 

Employees, officers and directors of the Company must use the Company’s technological equipment for business purposes and to serve the Company’s interests. This equipment includes computers and related equipment, smart phones and tablets, software, information technology systems, networks and storage media. The Company owns or has been licensed to use the technology you use in the Company’s businesses, including hardware, software and computer systems. You are responsible for taking proper security precautions when using the Company’s networks and information technology systems. Be sure to secure your computers, phones, tablets and other devices properly when unattended. Before sending information considered sensitive or vulnerable, you should password protect or encrypt the information.

 

Confidential Information

 

Confidential information is an important Company asset. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors or harmful to the Company or other companies with which the Company does business, if disclosed. This includes all information, in any format, that the Company has a legitimate business interest in protecting. Confidential information includes technology, products, concepts, valuable ideas, trade secrets, technical information, strategies, business and product plans, customer and employee information, as well as other non-public information about the Company (whether or not material to the Company) or that might be of use to competitors or harmful to the Company, its customers, suppliers or other stakeholders if disclosed. Confidential information may also include information received from or relating to third parties with which the Company has or is contemplating a relationship, such as current or potential customers, operators, suppliers or strategic partners, and, in addition, may consist of the fact of such relationship or contemplation of such relationship.

 

6

 

 

You must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to you by the Company or companies with which the Company does business, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated.

 

The obligation to treat information as confidential does not end when an individual leaves the Company. Upon separation from the Company, everything that belongs to the Company, including all documents and other materials containing confidential information, must be returned.

 

 

Do:

 

Carefully guard against disclosure of confidential information to people outside the Company (including but not limited to family members and business or social acquaintances).

 

Provide confidential information only to co-workers or outside third parties who have a need to know for business purposes or where such disclosure is legally mandated under the guidance and direction of the Chief Operating Officer.

 

Use nondisclosure agreements when you need to disclose confidential information to outside third parties.

 

Use confidential information received from outside third parties only for the specific purpose for which it was disclosed and consistent with the terms of the applicable nondisclosure agreement.

 

Comply with applicable privacy, information security and data protection laws that govern the handling of private and sensitive information (see the “Data Privacy and Protecting Employee Data” section below for more information).

 

Return all confidential information in your possession when you leave the Company, wherever that information is located.

 

Do Not:

 

Use confidential information for your own personal benefit or the personal benefit of persons inside or outside the Company.

 

Discuss confidential information in places (public or otherwise) where outside parties can overhear you such as taxis, public transportation, elevators or restaurants.

 

Ask new employees for confidential information about, or acquired at or from, their former employer.

 

 

In addition, if you have signed a confidentiality agreement with the Company, refer to that agreement for more information regarding your specific obligations in relation to confidential information.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Patents, copyrights and trademarks are legal terms that define when an invention, product, written work or name is owned by an individual or company and use of these by others is prohibited without express permission. Ownership rights in patents, copyrights and trademarks are granted on a country-by-country basis. You may sometimes develop ideas, processes and technology on the Company’s behalf or in the scope of your work for the Company that will be protected by patents, copyrights, trademarks or trade secret laws. This “intellectual property” usually belongs to the Company, depending on the situation. As required by law and the terms of your employment, each of you agrees to assign the rights to any such intellectual property to the Company.

 

7

 

 

Do:

 

Obtain express permission from the owner before using patents, copyrights and trademarks belonging to others.

 

Obtain authorization from the author or owner before copying or using proprietary data, product drawings, user manuals, names or software created by someone else.

 

Communicate with the internal or external IT Department prior to downloading any software to your Company computer.

 

Do Not:

 

Plagiarize or make inappropriate use of articles or materials published by others.

 

Download, open or use computer software for which there are no software licensing agreements, which could violate copyright laws or that does not have a business purpose.

 

 

Data Privacy and Protecting Employee Data

 

The Company protects personal data through organizational and technical measures including IT security tools, restrictions on access to the data and physical security measures to help prevent unauthorized or unlawful access, disclosure, loss, destruction or damage. The Company accesses and uses personal data only for legitimate business purposes and maintains appropriate access controls and use limitations. Only those individuals who need the data to accomplish a business objective should have access to personal data and only for as long as they need it to accomplish the objective.

 

You are required to follow all applicable privacy, information security and data protection laws that govern the handling, use and retention of personal data, which means any information that, standing alone or in connection with other data, could be used to identify the individual to whom the information relates. Some information is particularly sensitive personal data, such as health information, government identification numbers and compensation data, and is subject to even further protections.

 

Any collection, storage, processing, transfer, sharing or use of personal data must be done in a manner that protects such data from inadvertent or unauthorized access, use, disclosure, loss, destruction or damage, and any authorized disclosure or use must be in compliance with local laws.

 

Electronic Communications

 

The Company provides resources such as computers, phones and other physical assets to enable you to conduct business. While you are permitted limited personal use of these assets, such personal use should not detract from the performance of your duties or violate any Company policy or applicable law.

 

8

 

 

You must not use these resources to improperly disclose or misuse the Company’s confidential information, conduct illegal activities, access or download obscene or sexually explicit material, or communicate discriminatory, harassing or threatening messages. You have no expectation of personal privacy in connection with the use of Company resources unless otherwise permitted by law. The Company reserves all rights, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to monitor and review any messages, internet browsing history and other information sent, received or viewed using Company resources.

 

 

Do:

 

Keep personal data secure and confidential at all times.

 

Maintain accuracy of personal data.

 

Only collect data that is relevant to the purpose for which it is collected.

 

Do Not:

 

Share personal data with anyone who does not have a relevant and legitimate business responsibility related to the data.

 

Retain personal data longer than necessary to complete business objectives or meet legal requirements.

 

Transfer data outside the country in which it was collected without guidance from Compliance (supervised by the Chief Operating Officer unless another person has been designated by the Board of Directors).

 

 

Records Management

 

In the course of its business, the Company produces and receives large numbers of records, both paper and electronic. You are required to comply with the policy regarding how long you should retain records and when and how you should dispose of them. The Company’s policy is to identify, maintain, safeguard and destroy or retain, as applicable, all records in the Company’s possession on a systematic and regular basis.

 

If you are notified that documents and records in your possession are relevant to any pending or contemplated litigation or an investigation or audit, do not alter, delete or destroy the records, and follow the guidelines set forth in the notification. This may require you to affirmatively preserve from destruction all relevant records that, without intervention, would automatically be destroyed or erased (such as emails and voicemail messages). Destruction of such records, even if inadvertent, could seriously prejudice the Company.

 

Responding to Inquiries

 

To ensure that the Company speaks with one voice and has a consistent message, only designated spokespersons within the Company are authorized to make certain statements to the public on behalf of or about the Company. If you are contacted by anyone outside the Company seeking information about the Company and you have not been expressly authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer to provide such information, you should refer the request to the Chief Financial Officer or Investor Relations designee. Requests for information from regulators or the government should be referred to the Chief Operating Officer.

