EX-3.1 2 ea025712901ex3-1_strive.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF STRIVE, INC

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

 

STRIVE, INC.

 

Article 1
Name

 

The name of the Corporation is Strive, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

Article 2
Registered Office and Agent

 

The registered office of the Corporation shall be the street address of its registered agent in the State of Nevada. The Corporation may, from time to time, in the manner provided by law, change the registered agent and registered office within the State of Nevada. The Corporation may also maintain an office or offices for the conduct of its business, either within or without the State of Nevada.

 

Article 3
Purpose

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Nevada Revised Statutes (as amended from time to time, the “NRS”).

 

Article 4
Capital Stock

 

(a) Number of Shares. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 486,000,000,000, consisting of 444,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), 21,000,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), and 21,000,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Upon the effectiveness of these articles of incorporation (as amended from time to time, the “Articles of Incorporation”), automatically and without further action by any holder thereof, each share of capital stock of the Corporation that was designated as a share of “Class A Common Stock” immediately prior to such effectiveness (each such share having been entitled to ten votes per share) is hereby redesignated as a share of “Class B Common Stock” (each such share being entitled to ten votes per share in accordance with the terms of these Articles of Incorporation), and each share of capital stock of the Corporation that was designated as “Class B Common Stock” immediately prior to such effectiveness (each such share having been entitled to one vote per share) is hereby redesignated as “Class A Common Stock” (each such share being entitled hereunder to one vote per share in accordance with the terms of these Articles of Incorporation).

 

 

 

Section 2. Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased, in each case by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and no vote of the holders of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class will be required therefor, irrespective of the provisions of NRS 78.2055(3), 78.207(3) and 78.390(2) (and any separate class or series vote in this regard pursuant to such sections of the NRS is hereby specifically denied). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of authorized shares of any particular class may not be decreased below the number of shares of such class then outstanding, plus:

 

(a) in the case of Class A Common Stock, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in connection with (i) the exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and (ii) the exercise of outstanding options, warrants, exchange rights, conversion rights or similar rights for Class A Common Stock;

 

(b) in the case of Class B Common Stock, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issuable in connection with the exercise of outstanding options, warrants, exchange rights, conversion rights or similar rights for Class B Common Stock.

 

Section 3. Rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

(a) Equal Status. Except as otherwise provided in these Articles of Incorporation or the Shareholders Agreement (as defined below) or required by applicable law, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights and powers, rank equally (including as to dividends and other distributions, and upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation), share ratably and be identical in all respects and as to all matters.

 

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(b) Voting Rights. Each holder of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock), and each holder of Class B Common Stock will be entitled to ten votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock), except that, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the following sentence, holders of shares of each class of Common Stock, as such, will have no voting power with respect to, and will not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined below)) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock if the holders of such Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class thereon under these Articles of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event or any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or under the NRS, irrespective of the provisions of NRS 78.2055(3), 78.207(3) and 78.390(2) (and any separate class or series vote of the Common Stock in this regard pursuant to such sections of the NRS is hereby specifically denied). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse to the Class A Common Stock as compared to the Class B Common Stock and (b) the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse to the Class B Common Stock as compared to the Class A Common Stock. Except as provided in these Articles of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holder of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall at all times vote together as one class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote or for the consent of the stockholders of the Corporation (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock).

 

(c) Dividend and Distribution Rights. Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or other distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor; provided that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and holders of Class B Common Stock shall receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may pay or make a disparate dividend or other distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or other distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or other distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or other distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock).

 

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(d) Subdivisions, Combinations or Reclassifications. Shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may not be subdivided, combined or reclassified unless the shares of the other class of Common Stock are concurrently therewith proportionately subdivided, combined or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided that shares of one such class may be subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock).

 

(e) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Subject to the preferential or other rights of any holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding, upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class(or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock); provided that shares of one such class may receive different or disproportionate distributions or payments in connection with such merger, consolidation or other transaction if (i) the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share Class B Common Stock have ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock.

 

(f) Merger or Consolidation. In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock upon the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a consolidation or merger, such distribution or payment shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class; provided that shares of one such class may receive different or disproportionate distributions or payments in connection with such merger, consolidation or other transaction if (i) the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share Class B Common Stock have ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock, or (ii) such merger, consolidation or other transaction is approved by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

 

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Section 4. Conversion of Class B Common Stock.

