EX-3.1 4 brpa_ex3-1.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION Blueprint
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED
 
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
OF
 
BIG ROCK PARTNERS ACQUISITION CORP.
 
November 20, 2017
 
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
 
1.           The name of the Corporation is “Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on September 18, 2017 (the “Original Certificate”).
 
2.           This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate, as amended, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by written consent of the Corporation’s stockholders in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
 
3.           The text of the Original Certificate, as amended, is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
NAME
 
The name of the corporation is Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. (the “Corporation”).
 
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
 
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Corporation and one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”).
 
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
 
The street address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
 
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
 
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 101,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
 
 

 
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
 
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
 
(a) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), 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 stockholders generally are entitled to vote.
 
(b) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock 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, and no holder of any series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled to any voting powers in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including a Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of the 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 Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
 
(c) Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, the holders of the 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.
 
(d) Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, 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 the 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 the Common Stock held by them.
 
Section 4.4 Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
 
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (“Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate, and the Bylaws.
 
 
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Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
 
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
 
(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into two classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I and Class II. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I or Class II. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a two-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
 
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
 
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.
 
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
 
Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time with cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
 
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
 
 
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ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
 
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), 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 generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that 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.
 
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ADVANCE NOTICE
 
Section 7.1 Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders may not be called by another person or persons.
 
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
 
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
 
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
 
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
 
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
 
 
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(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
 
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
 
(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
 
ARTICLE IX
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE
 
Section 9.1 General. The provisions of this Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and may not be amended unless the Corporation provides dissenting holders of Offering Shares (defined below) with the opportunity to convert their Offering Shares to cash in accordance with Section 9.3(b). The target business or target businesses acquired in the Corporation’s initial Business Combination must together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (defined below), excluding taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account, at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement governing the terms of the initial Business Combination. If the Corporation acquires less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, the portion of such target business that the Corporation acquires is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.
 
The “fair market value” for purposes of this Article IX will be determined by the Board based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If the Board is unable to independently determine the fair market value of the target business, the Corporation will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.
 
Section 9.2 Approval. Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Corporation shall either (i) submit such Business Combination to its stockholders for approval (“Proxy Solicitation”) pursuant to the proxy rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) or (ii) provide all holders of its Common Stock with the opportunity to sell their shares to the Corporation, effective upon consummation of such Business Combination, for cash through a tender offer (“Tender Offer”) pursuant to the tender offer rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 
Section 9.3 Proxy Solicitation.
 
(a) If the Corporation engages in a Proxy Solicitation in connection with any proposed Business Combination, the Corporation will consummate such Business Combination only if a majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such Business Combination.
 
 
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(b) In the event that a Business Combination is approved in accordance with Section 9.3(a) and is consummated by the Corporation, any holder of shares of Common Stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering” and the shares sold in such Offering, the “Offering Shares”) who voted on the proposal to approve such Business Combination, whether such holder voted in favor or against such Business Combination, may, contemporaneously with such vote, demand that the Corporation convert his Offering Shares into cash. If so demanded, the Corporation shall, promptly after consummation of the Business Combination, convert such shares into cash at a per share price equal to the quotient determined by dividing (i) the amount then held in the Trust Account including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account net of interest that may be used by the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes payable, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, by (ii) the total number of Offering Shares then outstanding (such price being referred to as the “Conversion Price”). “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account established by the Corporation at the consummation of its Offering and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the Offering and a simultaneous private placement is deposited, all as described in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) in connection with the Offering. The Corporation may require any holder of Offering Shares who demands that the Corporation convert such Offering Shares into cash to either tender such holder’s certificates to the Corporation’s transfer agent at any time prior to the vote taken at the stockholder meeting relating to such Business Combination or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System at any time prior to the vote taken at the stockholder meeting relating to such Business Combination, with the exact timing of the delivery of the Offering Shares to be set forth in the proxy materials relating to such Business Combination.
 
Section 9.4 Tender Offer. If the Corporation engages in a Tender Offer, the Corporation shall file tender offer documents with the Commission which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination as is required under the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act and that would have been included in any proxy statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Proxy Solicitation, even if such information is not required under the tender offer rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. The per-share price at which the Corporation will repurchase the Offering Shares in any such Tender Offer shall be equal to the Conversion Price. The Corporation shall not purchase any shares of Common Stock other than Offering Shares in any such Tender Offer.
 
Section 9.5 Minimum Assets. The Corporation will not consummate any Business Combination unless it has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of such Business Combination.
 
Section 9.6 Termination. In the event that the Corporation has not consummated a Business Combination within 12 months from the consummation of the Offering, the Board of Directors may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to two times (the latest such date being referred to as the “Termination Date”), each by an additional three months, for an aggregate of six additional months, providing that (i) for each such extension the sponsor (or its designees) must deposit into the Trust Account funds equal to one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering (including such proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, if exercised) per extension in exchange for a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note, for maximum aggregate proceeds to the Corporation of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering (including such proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, if exercised) if two extensions occur and (ii) the procedures relating to any such extension, as set forth in the Trust Agreement, shall have been complied with. The gross proceeds from the issuance of such promissory notes will be added to the proceeds from the Offering to be held in the Trust Account and shall be used to fund the redemption of the Offering Shares in accordance with this Section 9.6. In the event that the Corporation does not consummate a Business Combination by the Termination Date, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares for cash for a redemption price per share equal to the amount then held in the Trust Account, including the interest earned thereon, less any income or franchise taxes payable, divided by the total number of Offering Shares then outstanding (which redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to approval of the Corporation’s then stockholders and subject to the requirements of the DGCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of the DGCL finding the dissolution of the Corporation advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of the DGCL, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Corporation’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Corporation’s plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above) to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
 
 
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Section 9.7 Distributions from the Trust Account. A holder of Offering Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event (i) he demands conversion of his shares in accordance with Section 9.3(b) in connection with any Proxy Solicitation, (ii) he sells his shares to the Corporation in accordance with Section 9.4 in connection with any Tender Offer, (iii) that the Corporation has not consummated a Business Combination by the Termination Date or (iv) the Corporation seeks to amend the provisions of this Article IX prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. In no other circumstances shall a holder of Offering Shares have any right or interest of any kind in or to the Trust Account.
 
Section 9.8 No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. Unless and until the Corporation has consummated its initial Business Combination as permitted under this Article IX, the Corporation may not consummate any other business combination transaction, whether by merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination, transaction or otherwise.
 
Section 9.9 Transactions with Affiliates. The Corporation shall not consummate a Business Combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of the Corporation’s officers, directors or sponsors or their respective affiliates unless the Corporation has obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire that such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and a majority of the Corporation’s disinterested independent directors approve such Business Combination.
 
Section 9.10 Share Issuances. Prior to a Business Combination, the Board of Directors may not issue (i) any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into Common Stock; or (ii) any securities which participate in or are otherwise entitled in any manner to any of the proceeds in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.
 
ARTICLE X
FORUM
 
Section 10.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporation’s Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware, or if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants.
 
Section 10.2 Foreign Action. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 10.1 is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 10.1 (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
 
Section 10.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article X.
 
 
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ARTICLE XI
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
 
The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate or in the future.
 
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XII; provided, however, that Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.
 
 
 
 
 
 
[Signature Page Follows]
 
 
 
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
 
BIG ROCK PARTNERS ACQUISITION CORP.
 
 
 
By: /s/ Richard Ackerman                     
Name: Richard Ackerman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]