 

9

 

 

COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND RULES

 

Accurate Books and Records

 

All Company documents must be completed accurately and in a timely manner, including all personnel, time, safety, travel and expense reports. When applicable, documents must be properly authorized. You must not make false or misleading entries, records or documentation.

 

The Company’s financial activities must be recorded in compliance with all applicable laws and accounting practices, and the Company’s internal controls, to enable full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosures.

 

Insider Trading

 

You are generally prohibited by Company policy and by law from buying or selling publicly traded securities for any purpose at a time when you are in possession of “material nonpublic information.” This conduct is known as “insider trading.” Passing such information on to someone who may buy or sell securities – known as “tipping” – is also illegal. Information is considered “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making a decision to buy, sell or hold a security.

 

Under the Company’s Insider Trading and Confidentiality Policy, officers, directors and certain employees are also subject to blackout periods during which they are generally prohibited from buying or selling Company stock or other derivative Company securities.

 

 

Examples of Material Information

 

internal financial information which departs in any way from what the market would expect;

 

changes in sales, earnings or dividends;

 

guidance/projections and other statements regarding earnings, sales and/or profit estimates;

 

an important financing transaction;

 

stock splits or other transactions relating to the Company’s securities including its common stock, options to purchase common stock, preferred stock, bonds and other debt securities, convertible debentures, warrants and any other types of securities the Company may issue, as well as derivative securities not issued by the Company such as exchange-traded put or call options or swaps relating to securities of the Company;

 

mergers, tender offers or acquisitions of other companies, or major purchases or sales of assets;

 

entry into, renewals and terminations of large contracts;

 

sales or purchases by the Company of its own securities;

 

major litigation or regulatory developments;

 

significant project or product or service offering developments, or changes in lines of business;

 

gain or loss of a major customer or supplier;

 

changes in control;

 

changes in the Board of Directors or senior management;

 

changes in auditors or auditor notification that the Company may no longer rely on an audit report;

 

major transactions with other companies or entities, such as joint ventures or licensing agreements;

 

the extent to which external events, including but not limited to pandemics, have had or will have a material impact on the Company’s operating results; and

 

a major cybersecurity incident.

 

 

See the Company’s Insider Trading and Confidentiality Policy for more information.

 

10

 

 

Anti-Money Laundering

 

Money laundering is the process by which individuals or entities move criminal funds through the financial system in order to hide traces of their criminal origin or otherwise try to make these funds look legitimate. The Company is committed to complying fully with all applicable anti-money laundering laws.

 

 

Examples of Money Laundering “Red Flags”

 

Payments made in currencies other than those specified in the invoice

 

Attempts to make large payments in cash (i.e., physical currency)

 

Payments made by or to a third party not involved in the contract or an account other than the normal business relationship account 12

 

Requests or attempts to make payments for each invoice or group of invoices through multiple forms of payment

 

Requests to make an overpayment

 

 

Fair Dealing

 

The Company depends on its reputation for quality, service and integrity. You are required to deal truthfully with the Company’s customers and business partners, without manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair dealing practice. You must not make false or misleading statements about the Company’s competitors or their products or services.

 

Bribery and Corruption

 

Offering or paying bribes to win business or obtain an unfair advantage is unacceptable no matter where the Company is doing business, even if business is lost or difficulties are encountered as a result (for example, delays in obtaining permits or licenses). Offering, paying, accepting or soliciting bribes, kickbacks, payoffs, inducements and other corrupt payments may expose individuals and the Company to civil and/or criminal liability.

 

A “bribe” is anything of value offered, promised or given directly or indirectly to improperly influence the actions of a third party in order to obtain or retain business or gain a business advantage. Bribes may include money in any form (including cash equivalents), gifts, travel or other expenses, entertainment or other hospitality, below-market loans, discounts, favors, business or employment opportunities, political or charitable contributions, or any direct or indirect benefit. The Company does not permit “facilitating payments” to expedite the routine performance of legitimate duties, except in extraordinary circumstances as approved by the Chief Operating Officer.

 

You must not engage in corruption, extortion or embezzlement in any form with any third party, public or private, whether offered, paid, accepted or solicited directly by the Company’s employees or indirectly through third parties. You must not use agents, consultants, independent contractors or other third parties to do indirectly what you cannot do directly under this Code or applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

Gifts and Entertainment

 

Gifts and entertainment can foster positive business relationships but may create an inappropriate expectation or feeling of obligation or give rise to a conflict of interest. Care must be exercised when giving gifts or extending hospitality to avoid being perceived as trying to influence a decision or outcome. You are required to understand and abide by this Code and the law when offering or accepting any gifts or entertainment from customers, suppliers, other business partners, government officials or their family members.

 

11

 

 

You are required to obtain approval from the Chief Operating Officer when offering or accepting gifts or entertainment (a) of any amount to any government official and (b) exceeding $100 in value.

 

When working with potential or existing government customers, it is critical that you abide by the various laws, regulations and rules that apply to government contract work. These rules are often much more strict and complex than those that govern the Company’s sales to commercial customers. If you work on projects involving government agencies, it is your responsibility to know and follow the particular rules that apply to those customers and their projects.

 

 

Do:

 

Only accept unsolicited gifts and entertainment that are customary and commonly accepted, not excessive in value and given and accepted without an express or implied understanding that you are in any way obligated by your acceptance of the gift or entertainment.

 

Ensure that any gifts and entertainment offered by the Company are in connection with Company business, in good taste, customary and commonly accepted, and not excessive in value.

 

Do Not:

 

Accept any gifts or entertainment that could influence or be perceived to influence their business decisions on behalf of the Company.

 

Request or ask for gifts or entertainment from people doing business with the Company.

 

Accept any gift of cash or cash equivalents (including gift certificates, securities, below-market loans, etc.) in any amount.

 

Offer any gift or entertainment that would violate the other party’s gift and entertainment policy.

 

 

Competition Laws

 

Competition laws are designed to promote a free and open marketplace by prohibiting arrangements with competitors that restrain trade. You must not enter into any anti-competitive arrangements, such as agreements with competitors that affect prices, costs, terms or conditions of sale, the markets in which you and/or they will compete, or customers or suppliers with whom you and/or they will do business.

 

Trade Controls

 

You are required to comply with all applicable trade laws and economic sanctions laws and regulations. These laws generally apply to the import, export and transfer of certain products and technology by U.S. companies.

 

Environment and Human Rights

 

The Company is committed to creating economic value for stockholders and customers through sustainable practices that protect the long-term well-being of the environment, the Company’s employees and the communities in which the Company operates.

 

You are required to comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations and standards, and minimize any adverse impact on the environment. You must also endeavor to conserve natural resources and energy, and reduce or eliminate waste and the use of hazardous substances.

 

To enable the Company to conduct business in a way that respects and upholds fundamental human rights, you are required to comply with laws, regulations and standards that relate to human rights topics such as equal employment opportunities, freedom of association, child and forced labor, human trafficking and health and safety. See the “Maintaining a Safe and Fair Workplace” section above for more information.

 

Neither the adoption of this Code nor any description of its provisions constitutes a representation of full compliance with this Code. This Code does not, in any way, constitute an employment contract or an assurance of continued employment. This Code is not intended to create any third-party rights and should not be construed to do so.