 

(a) Voluntary Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Corporation, into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock. Before any holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to voluntarily convert any shares of such Class B Common Stock, such holder shall surrender the certificate(s) therefor (if any), duly endorsed, at the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names (i) in which the certificate(s) (if any) representing the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock are so converted are to be issued if such shares are certificated or (ii) in which such shares are to be registered in book entry if such shares are uncertificated. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Class B Common Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, certificate(s) representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid (if such shares are certificated) or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of Class B Common Stock to be converted following or contemporaneously with the written notice of such holder’s election to convert required by this Section 4(a), and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. Each share of Class B Common Stock that is converted pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall be retired by the Corporation and shall not be available for reissuance.

 

(b) Automatic Conversion. (i) Each share of Class B Common Stock, automatically and without further action by the holder thereof, shall be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock, upon the occurrence of a Transfer, other than a Permitted Transfer, of such share of Class B Common Stock and (ii) all shares of Class B Common Stock, automatically and without further action by any holder thereof, shall be converted into an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock at such date and time, or the occurrence of an event, specified by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with such holders of Class B Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock) (the occurrence of an event described in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 4(b), a “Conversion Event”). Each outstanding stock certificate that, immediately prior to a Conversion Event, represented one or more shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Conversion Event shall, upon such Conversion Event, be deemed to represent an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof. The Corporation shall, upon the request of any holder whose shares of Class B Common Stock have been converted into shares of Class A Common Stock as a result of a Conversion Event and upon surrender by such holder to the Corporation of the outstanding certificate(s) formerly representing such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock (if any), issue and deliver to such holder certificate(s) representing the shares of Class A Common Stock into which such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock were converted as a result of such Conversion Event (if such shares are certificated) or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Each share of Class B Common Stock that is converted pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall thereupon be retired by the Corporation and shall not be available for reissuance.

 

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(c) Evidence of Conversion. If the Corporation has reason to believe that a Transfer giving rise to a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock has occurred but has not theretofore been reflected in the stock ledger of the Corporation, the Corporation may request that the holder of such shares furnish affidavits or other evidence to the Corporation as the Corporation deems necessary to determine whether such a Transfer has occurred, and if such holder does not within ten days after the date of such request furnish sufficient evidence to the Corporation (in the manner provided in the request) to enable the Corporation to determine that no such Transfer has occurred, all such shares of Class B Common Stock that are subject to such Transfer, to the extent not previously converted, shall be automatically converted, in accordance with Section 4(b) of this Article 4, into shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

(d) Principal Stockholder Conversion. At the election of the Principal Stockholder in his sole discretion, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted by the Corporation into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Principal Stockholder Conversion”). Such election shall be made by written notice delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary, stating the date of such conversion (the “Principal Stockholder Conversion Date”), which shall be a date after the delivery of such notice. On the Principal Stockholder Conversion Date, (i) the Corporation shall, prior to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, issue a public statement, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the Principal Stockholder Conversion, and (ii) each share of Class B Common Stock, automatically and without further action by the holder thereof, shall be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on such date, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock to each holder of Class B Common Stock, a certificate(s) representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid (if such shares are certificated) or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Each share of Class B Common Stock that is converted pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall be retired by the Corporation and shall not be available for reissuance.

 

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(e) Reservation of Stock. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of Class B 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 shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

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

 

(g) Protective Provision. The Corporation shall not, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, amend, alter, repeal or waive (i) Sections 3, 4 (other than Section 4(d)) or 9 of this Article 4 (or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith), without first obtaining the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or (ii) Section 4(d) of this Article 4 (or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith) without first obtaining the written consent of the Principal Stockholder (notwithstanding Section 1(b) of Article 6), in each case, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law, these Articles of Incorporation or the Corporation’s bylaws (as amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”).

 

Section 5. Preferred Stock. The shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is hereby empowered to authorize by resolution(s) from time to time the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to NRS 78.1955 (a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting each such series, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series to the extent permitted by the NRS. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

 

(a) the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

 

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(b) the number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

 

(c) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative;

 

(d) dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable in respect of shares of the series;

 

(e) the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

(f) the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

(g) whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series of such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made; provided that no shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into Class B Common Stock without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding Class B Common Stock;

 

(h) the rights of the holders of the shares of such series upon the dissolution or upon the subsequent distribution of assets of, the Corporation;

 

(i) restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series;

 

(j) the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, of the holders of shares of the series; and

 

(k) the manner in which any facts ascertainable outside of these Articles of Incorporation or the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series shall operate upon the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such series.

