EX-3.1 2 tm214570d1_ex3-1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1

EXHIBIT 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

Novus Capital Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented, the “DGCL”), does hereby certify that:

ONE: The original Certificate of Incorporation of Novus Capital Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 5, 2020 and subsequently amended and restated with the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) on May 15, 2020.

TWO: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate.

THREE: The Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The name of this company is AppHarvest, Inc. (the “Company”).

II.

The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801 and the name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

III.

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations, including Public Benefit Corporations, may be organized under the DGCL, including without limitation the following public benefits: (i) empowering individuals in Appalachia; (ii) driving positive environmental change in the agriculture industry; and (iii) improving the lives of the Company’s employees and the community at large.

IV.

A. The Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue is 760,000,000 shares, 750,000,000 shares of which shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of which shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”). The Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share, and the Common Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share.

B. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereafter prescribed (a “Preferred Stock Designation”). Subject to any limitation prescribed by law and the rights of any series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of all or any of the shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix the number of shares and state by the Preferred Stock Designation, the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase (but not above the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series.

C. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, or Common Stock, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock.

D. Except as provided above, the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participating, optional, or other rights, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:

1. Definitions.

(a) “Acquisition” means (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Entity, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold a majority of the voting power of the surviving Entity in substantially the same proportions (or, if the surviving Entity is a wholly owned subsidiary of another Entity, the surviving Entity’s Parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power is transferred; provided that an Acquisition shall not include any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted or a combination thereof.

(b) “Asset Transfer” means a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(c) “Certificate of Incorporation” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended or restated from time to time, including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation of any series of Preferred Stock.

(d) “Entity” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity.

(e) “Liquidation Event” means (i) any Asset Transfer or Acquisition in which cash or other property is, pursuant to the express terms of the Asset Transfer or Acquisition, to be distributed to the stockholders in respect of their shares of capital stock in the Company or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, compensation pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or other compensatory arrangement to be paid to or received by a person who is also a holder of Common Stock does not constitute consideration or a “distribution to stockholders” in respect of the Common Stock.

(f) “Parent” of an Entity means any Entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities or interests of such Entity.

(g) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2. Rights relating to Dividends, Subdivisions and Combinations.

(a) Subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes and series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Company legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as permitted in Section 2(b) of Article IV(D), any dividends paid to the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be paid pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis.

(b) The Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution to the holders of Common Stock payable in securities of the Company unless the same dividend or distribution with the same record date and payment date shall be declared and paid on all shares of Common Stock.

3. Voting Rights.

(a) Common Stock. Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share thereof held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company.

(b) General. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock shall vote together and not as separate series or classes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

4. Liquidation Rights.

In the event of a Liquidation Event, upon the completion of the distributions required with respect to each series of Preferred Stock that may then be outstanding, the remaining assets of the Company legally available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed on an equal priority, pro rata basis to the holders of Common Stock; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, compensation pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or other compensatory arrangement to be paid to or received by a person who is also a holder of Common Stock does not constitute consideration or a “distribution to stockholders” in respect of the Common Stock.

A. The liability of the directors of the Company for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director shall be eliminated to the fullest extent authorized under applicable law.

B. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and other agents of the Company (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Company to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by such applicable law.

C. If applicable law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article V to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director to the Company shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Article V in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act giving rise to liability.

D. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of action under the Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on behalf of the Company; (ii) any claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, to the Company or the Company’s stockholders; (iii) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time); (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time, including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. This Section D of Article V shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

E. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

F. Any person or Entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

VI.

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Company, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Company, of its directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:

A. Board of Directors.

1. Generally. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The authorized number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

2. Election.

(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors as specified in any Preferred Stock Designation, all directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to hold office until the next annual meeting. The directors of the Company need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

(b) No stockholder entitled to vote at an election for directors may cumulate votes to which such stockholder is entitled unless required by applicable law at the time of such election. During such time or times that applicable law requires cumulative voting, every stockholder entitled to vote at an election for directors may cumulate such stockholder’s votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which such stockholder’s shares are otherwise entitled, or distribute the stockholder’s votes on the same principle among as many candidates as such stockholder thinks fit. No stockholder, however, shall be entitled to so cumulate such stockholder’s votes unless (i) the names of such candidate or candidates have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and (ii) the stockholder has given notice at the meeting, prior to the voting, of such stockholder’s intention to cumulate such stockholder’s votes. If any stockholder has given proper notice to cumulate votes, all stockholders may cumulate their votes for any candidates who have been properly placed in nomination. Under cumulative voting, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are elected.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

3. Removal of Directors. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law, removal shall be as provided in Section 141(k) of the DGCL.

4. Vacancies. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders and except as otherwise provided by applicable law, be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

B. Stockholder Actions. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Company except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with the Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent. 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 Company shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

C. Bylaws. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

VII.

A. The Company reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, except as provided in paragraph B. of this Article VII, and all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Company required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation filed with respect to a series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII and VIII.

VIII.

At any time when any shares of capital stock of the Company are outstanding, the Company shall not, either directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate with or into another entity if, as a result of such merger or consolidation, the capital stock of the Company would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, shares or other equity interests in a domestic or foreign corporation that is not a public benefit corporation or similar entity and the certificate of incorporation (or similar governing document) of which does not contain identical provisions to Article III identifying the public benefit or public benefits, unless the Company shall have obtained, in addition to any affirmative vote required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

* * * *

FOUR: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

FIVE: This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of said corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL by the stockholders of the Company.

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In Witness Whereof, the Company has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer on this 29th day of January, 2021.

	By:	/s/ Larry M. Paulson
	Name: Larry M. Paulson
	Title: Chief Executive Officer