 

12

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I hereby certify that I have received and read the Global Gas Corporation Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”). I understand the Code’s contents, am in compliance with the Code and agree to continue to comply with the Code.

 

   
  Signature
   
   
  Printed Name
   
   
  Title
   
   
  Date

 

 

13

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

December 28, 2023

 

Office of the Chief Accountant

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have read the statements of Global Gas Corporation (formerly known as Dune Acquisition Corporation) (the “Company”) included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated December 28, 2023. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01, in which we were informed of our dismissal on December 21, 2023. We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC  
WithumSmith+Brown, PC  
New York, New York  

 

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

Name   State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation
Global Gas Holdings LLC   Delaware
Global Hydrogen Energy LLC   Delaware
Dune Merger Sub, Inc.   Delaware
Dune Merger Sub II, LLC   Delaware

Exhibit 99.1

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

 

INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Financial Statements:    
Balance Sheets   2
Statements of Operations   3
Statements of Changes in Members’ (Deficit) Equity   4
Statement of Cash Flows   5
Notes to Financial Statements   6

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

BALANCE SHEETS

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2023   2023 
   (Unaudited)     
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents  $527   $12,500 
Prepaid expenses   708     
Total Current Assets   1,235    12,500 
TOTAL ASSETS  $1,235   $12,500 
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   289,698    42 
Advances – related party   792    574 
Promissory note – related party   83,950     
Total Current Liabilities   374,440    616 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   374,440    616 
           
MEMBERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY          
Members’ (deficit) equity   (373,205)   11,884 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY  $1,235   $12,500 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.

 

2

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

    For the
three months
ended

September 30,
    For the
period from
February 16, 2023
(inception) to
September 30,
 
    2023     2023  
Operating Expenses:            
General and administrative   $ 132,864       385,216  
Start up costs           574  
Loss from operations     (132,864 )     (385,790 )
                 
Other income:                
Interest income     36       85  
Net loss   $ (132,828 )     (385,705 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.

 

3

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

(UNAUDITED)

 

   Members’       Total
Members’
 
   Contribution
Amount
   Accumulated
Deficit
   (Deficit)
Equity
 
Balance February 16, 2023 (inception)  $   $   $ 
Members’ Contribution of Capital   12,500        12,500 
Net loss       (616)   (616)
Balance, March 31, 2023  $12,500   $(616)  $11,884 
Net loss       (252,261)   (252,261)
Balance, June 30, 2023   12,500    (252,877)   (240,377)
Net loss       (132,828)   (132,828)
Balance, September 30, 2023   12,500    (385,705)   (373,205)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.

 

4

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the
period
from February 16,
2023
(Inception) to
September 30,
 
   2023 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:    
Net loss  $(385,705)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:     
Prepaid expenses   (708)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   289,698 
Net cash used in operating activities   (96,715)
      
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:     
Capital contribution from Members   12,500 
Advances – related party   792 
Proceeds from promissory note – related party   83,950 
Net cash provided by financing activities   97,242 
      
Net increase in cash   527 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period    
Cash, end of period  $527 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.

 

5

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

 

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

Global Hydrogen Energy LLC (the “Company,” “Global Hydrogen”), a Delaware limited liability company was formed to be a pure play Airgas supplier offering hydrogen and Carbon dioxide from waste biogas and renewable feedstock.

 

On May 14, 2023, the Company, entered into a Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Dune (“Holdings”), Dune Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Dune”) (see note 5).

 

Going Concern

 

Since inception, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity have been cash flows from contributions from a member and a related party. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had an aggregate cash and cash and cash equivalents balance of $527 and net working capital deficit of $373,205.

 

On June 21, 2023, the Company entered into an unsecured promissory note with an affiliate pursuant to which the affiliate agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate principal amount of $250,000 (the “Note”) for working capital purposes and to expenses related to the Business Combination (see note 5).

 

The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the Company’s revenue growth rate, the timing and extent of spending to support further sales and marketing and research and development efforts. In order to finance these opportunities, the Company will need to raise additional financing. While there can be no assurances, the Company intends to raise such capital through issuances of additional equity raises, as well as through the Business Combination. If additional financing is required from outside sources, the Company may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital when desired, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.

 

As a result of the above, in connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company’s liquidity condition raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through twelve months from the date these unaudited financial statements are available to be issued. These unaudited financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of accounting

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). References to GAAP issued by the FASB in these accompanying notes to the unaudited financial statements are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

 

Operating results for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the period ending December 31, 2023.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the accompanying unaudited financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are adjusted to reflect actual experience when necessary. There were no significant estimates for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023.

 

6

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash is comprised of cash in the bank which is subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 2023, cash amounted to $527. There were no cash equivalents at September 30, 2023 and at March 31, 2023.

 

Income taxes

 

As a limited liability company, the Company is not directly liable for federal income taxes. Such taxes are the responsibility of the individual members. Income and losses for tax purposes may differ from the unaudited financial statement amounts and may be allocated to the members on a different basis for tax purposes than for financial statement purposes. The members’ equity balances as reflected in the accompanying unaudited financial statements do not necessarily represent the members’ tax basis of their respective interests.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

The Company is expected to be an “emerging growth company”, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected to take advantage of the extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards and to adopt certain of the reduced disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies. As a result of the accounting standards election, the Company will not be subject to the same implementation timeline for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies which may make comparison of the Company’s unaudited financial statements to those of other public companies more difficult.

 

3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Advances – Related party

 

From February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023, a member advanced the company a total of $792 to cover start-up and other operating costs. These amounts are due on demand.

 

Promissory Note – Related Party

 

On June 21, 2023, the Company entered into an unsecured promissory note (the “Note”) with an affiliate pursuant to which the affiliate agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate principal amount of $250,000 for working capital purposes and to pay expenses related to the Business Combination. The Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of the date on which the Company consummates a Business Combination or December 31, 2023. The Note is not convertible. As of September 30, 2023, there were $83,950 outstanding under the Note.

 

4. MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

The Company’s Operating Agreement (“LLC Agreement”) authorizes the contribution of capital by each member based on specific ownership interests. As of September 30, 2023, total equity contributed was $12,500.

 

7

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

 

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Unit Purchase Agreement

 

On May 14, 2023, the Company, entered into a Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among Global Gas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Dune (“Holdings”), Dune Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Dune”).