 

Section 6. Subject to Terms of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Articles of Incorporation, the shares of Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the shares of Preferred Stock and any series thereof.

 

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Section 7. No Notice of Stockholder Meetings. Except as may otherwise be provided by law, in these Articles of Incorporation or in a Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and holders of shares of Preferred Stock and any series thereof shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meeting of stockholders at which they are not entitled to vote.

 

Section 8. Stockholders Appearing on Stock Ledger. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law. In connection with any action of stockholders taken at a meeting or by written consent (if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under these Articles of Incorporation), the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be presumptive evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders or in connection with any such written consent and the class or classes or series of shares held by each such stockholder and the number of shares of each class or classes or series held by such stockholder.

 

Section 9. Ownership Restrictions.

 

(a) Subject to Section 9(d) of this Article 4, at any time a holder of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock acquires additional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or is otherwise attributed with ownership of such shares, that would cause such Person (together with their Affiliates) to be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or any successor statute or regulation) of capital stock of the Corporation having more than 20% of the total voting power of the outstanding voting shares of all classes and series of the capital stock of the Corporation (a “Maximum Ownership Restriction”), then the Corporation may, (i) redeem from the holder or holders causing such Maximum Ownership Restriction a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to eliminate the Maximum Ownership Restriction by paying in cash therefor a sum equal to the Redemption Price, (ii) suspend those rights of stock ownership the exercise of which causes or could cause such Maximum Ownership Restriction and/or (iii) require the sale of as many shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock held by such stockholder as is necessary to eliminate such Maximum Ownership Restriction, and if the Corporation so requires, such stockholder shall promptly sell, and take all actions to sell, such shares such that, following such sale, the Maximum Ownership Restriction has been eliminated. The “Redemption Price” shall equal such price as is mutually determined by the applicable holder and the Corporation or, if no mutually acceptable agreement can be reached, shall equal either (i) 75% of the Common Stock Fair Market Value or 75% of the Preferred Stock Fair Market Value, as applicable, where such holder was at fault in any part for causing the Maximum Ownership Restriction, or (ii) the Common Stock Fair Market Value or the Preferred Stock Fair Market Value, as applicable, where the Maximum Ownership Restriction was caused by no fault of the holder; provided that the determination of whether such party was at fault for causing the Maximum Ownership Restriction shall be made, in good faith, by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors. As used in this Section 9(a), the “Common Stock Fair Market Value” means:

 

(i) if the Common Stock is listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange (an “Exchange”) on such date, (x) in the case of Common Stock listed on The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) (each, a “Principal Exchange”) on such day, the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on such day as reported in composite transactions for the Principal Exchange and (y) in the case of Common Stock listed on an Exchange other than a Principal Exchange on such day, the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on such day as reported in composite transactions for the primary Exchange on which such shares are traded for such date (the “Last Reported Sale Price”) (or, if such date is not a Trading Day, the Trading Day immediately preceding such date); or

 

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(ii) if the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time of determination, then the fair value of the Common Stock as determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

 

As used in this Section 9(a), (i) the “Preferred Stock Fair Market Value” means the value determined by multiplying the Common Stock Fair Market Value by the number of shares of Common Stock into which the share of Preferred Stock is then convertible and (ii) “Trading Day” means a day on which (A) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the Principal Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a Principal Exchange, on the principal other Exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, and (B) a Last Reported Sale Price for the Common Stock is available on such securities exchange.

 

(b) At least 15 but no more than 30 days (or such shorter period as determined by the Board of Directors) prior to any date on which Common Stock or Preferred Stock is to be redeemed to avoid a Maximum Ownership Restriction (a “Redemption Date”), written notice shall be sent by mail, first class postage prepaid, overnight mail, or electronic mail to each holder of record (at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be redeemed, at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation for such holder, notifying such holder of the redemption to be effected, specifying the number of shares to be redeemed from such holder, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, the place at which payment may be obtained and calling upon such holder to surrender to the Corporation, in the manner and at the place designated, his, her or its certificate(s) (if any) representing the shares to be redeemed (the “Redemption Notice”). Except as provided in Section 9(c) of this Article 4, on or after the Redemption Date, each holder of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender to the Corporation the certificate(s) (if any) representing such shares, in the manner and at the place designated in the Redemption Notice, and thereupon the Redemption Price of such shares shall be payable to the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate(s) or in the stock ledger of the Corporation as the owner thereof and all surrendered certificate(s) shall be canceled. In the event less than all the shares represented by any such certificate(s) are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

 

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(c) From and after the Redemption Date, unless there shall have been a default in payment of the Redemption Price, all rights of the holders of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice as holders of such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (except the right to receive the Redemption Price without interest upon surrender of their certificate or certificates) shall cease with respect to such shares, and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Corporation or be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.