 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, at the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), (a) Dune will contribute to Holdings all of its assets (excluding its interests in Holdings and the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to satisfy any redemptions by Dune’s public stockholders (“Dune Stockholder Redemptions”)), and in exchange therefore, Holdings will issue to Dune a number of common equity units of Holdings (“Holdings Common Units”) which will equal the number of total shares of Dune’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Dune Class A Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (taking into account any equity financing agreements entered into by Dune between the signing date of the Purchase Agreement and the Closing and giving effect to all Dune Stockholder Redemptions) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”) and (b) immediately after the SPAC Contribution, the members of the Company will transfer, convey, assign and deliver all of the limited liability company equity interests of the Company (“Company Units”) to Holdings in exchange for shares of Dune’s Class B voting non-economic common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Dune Class B Common Stock” and, together with Dune Class A Common Stock, “Dune Common Stock”), and Holdings Common Units (together with the SPAC Contribution, the “Combination Transactions”), as a result of which, (i) each issued and outstanding Company Unit immediately prior to the Combination Transactions will be held by Holdings, (ii) each Seller will receive an aggregate number of Holdings Common Units and shares of Dune Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Company Units held by such Seller, multiplied by the Company Exchange Ratio (as defined below), and (iii) Dune will change its name to Global Gas Corporation (“New Global Hydrogen”) and New Global Hydrogen will be the publicly traded reporting company in an “Up-C” Structure (clauses (i) through (iii) collectively, and together with the Combination Transactions and the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, being referred to collectively hereafter as the “Transactions”).

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated under certain limited circumstances prior to the Closing, including, among others, (i) by mutual written consent of Dune and the Company, (ii) by either Dune or the Company if there is in effect any law or final, non-appealable order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, ruling, stipulation, determination or award issued, promulgated, made, rendered or entered into by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction that permanently restrains, enjoins, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Business Combination, (iii) by either Dune or the Company if the Closing has not occurred by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2024, (iv) by either Dune or the Company if certain approvals of Dune’s stockholders are not obtained, (v) by Dune if the Company has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements under the Purchase Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would result in the failure to satisfy the representations and warranties and covenant bring-down conditions to Dune’s obligation to close and (B) is not capable of being cured or cannot be cured during the applicable cure period and (vi) by the Company if Dune has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements under the Purchase Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would result in the failure to satisfy the representations and warranties and covenant bring-down conditions to the Company’s obligation to close and (B) is not capable of being cured or cannot be cured during the applicable cure period. In the event the Purchase Agreement is terminated as a result of clause (iii) above (unless at or prior to the time of such termination, there has been a Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Purchase Agreement)) or as a result of clause (v) above, the Company shall pay to Dune, within five (5) business days of the termination date, a termination fee of $7,500,000 (the “Termination Fee”), which shall be (i) payable in cash or (ii) by transfer of 50% of the fully diluted equity of the Company, free and clear of all Liens (as defined in the Purchase Agreement). The members of the Company provide a guaranty to Dune, on a joint and several basis, of the due and punctual payment of the Termination Fee.

 

Legal Fees

 

On April 10, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with its solicitors, whereby the solicitors will provide legal counsel on matters related to the Business Combination. Pursuant the terms of the agreement, the fees for the service are billed hourly with a cap of $165,000 conditioned on (a) the services are within the scope of the agreement and, (b) no extensive comments or protracted discussions on the Business Combination documents are expected. The fees are payable upon the consummation of a Business Combination which is expected to be on or before December 31, 2023. In the event that a Business Combination does not take place, the fees will be discounted at 30%. At September 30, 2023, the Company received billing report under this agreement in the amount of $582,662 for out-of-scope services. In a settlement agreement dated December 13, 2023, the solicitors agreed to accept payment of $165,000 at closing of the Business Combination and $35,000 no later than March 31, 2024 for partial settlement of legal fees of approximately $625,000 owing as of November 30, 2023. In addition, pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to pay $0 or 5% of 2024 Free Cash Flow up to a maximum of $200,000 if Free Cash Flow in 2024 is less than $2 million or more than $2 million, respectively. The Company also agreed to pay $0 or 5% of 2025 Free Cash Flow up to a maximum of $325,000 if Free Cash Flow in 2025 is less than $2 million or more than $2 million, respectively. Total cumulative payments for 2024 and 2025 should not exceed $325,000. For the purposes of the settlement agreement, Free Cash Flow is defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditure. As of September 30, 2023, the Company has accrued $200,000 relating to this obligation. The Company has determined the likelihood of further payment at this time is remote and therefore has not recorded any additional accruals. The Company will re-assess this at each reporting period.

 

8

 

 

GLOBAL HYDROGEN ENERGY LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

 

6. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Forward Purchase Agreement (“FPA”)

 

In connection with the Business Combination, on December 1, 2023, the Company and Dune entered into a forward purchase agreement (the “FPA”) with each of (i) Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”), (ii) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”) and (iii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO” and, collectively with MSC and MCP, the “Seller”) for an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction. For purposes of the Forward Purchase Agreement, Dune is referred to as the “Counterparty” prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, while Global Gas Corporation is referred to as the “Counterparty” after the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

The FPA provides that Seller be paid directly an aggregate cash amount (the “Prepayment Amount”) on the closing date equal to the product of (i) the Number of Shares as set forth in each Pricing Date Notice and (ii) the redemption price per share (the “Initial Price”) as defined in Section 9.2(a) of Dune's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), less (iii) an amount in US dollars equal to 0.5% of the product of the number of shares of Dune Class A Common Stock purchased by Seller separately from third parties through a broker in the open market (“Recycled Shares”) and the Initial Price paid by Seller to Counterparty (which amount shall be netted from the Prepayment Amount) (the “Prepayment Shortfall”). Pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Seller purchased 258,394 Recycled Shares prior to the closing of the Business Combination.

 

In addition to the Prepayment Amount, the Counterparty paid directly from the Trust Account, on the closing date, an amount equal to the product of (x) 80,000 and (y) the Initial Price. The shares purchased with the Share Consideration (as defined in the Forward Purchase Agreement) (the “Share Consideration Shares”) was incremental to the Maximum Number of Shares (defined as 950,000 shares of Class A Common Stock minus the Share Consideration Shares), will not be included in the Number of Shares in the Transaction (each as defined in the Forward Purchase Agreement) and will be subject to a three-month holding period.

 

The reset price (the “Reset Price”) will be $10.00; provided, however, that the Reset Price will be reduced immediately to any lower price at which the Counterparty sells, issues or grants any Dune Class A Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into Dune Class A Common Stock (excluding any secondary transfers) (a “Dilutive Offering”), then the Reset Price shall be modified to equal such reduced price as of such date (subject to certain customary exceptions).

 

FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement

 

On December 1, 2023, Dune entered into a subscription agreement (the “FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement”) with the Seller.

 

Pursuant to the FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement, on the closing date, the Seller acquired 681,220 shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company.

 

Business Combination

 

As previously disclosed on May 15, 2023, Dune entered into a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated May 14, 2023 (as amended on August 22, 2023 and on November 24, 2023, the “Purchase Agreement”), with Global Gas Holdings LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Dune, Global Hydrogen Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global Hydrogen”), and William Bennett Nance, Jr., Sergio Martinez and Barbara Guay Martinez, the equity holders of Global Hydrogen, pursuant to which Dune and Global Hydrogen agreed to enter into a business combination transaction (the “Business Combination”).

 

On December 21, 2023, Dune and Global Hydrogen completed its previously announced Business Combination without Nasdaq listing approval due to the failure of the combined company to satisfy all of the initial listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market as of the closing of the Business Combination. The combined company, now named Global Gas Corporation intends to work expeditiously to satisfy all of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards as promptly as practicable.

 

 

9

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Defined terms included below shall have the same meaning as terms defined and included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”.)

 

Introduction

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the combination of financial information of Dune and Global Hydrogen, adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and related transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses” to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). Dune has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 assumes that the Business Combination occurred on September 30, 2023. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 present pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2022.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been presented for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect what the Company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.

 

The historical financial information of Dune was derived from the unaudited financial statements of Dune as of and for the period ended September 30, 2023, which are included in Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and the audited financial statements of Dune for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are included in the Proxy Statement. The historical financial information of Global Hydrogen was derived from the unaudited financial statements of Global Hydrogen as of and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023, which are included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K. This information should be read together with (i) Dune’s and Global Hydrogen’s audited and unaudited financial statements and related notes, (ii) the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Dune” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Global Hydrogen” of the Proxy Statement, (iii) other financial information included in the Proxy Statement, (iv) Dune management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 included in Item 2 of Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and (v) Global Hydrogen management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 included as Exhibit 99.3 to the Form 8-K.

 

Description of the Business Combination

 

On May 14, 2023, Dune entered into the Purchase Agreement with Holdings, Global Hydrogen and the Sellers, pursuant to which, on December 21, 2023, (a) Dune contributed to Holdings all of its assets (excluding its interests in Holdings and the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to satisfy any redemptions by Dune’s public stockholders), and in exchange therefor, Holdings issued to Dune a number of Holdings Common Units which equals the number of total shares of Dune Class A Common Stock, issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (taking into account any equity financing agreements entered into by Dune between the signing date of the Purchase Agreement and the Closing and giving effect to all Dune Stockholder Redemptions) and (b) immediately after the SPAC Contribution, the Sellers transferred all of the Global Hydrogen Units to Holdings in exchange for shares of Dune Class B Common Stock, and Holdings Common Units, as a result of which, (i) each issued and outstanding Global Hydrogen Unit immediately prior to the Combination Transactions were held by Holdings, (ii) each Seller received an aggregate number of Holdings Common Units and shares of Dune Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Global Hydrogen Units held by such Seller, multiplied by the Company Exchange Ratio, and (iii) Dune changed its name to Global Gas Corporation and the Company is the publicly traded reporting company in an “Up-C” structure, and its common stock and warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “HGAS” and “HGASW.” References herein to the “Company” refer to Global Gas Corporation following the closing of the Business Combination.

 

 

 

 

On August 23, 2023, Dune, Holdings, Global Hydrogen and the Sellers entered into the First Amendment to the Purchase Agreement (the “First Amendment”), pursuant to which the aggregate share consideration to be paid to the Sellers (as set forth in the “Company Equity Value” definition in the Purchase Agreement) was reduced from $57.5 million to $48.0 million.

 

On November 24, 2023, Dune, Holdings, Global Hydrogen and the Sellers entered into the Second Amendment to the Purchase Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), pursuant to which (i) the aggregate share consideration to be paid to the Sellers (as set forth in the “Company Equity Value” definition in the Purchase Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment) was reduced from $48.0 million to $43.0 million and (ii) the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for delivery under Section 4(a) of the Global Gas Corporation 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan was increased from 900,000 to 1,400,000, of which up to 500,000 shares of common stock may be used for joint venture, consulting or other strategic business partnerships or relationships.

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

In connection with the Business Combination, on December 1, 2023, Dune and Global Hydrogen entered into a forward purchase agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with each of (i) Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”), (ii) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”) and (iii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO” and, collectively with MSC and MCP, the “Seller”) for an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction. For purposes of the Forward Purchase Agreement, Dune is referred to as the “Counterparty” prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, while Global Gas Corporation is referred to as the “Counterparty” after the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

The Forward Purchase Agreement provides that Seller be paid directly an aggregate cash amount (the “Prepayment Amount”) on the Closing Date equal to the product of (i) the Number of Shares as set forth in each Pricing Date Notice and (ii) the redemption price per share (the “Initial Price”) as defined in Section 9.2(a) of Dune’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), less (iii) an amount in US dollars equal to 0.5% of the product of the number of shares of Dune Class A Common Stock purchased by Seller separately from third parties through a broker in the open market (“Recycled Shares”) and the Initial Price paid by Seller to Counterparty (which amount shall be netted from the Prepayment Amount) (the “Prepayment Shortfall”). Pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Seller purchased 258,394 Recycled Shares prior to the closing of the Business Combination.

 

In addition to the Prepayment Amount, the Counterparty paid directly from the Trust Account, on the Closing Date, an amount equal to the product of (x) 80,000 and (y) the Initial Price. The shares purchased with the Share Consideration (as defined in the Forward Purchase Agreement) (the “Share Consideration Shares”) was incremental to the Maximum Number of Shares (defined as 950,000 shares of Class A Common Stock minus the Share Consideration Shares), will not be included in the Number of Shares in the Transaction (each as defined in the Forward Purchase Agreement) and will be subject to a three-month holding period.

 

The reset price (the “Reset Price”) will be $10.00; provided, however, that the Reset Price will be reduced immediately to any lower price at which the Counterparty sells, issues or grants any Dune Class A Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into Dune Class A Common Stock (excluding any secondary transfers) (a “Dilutive Offering”), then the Reset Price shall be modified to equal such reduced price as of such date (subject to certain customary exceptions).

 

FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement

 

On December 1, 2023, Dune entered into a subscription agreement (the “FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement”) with the Seller. 

 

Pursuant to the FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Seller acquired 681,220 shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company.

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the pro forma number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding following the consummation of the Business Combination and the Forward Purchase Agreement, excluding the potential dilutive effect of outstanding Company warrants.

 

Equity Capitalization Summary  Shares   % 
Global Hydrogen Stockholders   4,300,000    44.2%
Dune Public Stockholders   176,142    1.8%
Dune Sponsor   4,312,500    44.3%
Entities affiliated with Meteora Capital, LLC   939,614    9.7%
Total common stock   9,728,256    100.0%

 

Accounting Treatment

 

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, although Dune acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Global Hydrogen in the Business Combination, Dune was treated as the “acquired” company and Global Hydrogen was treated as the accounting acquirer for financial statement reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Global Hydrogen issuing stock for the net assets of Dune, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Dune were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination were those of Global Hydrogen.

 

Global Hydrogen was determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:

 

Global Hydrogen’s existing stockholders have significant voting interest in New Global;

 

Global Hydrogen’s existing stockholders have the ability to control decisions regarding election and removal of directors and officers of the Company;

 

Global Hydrogen comprises the ongoing operations of the Company; and

 

Global Hydrogen’s existing senior management is the senior management of the Company.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are based on the audited and unaudited historical financial statements of Dune and Global Hydrogen. The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based on information currently available, and assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions used to present the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and include immaterial rounding differences.