 

(d) The provisions of Section 9(a)-(c) of this Article 4 shall not apply to the Principal Stockholder (as defined below) or any of his Affiliates (as defined below), including the Principal Stockholder Trust (as defined below), or Permitted Transferees (as defined below) or any acquisition of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock by the Principal Stockholder or any of his Affiliates or Permitted Transferees or any ownership of such shares otherwise attributed to the Principal Stockholder or any of his Affiliates or Permitted Transferees, and the Corporation shall not have the authority under Section 9(a)-(c) of this Article 4 to redeem, suspend the rights of, or require the sale of, any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Principal Stockholder or any of his Affiliates or Permitted Transferees, in each case notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Articles of Incorporation.

 

Article 5
Board of Directors

 

Section 1. Management by Board. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2. Size of Board; Committees. Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock entitled to separately elect directors, the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than 11 directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will have three standing committees, including an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee.

 

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Section 3. Classified Board; Term; No Cumulative Voting.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Preferred Stock entitled to separately elect directors, the directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors (and if such classes cannot be divided exactly equally, there will be more Class III directors than Class II directors and at least as many Class II directors as Class I directors). Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders next following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided that directors initially designated as Class I directors shall serve for a term ending on the date of the first annual meeting following the Merger Closing Date, directors initially designated as Class II directors shall serve for a term ending on the second annual meeting following the Merger Closing Date, and directors initially designated as Class III directors shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the Merger Closing Date. In the event of any change in the number of directors, the Board of Directors shall apportion any newly created directorships among, or reduce the number of directorships in, such class or classes as shall equalize, as nearly as possible, the number of directors in each class. In no event will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

(b) Subject to these Articles of Incorporation, each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal and for a term that shall coincide with the term of the class to which such director shall have been elected.

 

(c) There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, except as otherwise required by law, be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the term of the class to which such director shall have been elected.

 

Section 5. Removal. No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 6. Directors Elected by Holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 applicable thereto and the applicable provisions of the NRS, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article 5 unless otherwise provided therein.

 

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Article 6
Stockholders

 

Section 1. Written Consent of Stockholders. (a) Until the date on which the stockholders of the Corporation that are party to the Shareholders Agreement collectively own Common Stock that represents less than 25% of the total voting power of the Corporation (the “Sunset Date”), any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken (i) by a vote of stockholders at a meeting of stockholders duly noticed and called in accordance with the Bylaws and the NRS or (ii) without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation 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.

 

(b) From and after the Sunset Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken upon a vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders duly noticed and called in accordance with the Bylaws and the NRS and may not be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.

 

Section 2. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors; provided that, until the Sunset Date, special meetings of stockholders shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the Principal Stockholder.

 

Article 7
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification

 

Section 1. Limitation of Liability.

 

(a) The liability of directors, officers and the Principal Stockholder of the Corporation is hereby eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS.

 

(b) Neither the amendment or repeal of this Section 1, nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS, any modification of law shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation or the Principal Stockholder hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification. If the NRS is amended after the date of filing these Articles of Incorporation further eliminating or limiting the 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 NRS, as so amended.

 

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(c) If and to the extent the Principal Stockholder or any of his Affiliates or Permitted Transferees is deemed to have fiduciary duties to the Corporation or any of its stockholders, such duties are hereby eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS or other applicable law.

 

Section 2. Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including, without limitation, NRS 78.7502 and 78.751) as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any Person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or 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, or a Person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, employee or the Principal Stockholder (in his capacity as such) of the Corporation or, while a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, manager or managing member, employee, agent or trustee of another entity or enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in Section 4 of this Article 7 with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3. Prepayment of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, to be paid by the Corporation expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in appearing at, participating in or defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a Proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article 7 (which shall be governed by Section 4 of this Article 7); provided that if and to the extent required by applicable law or in the case of advance made in a Proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made solely upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under this Article 7 or otherwise.