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   Global
Hydrogen
(Historical)
   Dune
(Historical)
   Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
      Pro Forma
Combined
 
Assets:                   
Current assets:                   
Cash  $             1   $1   $2,000   (C)  $   175 
              (1,644)  (D)     
              (203)  (I)     
              20   (J)     
                        
Prepaid expenses   1    20           21 
Total current assets   2    21    173       196 
Cash and investments held in Trust Account       12,081    (7,498)  (A)    
              (2,583)  (B)     
              (2,000)  (C)     
Total Assets  $2   $12,102   $(11,908)     $196 
                        
Liabilities, Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption, and Stockholders’ Deficit:                       
Current liabilities:                       
Accounts payable  $   $229   $      $229 
Accrued expenses   290    1,545    (1,608)  (D)   227 
Due to related party   1    2           3 
Franchise tax payable       150    (150)  (I)    
Income tax payable       79    (36)  (I)   43 
Promissory note – related party   84    20    20   (J)   124 
Total current liabilities   375    2,025    (1,774)      626 
Derivative warrant liabilities       943           943 
Total liabilities   375    2,968    (1,774)      1,569 

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET — (Continued)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   Global
Hydrogen
(Historical)
   Dune
(Historical)
   Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
      Pro Forma
Combined
 
Dune Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption, 1,182,054 shares at redemption value                —    11,821    (7,498)  (A)              — 
              (4,323)  (G)     
Stockholders’ Deficit:                       
Dune preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding                   
Dune Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 380,000,000 shares authorized; no non-redeemable shares issued or outstanding              (B)    
                 (G)     
                 (H)     
                        
Dune Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and
outstanding
              (H)    
Global Hydrogen members’ equity   (373)       373   (E)    
Company preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding                   
Company Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 380,000,000 shares authorized; no non-redeemable shares issued or outstanding           1   (H)   1 
Company Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding              (E)    
                        
FPA asset           (5,731)  (B)   (5,731)
                        
Additional paid-in capital           3,959   (B)    
              (36)  (D)     
              (373)  (E)     
              (3,515)  (F)     
              4,323   (G)     
              (1)  (H)     
              (4,357)  (K)     
Accumulated deficit       (2,687)   (811)  (B)   4,357 
              3,515   (F)     
              (17)  (I)     
              4,357   (K)     
Total stockholders’ deficit   (373)   (2,687)   1,687       (1,373)
Total Liabilities, Dune Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption, and Stockholders’ Deficit  $2   $12,102   $(11,908)     $196 

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    Global
Hydrogen
(Historical)
    Dune
(Historical)
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
 
Operating expenses                            
General and administrative expenses   $       338     $     2,071     $         $ 2,409  
General and administrative expenses – related party           90       (90 )   (BB)      
Franchise tax expense           150                 150  
Start-up costs     1                       1  
Total operating expenses     339       2,311       (90 )         2,560  
                                     
Loss from operations     (339 )     (2,311 )     90           (2,560 )
                                     
Other income (expense):                                    
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities           (809 )               (809 )
Other income from write-off of legal fees           2,106                 2,106  
Interest earned on operating account           8                 8  
Income on investments held in Trust Account           318       (318 )   (AA)      
Total other income, net           1,623       (318 )         1,305  
                                     
Loss before income tax expense     (339 )     (688 )     (228 )         (1,255 )
Provision for income tax                            
Net loss   $ (339 )   $ (688 )   $ (228 )       $ (1,255 )
                                     
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Dune Class A Common Stock           $ (0.13 )                    
                                     
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Dune Class B Common Stock           $ (0.13 )                    
                                     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted                                 9,728,256  
                                     
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted                               $ (0.13 )

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   Global
Hydrogen
(Historical)
   Dune
(Historical)
   Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
      Pro Forma
Combined
 
Operating expenses                   
General and administrative expenses  $         —   $2,883   $ 811   (CC)  $3,694 
General and administrative expenses – related party       120    (120)  (BB)    
Franchise tax expense       226    17   (DD)   243 
Total operating expenses       3,229    708       3,937 
                        
Loss from operations       (3,229)   (708)      (3,937)
                        
Other income (expense):                       
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities       6,468           6,468 
Gain on extinguishment of deferred underwriting commissions allocated to derivative warrant liabilities       288           288 
Gain on settlement       2,750           2,750 
Interest earned on operating account                   
Income on investments held in Trust Account       363    (363)  (AA)    
Total other (expense) income, net       9,869    (363)      9,506 
                        
(Loss) income before income tax expense       6,640    (1,071)      5,569 
Provision for income tax       79           79 
Net (loss) income  $   $6,561   $(1,071)     $5,490 
                        
Basic and diluted net income per share, Dune Class A Common Stock       $0.50              
                        
Basic and diluted net income per share, Dune Class B Common Stock       $0.50              
                        
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted                     9,728,256 
                        
Net income per common share, basic and diluted                    $0.56 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP as Global Hydrogen was determined to be the accounting acquirer, primarily due to the fact that Global Hydrogen stockholders continue to control the Company. Under this method of accounting, although Dune acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Global Hydrogen in the Business Combination, Dune was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Global Hydrogen issuing stock for the net assets of Dune, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Dune were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination were those of Global Hydrogen.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 assumes that the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on September 30, 2023. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2022.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:

 

Dune’s unaudited balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 and the related notes for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, included in Dune’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023; and

 

Global Hydrogen’s unaudited balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 and the related notes for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023, included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:

 

Dune’s unaudited statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the related notes, included in the Proxy Statement; and

 

Global Hydrogen’s unaudited statement of operations for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 and the related notes, included in the Proxy Statement.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:

 

Dune’s audited statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the related notes, included in the Proxy Statement.

 

As the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared based on these preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded may differ materially from the information presented.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings or cost savings that may be associated with the Business Combination.

 

The pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Business Combination are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that Dune believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. Dune believes that its assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Business Combination based on information available to management at this time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

 

 

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position would have been had the Business Combination taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the combined company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of Dune and Global Hydrogen.

 

2. Accounting Policies

 

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, management has performed a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management has not identified differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company. Based on its analysis, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.

 

3. Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Business Combination and has been prepared for informational purposes only. The historical financial statements have been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to give pro forma effect to events that are expected to have a continuing impact on the results of the Company.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses” to depict Transaction Accounting Adjustments and Management’s Adjustments. Dune has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and is only presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

The audited and unaudited historical financial statements have been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to give pro forma effect to transaction accounting adjustments that reflect the accounting for the transaction under GAAP. Global Hydrogen and Dune have not had any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.

 

The pro forma combined provision for income taxes does not necessarily reflect the amounts that would have resulted had the combined company filed consolidated income tax returns during the periods presented. The pro forma condensed combined balance sheet does not necessarily reflect the deferred taxes of the Company as a result of the Business Combination. Upon Closing of the Business Combination, it is likely that the Company will record a valuation allowance against the total U.S. and state deferred tax assets given the history of net operating losses and valuation allowance of Global Hydrogen as the recoverability of the tax assets is uncertain.

 

The pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations are based upon the number of the Company’s shares outstanding, assuming the Business Combination occurred on January 1, 2022.

 

Transaction Accounting Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

 

The Transaction Accounting Adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2023 are as follows:

 

(A) Reflects the redemption of 1,005,912 shares of Dune Class A common stock at a redemption price of $10.03 per share upon the Business Combination, net of the proceeds from Meteora’s purchase of 258,394 Recycled Shares at an Initial Price of $10.03 per share, resulting in a redemption payment of $7.5 million from the Trust Account to Dune Public Stockholders.

 

(B) Reflects the issuance of 258,394 Recycled Shares and 681,220 PIPE Shares to Meteora upon the Business Combination and transfer of the Prepayment Amount and the Share Consideration Amount from the Trust Account. The Prepayment Amount equals to the product of the number of Recycled Shares and the Initial Price, less an amount equal to 0.5% of the product of the number of Recycled Shares and the Initial Price (the “Prepayment Shortfall”).

 

 

 

 

(C) Reflects the transfer of cash and investments held in the Trust Account to cash.

 

(D) Reflects preliminary estimated Business Combination related fees and expenses expected to be incurred by Dune and Global Hydrogen of approximately $1.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively. For the Dune transaction costs, $0.2 million have been paid and $1.3 million have been accrued as of the pro forma balance sheet date. For the Global Hydrogen transaction costs, $0.3 million have been accrued as of the pro forma balance sheet date.

 

(E) Reflects the issuance of 4,300,000 shares of Company Class B Common Stock to the Sellers upon the Closing of the Business Combination.

 

(F) Reflects the elimination of Dune’s historical accumulated deficit after recording the Prepayment Shortfall and the Share Consideration Amount as described in (B) above, and the payment of additional franchise tax payable as described in (I) below.

 

(G) Reflects the reclassification of 176,142 shares of Dune Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to permanent equity.

 

(H) Represents the exchange of 1,115,756 shares of Dune Class A Common Stock and 4,312,500 founder shares into the same number of shares of Company Class A Common Stock at par value of $0.0001 per share after giving effect to the Business Combination.

 

(I) Represents the payment of franchise tax payable and income tax payable subsequent to September 30, 2023.

 

(J) Represents the advances from related party subsequent to September 30, 2023.

 

(K) Reflects the reclassification among equity to avoid negative additional paid-in capital.

 

Transaction Accounting Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations

 

The Transaction Accounting Adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

(AA) Represents an adjustment to eliminate interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2022.

 

(BB) Represents an adjustment to eliminate administrative service fees that will cease to be paid upon Closing of the Business Combination after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2022.

 

(CC) Represents the payment of Prepayment Shortfall and Share Consideration Amount as described in (B) above.

 

(DD) Represents the payment of additional franchise tax payable as described in (I) above.

 

4. Net Loss per Share

 

Represents the net loss per share calculated using the historical weighted average shares outstanding, and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Business Combination, assuming the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2022. As the Business Combination and related transactions are being reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of January 1, 2022, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Business Combination have been outstanding for the entire periods presented.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared with the actual redemptions of Dune public shares by Dune Public Stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022:

  

(in thousands, except share and per share data)  Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
   Year Ended
December 31,
2022
 
Net (loss) income  $(1,255)  $5,490 
Weighted average shares outstanding of common stock, basic and diluted   9,728,256    9,728,256 
Net (loss) income per common share, basic and diluted  $(0.13)  $0.56 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF GLOBAL HYDROGEN

 

The following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” should be read in conjunction with Global Hydrogen’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023, our audited financial statements for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to March 31, 2023, the notes to our unaudited financial statements and audited financial statements, and other information included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to those differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Additionally, our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in any future period. Amounts are presented in U.S. dollars.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to “we,” “us,” “Global Hydrogen,” “our” and “the Company” generally refer to Global Hydrogen Energy LLC prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. Defined Terms included herein shall have the same meaning as terms defined and included elsewhere in this Form 8-K.

 

Business Overview

 

Global Hydrogen is a nascent pure-play hydrogen and carbon recovery project developer and industrial gas supplier that has commenced initial operations and is building a growing project development pipeline. Potential projects are added to the project development pipeline only after Global Hydrogen has met with the potential customer, discussed the scope of the project and discussed the project’s feasibility, preliminary sizing and design. Since its inception, Global Hydrogen has worked to establish relationships in the form of channel checks with non-exclusive independent equipment suppliers and discussions with vendors, but the Company has not yet generated any revenue or reached final terms with any paying customers or suppliers. As we expand our operations, we intend to offer potential customers reliable, low-carbon and clean hydrogen, pure carbon dioxide, and other gases generated from a variety of feedstocks. We intend for our operations to include (i) the sourcing, identification, evaluation and vetting of offtake customers seeking to purchase industrial gases, (ii) the securing of local feedstocks, equipment, and utilities, (iii) the planning and management of projects and (iv) the structuring and financing of our projects. We intend to offer our customers attractive pricing as we select and secure local, often waste, feedstock, and plan to deploy established industrial gas generation, storage, compression, and dispensing technologies in our projects. On each planned project, we seek to sell multiple gas products, sourced from a single feedstock, for offtake to customers. We also intend to utilize and bring to market secondary offtake products such as oxygen. The Company was founded in 2023 by a team with over a decade of hydrogen experience and several decades of business development, mergers & acquisitions, and capital markets experience. Global Hydrogen is currently a 100% minority-owned business and we are targeting both privately- and publicly-funded hydrogen development and selected carbon recovery projects, including projects supported by local, county, state, and national-level governments in North America, Western Europe, and Great Britain.

 

In selecting feedstock to generate industrial gases, we will primarily target renewable waste and will need to seek arrangements with owners of renewable waste feedstock, such as wastewater treatment plants, landfills, food waste processing facilities, and agricultural farms, to access their renewable waste feedstock. In addition to generating industrial gases from renewable waste feedstock, we plan to generate gases from non-renewable sources including pipeline natural gas. We will need to seek arrangement with owners of such non-renewable feedstock. On projects where a non-renewable, or high greenhouse gas output, energy source is used, as well as on selected other projects where such technology is required to produce clean hydrogen, we may deploy carbon recovery technology — more commonly known as carbon capture technology.

 

 

 

 

On the hydrogen side, we serve traditional industrial gas customers, and are particularly focused on plans to serve the rapidly growing hydrogen-as-energy-carrier market, comprising heavy duty hauling transportation operators such as transit bus agencies, long haul truck fleet operators, truck leasing operators, and refuse collection truck operators, many of whom are considering deploying hydrogen fuel cell powertrain vehicles to decarbonize their fleets which currently runs almost exclusively on diesel. On the carbon dioxide side, we target both traditional industrial users of the gas, including food & beverage grade users such as brewers and beverage bottlers requiring carbonation, as well as emerging users such as the producers of green building materials.