  

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Section 4. Claims. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article 7 is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim or to obtain an advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law. In (i) any suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, such Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification imposed by the NRS under such circumstances. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met any applicable standard of conduct imposed by the NRS under such circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the Covered Person has not met any such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that such Person has not met such standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Covered Person, be a defense to such suit.

 

Section 5. Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article 7 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of these Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6. Other Sources. Subject to Section 7 of this Article 7, the Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity or enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person has actually collected as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other entity or enterprise.

 

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Section 7. Indemnitor of First Resort. Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of a Covered Person as a director, officer and/or employee of the Corporation (or due to the status of the Principal Stockholder as a stockholder) at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the Covered Person in respect of indemnification or advancement of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws (or any other agreement between the Corporation and such persons) in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article 7, irrespective of any right of recovery the Covered Person may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Any obligation on the part of any indemnitee-related entities to indemnify or advance expenses to any Covered Person shall be secondary to the Corporation’s obligation and shall be reduced by any amount that the Covered Person has actually collected as indemnification or advancement from the Corporation. The Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the indemnitee-related entities from any and all claims it may have against the indemnitee-related entities for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities and no right of advancement or recovery a Covered Person may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Covered Person or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to a Covered Person in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Covered Person against the Corporation, and the Covered Person shall execute all instruments or other documents reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such instruments or other documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to, and be entitled to enforce, this Section 7. For purposes of this Section 7, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which a Covered Person has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, manager or managing member, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom a Covered Person may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation.

 

(b) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which a Covered Person shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the indemnitee-related entities and the Corporation pursuant to the NRS, any agreement or articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

 

Section 8. Amendment or Repeal. Neither the amendment or repeal of the foregoing provisions of this Article 7, nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles of Incorporation, shall adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Covered Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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Section 9. Other Indemnification and Prepayment of Expenses. This Article 7 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to Persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

Section 10. Reliance. Covered Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain a Covered Person described in Article 7 will be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this Article 7 in entering into or continuing the service. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this Article 7 will apply to claims made against any Covered Person described in this Article 7 arising out of acts or omissions in respect of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries that occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. The rights conferred upon Covered Persons in this Article 7 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or, in the case of the Principal Stockholder, stockholder and shall inure to the benefit of the Covered Person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article 7 that adversely affects any right of a Covered Person or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

Section 11. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the NRS.

 

Article 8
Corporate Opportunities

 

Section 1. Acknowledgement. In recognition and anticipation that members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) or its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article 8 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 Sponsor, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

 

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Section 2. Competition and Corporate Opportunities; Renouncement. 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 (collectively, “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities or did not offer such activities to the Corporation. 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 8. Subject to Section 3 of this Article 8, 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 or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.

 

Section 3. Allocation of Corporate Opportunities. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 2 of this Article 8 hereof shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

 

Section 4. Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 8, 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. Notice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring 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 8.

 

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Article 9
Exclusive Jurisdiction

 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, administrative or investigative, (a) brought in the name or right of the Corporation or on its behalf, (b) asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) for any internal action (as defined in NRS 78.046), including any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of NRS Chapters 78 or 92A, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, any agreement entered into pursuant to NRS 78.365 or as to which the NRS confers jurisdiction on the district court of the State of Nevada, (d) to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws or (e) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that such exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In the event that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada does not have jurisdiction over any such action, suit or proceeding, then any other state district court located in the State of Nevada shall be the sole and exclusive forum therefor and in the event that no state district court in the State of Nevada has jurisdiction over any such action, suit or proceeding, then a federal court located within the State of Nevada shall be the sole and exclusive forum therefor. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any claim asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against any Person in connection with any offering of the Corporation’s securities, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any auditor, underwriter, expert, control person, or other defendant, which Person shall have the right to enforce this clause. 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to have consented to the provisions of this Article 9.

 

Article 10
Combinations with Interested Stockholders

 

Until the Sunset Date, the Corporation elects not to be governed by the terms and provisions of NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive, as the same may be amended, superseded, or replaced by any successor section, statute, or provision. From and after the Sunset Date, the Corporation shall immediately and automatically, without further action on the part of the Corporation or any stockholder of the Corporation, become governed by NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive. No amendment to these Articles of Incorporation, directly or indirectly, by merger or consolidation or otherwise, having the effect of amending or repealing any provision of this Article 10 shall apply to or have any effect on any agreement, transaction or other event (including, without limitation, anything that would otherwise have constituted a “combination” (as defined in NRS 78.416)) occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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Article 11
Miscellaneous

 

The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for the further definition of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

 

(a) The directors shall have the non-exclusive power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws.