 

Our growth strategy is based on developing our ability to place modular generation, recovery, storage, and dispensing solutions in closer geographic proximity to our end customers — onsite in many cases — and our ability to produce and sell multiple outputs from a single feedstock input. We hope that these plans, if successfully carried out, will allow us to produce clean hydrogen and carbon dioxide at a net cost normally seen only in larger scale plants and which supports competitive market prices for our end products. Additionally, governments at all levels in North America and Western Europe have and are deploying substantial incentives to mitigate the impact of climate change and to decarbonize their economies. We believe we are well-placed to benefit as a developer of projects eligible for several of these incentives, such as the hydrogen tax production credits and the investment tax credits made available in the United States through the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

 

Global Hydrogen has not yet generated any revenue and anticipates generating revenue from the sale of systems and equipment to customers in 2023 or 2024. Global Hydrogen management actively reviews its project development pipeline and activity with potential customers. Potential projects are added to the project development pipeline only after Global Hydrogen has met with the potential customer, discussed the scope of the project and discussed the project’s feasibility, preliminary sizing and design. Management has determined that its projections are reasonable based on its review and status of its potential projects. Global Hydrogen has not yet successfully closed on any project, and recently Global Hydrogen’s projections were revised to reflect the loss of an originally-forecast systems and equipment project which was expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.

 

Global Hydrogen was organized as a Delaware limited liability company in February 2023. Global Hydrogen is headquartered in New York, New York and its corporate website is globalhydrogen.co. Global Hydrogen’s website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, such website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this proxy statement.

 

While Global Hydrogen does not have significant past operating history, Global Hydrogen’s management is aware that the future operating results and future financial condition of Global Hydrogen may be different than our past operating results and financial condition. Major factors that will have a material impact on future financial results and condition include whether Global Hydrogen will be able to sign contracts with customers and suppliers necessary to undertake the business plan. Even if such contracts are signed, our business plan is complex and there are many factors which could impact our operating results and financial condition including delays in projects, volatility in the price of our raw materials and products, and volatility in the demand for our services and products.

 

Recent Developments

 

Recent events impacting our business are as follows:

 

Business Combination: On May 15, 2023, Global Hydrogen announced that it had entered into an agreement and Business Combination with Dune Acquisition Corporation, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

2

 

 

Results of Operations

 

As of September 30, 2023, the Company has not generated any revenue. As of September 30, 2023, the Company’s expenses have been related to initial operations and efforts to source materials for future projects and to undertake conversations with potential customers.

 

The following table summarizes our financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and from inception until September 30, 2023 (in dollars):

 

   For the
three months
ended
September 30,
2023
   For the period
from February 16,
2023
(inception) to
September 30,
2023
 
Operating Expenses:        
General and administrative  $132,864    385,216 
Start up costs       574 
Loss from operations   (132,864)   (385,790)
Other income:          
Interest income   36    85 
Net loss  $(132,828)   (385,705)

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Historically, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity have been cash flows from contributions from founders. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had an aggregate cash balance of $527 and a net working capital deficit of $373,205.

The Company intends to operate with its current cash on hand. In the future, the Company may borrow money and sell equity to finance its operations. As the Company has a limited operating history, its liquidity and capital resources may change substantially from past results.

 

The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the Company’s revenue growth rate, the timing and extent of spending to support future sales and marketing and research and development efforts. In order to finance these opportunities, the Company may need to raise additional financing. While there can be no assurances, if additional capital is required, the Company intends to raise such capital through operations, as well as through the Business Combination. If additional financing is required from outside sources, the Company may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital when desired, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.

 

As a result of the above, in connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company’s liquidity condition raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through twelve months from the date these consolidated financial statements are available to be issued. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

3

 

 

Subsequent Events

 

Forward Purchase Agreement (“FPA”)

 

In connection with the Business Combination, on December 1, 2023, the Company and Dune entered into a forward purchase agreement (the “FPA”) with each of (i) Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”), (ii) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”) and (iii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO” and, collectively with MSC and MCP, “Meteora”) for an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the FPA, Meteora purchased 258,394 shares of Class A Common Stock from third parties through a broker in the open market prior to the closing of the Business Combination.

 

FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement

 

On December 1, 2023, Dune entered into a subscription agreement (the “FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement”) with Meteora.

 

Pursuant to the FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement, on the closing date, Meteora acquired 681,220 shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company.

 

Business Combination

 

As previously disclosed on May 15, 2023, Dune entered into the Purchase Agreement with Global Gas Holdings LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Dune, Global Hydrogen, a Delaware limited liability company, and William Bennett Nance, Jr., Sergio Martinez and Barbara Guay Martinez, the equity holders of Global Hydrogen, pursuant to which Dune and Global Hydrogen agreed to enter into the Business Combination.

 

On December 21, 2023, Dune and Global Hydrogen completed the previously announced Business Combination without Nasdaq listing approval due to the failure of the combined company to satisfy all of the initial listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market as of the closing of the Business Combination. The combined company, now named Global Gas Corporation (“Global Gas”) intends to work expeditiously to satisfy all of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards as promptly as practicable.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, expressed in U.S. dollars. References to GAAP issued by the FASB in these accompanying notes to the financial statements are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

 

Operating results for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the period ending December 31, 2023.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are adjusted to reflect actual experience when necessary. There were no significant estimates from February 16, 2023 (inception) to September 30, 2023.

 

4

 

 

Cash

 

The Company’s cash is held in an operating bank account which is subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $527 in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

The Company is expected to be an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected to take advantage of the extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards and to adopt certain of the reduced disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies. As a result of the accounting standards election, the Company will not be subject to the same implementation timeline for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies which may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements to those of other public companies more difficult.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Global Hydrogen does not currently hold material intellectual property beyond certain logos and domain names assigned to the Company by William Bennett Nance, Jr.

 

Government Regulation

 

Global Hydrogen plans to own and operate hydrogen generation plants and to sell the resulting industrial gas. In many jurisdictions, hydrogen, oxygen, and other gases we will produce and sell, may be classified as fuel or controlled substances, and as such we may be required to obtain relevant licensing to produce, store, and sell such substances. We intend to acquire such licenses on a project by project and jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis.

 

Some of these gas generation plants we build or own may be in jurisdictions where CO2 emissions are subject to government regulation. When we produce hydrogen thermochemically, we will typically deploy carbon recovery systems to significantly reduce — below relevant jurisdictional limits — or eliminate the CO2 emissions which otherwise would be released to the atmosphere.

 

The construction of facilities that produce hydrogen will require compliance with government regulation, including local zoning and permitting requirements, such requirements will depend on the jurisdiction of each project.

 

The distribution of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen will require compliance with certain regulatory federal and state regimes and will depend on the relevant jurisdictions.

 

 

5

 

 

v3.23.4
Cover
Dec. 21, 2023
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Dec. 21, 2023
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31
Entity File Number 001-39819
Entity Registrant Name Global Gas Corporation
Entity Central Index Key 0001817232
Entity Tax Identification Number 85-1617911
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity Address, Address Line One 99 Wall Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 436
Entity Address, City or Town New York
Entity Address, State or Province NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10005
City Area Code 917
Local Phone Number 327-0437
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Entity Emerging Growth Company true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period false
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share  
Title of 12(b) Security Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol HGAS
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share  
Title of 12(b) Security Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share
Trading Symbol HGASW
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ

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