 

(b) Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws to the contrary, and in accordance with the provisions of NRS 78.378, the provisions of NRS 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, or any successor statutes, relating to acquisitions of controlling interests in the Corporation, shall not apply to any acquisition of any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. No amendment to these Articles of Incorporation, directly or indirectly, by merger or consolidation or otherwise, having the effect of amending or repealing any provision of this ‎Article 11(c) shall apply to or have any effect on any agreement, transaction or other event (including, without limitation, anything that would otherwise have constituted an “acquisition” (as defined in NRS 78.3783)) occurring prior to the eleventh calendar day following such amendment or repeal.

 

(d) For so long as the Shareholders Agreement is in effect, and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of conflict between these Articles of Incorporation and the Shareholders Agreement, the applicable provisions of these Articles of Incorporation shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the terms of the Shareholders Agreement.

 

(e) As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person; provided that (i) neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries will be deemed an Affiliate of any stockholder of the Corporation or any of such stockholders’ Affiliates, (ii) no stockholder of the Corporation will be deemed an Affiliate of any other stockholder of the Corporation, in each case, solely by reason of any investment in the Corporation or any rights conferred on such stockholder pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement (including any representatives of such stockholder serving on the Board of Directors) and (iii) none of the Principal Stockholder or any of his affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Corporation.

 

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Charitable Trust” means a trust that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto) (whether a determination letter with respect to such exemption is issued before, at or after the Merger Closing Date), and further includes any successor entity that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) (or any successor provision thereto) upon a conversion of, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of, a Charitable Trust to such successor entity (whether a determination letter with respect to such successor’s exemption is issued before, at or after the conversion date).

 

Family Member” means with respect to any natural person who is a Qualified Stockholder, the spouse, parents, grandparents, lineal descendants, siblings and lineal descendants of siblings of such Qualified Stockholder. Lineal descendants shall include adopted persons, but only so long as they are adopted during minority.

 

Merger Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 27, 2025, by and among the Corporation, Alpha Merger Sub, Inc. and Strive, as amended prior to the effectiveness of these Articles of Incorporation.

 

Merger Closing Date” means the later to occur of (i) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (ii) the issuance of the Company Consideration Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

 

Parent” of an entity means any entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity.

 

Permitted Entity” means with respect to a Qualified Stockholder (a) a Permitted Trust solely for the benefit of (i) such Qualified Stockholder, (ii) one or more Family Members of such Qualified Stockholder, (iii) any other Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder and/or (iv) any entity that is described in Sections 501(c)(3), 170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a) or 2522(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto), (b) any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity exclusively owned by (i) such Qualified Stockholder, (ii) one or more Family Members of such Qualified Stockholder and/or (iii) any other Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder, (c) any Charitable Trust created by a Qualified Stockholder, which Charitable Trust was (x) validly created and (y) a registered holder of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, in each case prior to the Merger Closing Date (whether or not it continuously holds such shares of capital stock or any other shares of capital stock of the Corporation at all times before or after the Merger Closing Date), (d) the personal representative of the estate of a Qualified Stockholder upon the death of such Qualified Stockholder solely to the extent the executor is acting in the capacity as personal representative of such estate, (e) a revocable living trust, which revocable living trust is itself both a Permitted Trust and a Qualified Stockholder, during the lifetime of the natural person grantor of such trust, (f) a revocable living trust, which revocable living trust is itself both a Permitted Trust and a Qualified Stockholder, following the death of the natural person grantor of such trust, solely to the extent that such shares are held in such trust pending distribution to the beneficiaries designated in such trust. Except as explicitly provided for herein, a Permitted Entity of a Qualified Stockholder shall not cease to be a Permitted Entity of that Qualified Stockholder solely by reason of the death of that Qualified Stockholder or (g) such Qualified Stockholder’s Affiliates.

 

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Permitted Transfer” means, and will be restricted to, any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock: (a) by a Qualified Stockholder (or the estate of a deceased Qualified Stockholder) to (i) one or more Family Members of such Qualified Stockholder, or (ii) any Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder; or (iii) to such Qualified Stockholder’s revocable living trust, which revocable living trust is itself both a Permitted Trust and a Qualified Stockholder; (b) by a Permitted Entity of a Qualified Stockholder to (i) such Qualified Stockholder or one or more Family Members of such Qualified Stockholder, or (ii) any other Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder; or by a Qualified Stockholder that is a natural person or revocable living trust to an entity that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto) (a “501(c)(3) Organization”) or an entity that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) and described in Section 509(a)(3) of United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto) (a “Supporting Organization”), as well as any Transfer by a 501(c)(3) Organization to a Supporting Organization of which such 501(c)(3) Organization (x) is a supported organization (within the meaning of Section 509(f)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto)), and (y) has the power to nominate a majority of the board of directors, provided that such 501(c)(3) Organization or such Supporting Organization irrevocably elects, no later than the time such share of Class B Common Stock is Transferred to it, that such share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically be converted into Class A Common Stock upon the death of such Qualified Stockholder or the natural person grantor of such Qualified Stockholder.

 

Permitted Transferee” means a transferee of shares of Class B Common Stock received in a Transfer that constitutes a Permitted Transfer.

 

Permitted Trust” means a bona fide trust where each trustee is (a) a Qualified Stockholder, (b) a Family Member of a Qualified Stockholder, (c) a professional in the business of providing trustee services, including private professional fiduciaries, trust companies and bank trust departments, or (d) solely in the case of any such trust established by a natural person grantor prior to the Merger Closing Date, any other bona fide trustee.

 

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

 

Principal Stockholder” means Vivek Ramaswamy, so long as he or the Ramaswamy 2021 Irrevocable Trust or any of their respective Permitted Transferees own any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock.

 

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Principal Stockholder Trust” means the Ramaswamy 2021 Irrevocable Trust, so long as it owns any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock.

 

Qualified Stockholder” means (a) any Person who receives shares of Class B Common Stock on the Merger Closing Date and (b) a Permitted Transferee.

 

Shareholders Agreement” means the Shareholders Agreement, to be dated as of the Merger Closing Date, by and among the Corporation, the shareholders of the Corporation that are signatories thereto, and the other Persons who may become parties thereto from time to time, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified, from time to time.

 

Transfer” of a share of Class B Common Stock means, any sale, assignment, transfer, exchange, gift, bequest, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition or encumbrance of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, in whole or in part, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law; provided that the following shall not be considered a “Transfer”: (a) the granting of a revocable proxy pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement or to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board of the Corporation in connection with actions to be taken at annual or special meetings of stockholders or in connection with any action by written consent of the stockholders solicited by the Board (at such times as action by written consent of stockholders is permitted under these Articles of Incorporation); (b) entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) solely with the Corporation and/or its stockholders that (i) is disclosed either in a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) either has a term not exceeding one year or is terminable by the holder of the shares subject thereto at any time and (iii) does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property or other consideration to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner; (c) entering into a customary voting or support agreement (with or without granting a proxy) or delivering a written consent in connection with any merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Corporation, 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); (d) the pledge of shares of capital stock of the Corporation by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction so long as such stockholder continues to exercise sole Voting Control over such pledged shares; provided that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a “Transfer”; (e) the fact that the spouse of any holder of Class B Common Stock possesses or obtains an interest in such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock arising solely by reason of the application of the community property laws of any jurisdiction, so long as no other event or circumstance shall exist or have occurred that constitutes a “Transfer” of such shares of Class B Common Stock; or (f) any change in the trustees or the person(s) and/or entity(ies) having or exercising Voting Control over shares of Class B Common Stock (i) of a Charitable Trust that qualifies as a Permitted Entity or (ii) of a Permitted Entity; provided that following such change such Permitted Entity continues to be a Permitted Entity. A “Transfer” shall also be deemed to have occurred with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock beneficially held by an entity that is a Permitted Entity, if there occurs any act or circumstance that causes such entity to no longer be a Permitted Entity.

 

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Voting Control” means, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such share by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise.

 

Article 12
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation

 

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to amend these Articles of Incorporation in any manner permitted by the NRS, and all rights and powers conferred upon stockholders, directors and officers herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the Sunset Date, the provisions set forth in Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and this Article 12 may not be repealed or amended in any respect, and no other provision may be adopted, amended or repealed which would have the effect of modifying or permitting the circumvention of the provisions set forth in any of Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and this Article 12, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

* * * *

 

 

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