EX-3.1 2 tm2112574d11_ex3-1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF SOVOS BRANDS, INC.

 

(Under Sections 242 and 245 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)

 

Sovos Brands, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify as follows:

 

FIRST.     The Corporation filed its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 17, 2017, under the name “Sovos Brands Super Holdings, Inc.” (as amended, the “Previous Certificate of Incorporation”).

 

SECOND.     The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Previous Certificate of Incorporation, and the stockholder of the Corporation has duly approved the amendment and restatement.

 

THIRD.     Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”) restates, integrates and further amends the Previous Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

1.1            Name.  The name of the Corporation is:

 

Sovos Brands, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II

 

2.1            Address.  The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware at such address is the Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE III

 

3.1            Purpose.  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized and incorporated under the DGCL.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall have all of the powers conferred on corporations by the DGCL and other applicable law.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

4.1            Authorized Shares.  The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 510,000,000 shares, divided into two classes as follows: (i) 500,000,000 shares shall be designated shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) and (ii) 10,000,000 shares shall be designated shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the rights and preferences of the Common Stock shall at all times be subject to the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock as may be set forth in one or more certificates of designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware from time to time in accordance with the DGCL and this Certificate.  The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class or series shall be required therefor.

 

4.2            Common Stock.  The Common Stock shall have the following powers, designations, preferences and rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions:

 

(a)            Voting.  Each holder of record of shares of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder of record as of the applicable record date on any matter on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote and that is submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to applicable law or this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

 

(b)            Dividends and Distributions.  Subject to the prior rights of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends or other distributions, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, property, or stock as may be declared on the Common Stock by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends and other distributions.

 

(c)            Liquidation, etc.  Subject to the prior rights of creditors of the Corporation and the holders of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

 

(d)            No holder of shares of Common Stock shall have cumulative voting rights.

 

(e)            No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive rights pursuant to this Certificate.

 

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4.3            Preferred Stock.  The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, to the fullest extent as may now or hereafter be permitted by the DGCL, by resolution or resolutions, at any time and from time to time, to provide for the issuance of a share or shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix for each such series (i) the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, (ii) the voting powers (if any), whether full or limited, of the shares of such series, (iii) the powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such series, and (iv) the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, and to cause to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of designation with respect thereto.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent as may now or hereafter be permitted by the DGCL, the authority of the Board of Directors with respect to the Preferred Stock and any series thereof shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

 

(a)            the number of shares constituting any series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) and the distinctive designation of that series;

 

(b)            the dividend rate or rates on the shares of any series, the terms and conditions upon which and the periods in respect of which dividends shall be payable, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series;

 

(c)            the voting rights, if any, of such series and, if the shares shall have voting rights, the number of votes per share and the terms and conditions of such voting rights;

 

(d)            whether any series shall have conversion privileges and, if so, the terms and conditions of conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate upon such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

 

(e)            whether the shares of any series shall be redeemable and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;

 

(f)            whether any series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;

 

(g)            the rights of the shares of any series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

 

(h)            any other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of any series.

 

The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.  Unless otherwise provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of Preferred Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, regardless of series, which shall be issued and thereafter acquired by the Corporation through purchase, redemption, exchange, conversion or otherwise shall return to the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock, without designation as to series of Preferred Stock, and the Corporation shall have the right to reissue such shares.

 

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4.4            Power to Sell and Purchase Shares. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to issue and sell all or any part of any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized to such persons, and for such consideration and for such corporate purposes, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not greater consideration could be received upon the issue or sale of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law.  Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to purchase any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized from such persons, and for such consideration and for such corporate purposes, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not less consideration could be paid upon the purchase of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law.

 

ARTICLE V

 

5.1            Powers of the Board.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.  In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by applicable law or by this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), the Board of Directors is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, except as otherwise specifically required by law or as otherwise provided in this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

 

5.2            Number of Directors.  The total number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be at least one and subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding to elect additional directors under specified circumstances or otherwise, the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

5.3            Classification. Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, and effective upon the effectiveness of this Certificate (the “Effective Time”):

 

(a)            Subject to Sections 5.3(b) and 5.3(c), the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be and is 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. The Board of Directors may assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to such classes as of the Effective Time. No director shall be a member of more than one class. Directors shall be elected by the plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

 

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(b)            The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders following the date the shares of Common Stock are first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”); the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders following the IPO Date; and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders following the IPO Date. At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes in such a manner as the Board of Directors shall determine so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the closing the registered underwritten initial public offering of the Corporation and (ii) a fiscal year end at which Advent International Corporation (“Advent”) and its affiliates collectively beneficially own (as shall be determined in accordance with Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) less than 50% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (each, a “De-classification Event”), the Board of Directors shall continue to be classified but the directors whose terms expire at such annual meeting and any subsequent annual meeting (and such directors’ successors) will be elected to hold office for a one-year term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. At the third annual meeting following the De-classification Event, the classification of the Board of Directors shall cease, the Board of Directors shall no longer be classified, and, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, all directors shall be elected for a one-year term at all subsequent annual meetings.

 

5.4            Removal of Directors.  Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, (i) any director who prior to a De-classification Event is elected to serve a three-year term (a “Classified Term”) may be removed from office during such Classified Term, at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, and only for cause, and (ii) any director that is elected to serve a one-year term after a De-classification Event may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class, with or without cause.

 

5.5            Term. Directors shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which their terms expire and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. A director may resign at any time upon notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Secretary.

 

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5.6            Vacancies.  Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason and any newly created directorships resulting by reason of any increase in the number of directors shall be filled only by the Board of Directors (and not by the stockholders), acting by a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and any directors so appointed shall hold office until the next election of the class of directors to which such directors have been appointed and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

5.7            Director Elections by Holders of Preferred Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by series, to elect one or more directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, filling of vacancies, removal of directors and other features of such one or more directorships shall be governed by the terms of such one or more series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

6.1            Elections of Directors.  Elections of directors need not be by written ballot except and to the extent provided in the Bylaws.

 

6.2            Advance Notice.  Advance notice of nominations for the election of directors or proposals of other business to be considered by stockholders, made other than by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation to whom the Board of Directors or such committee shall have delegated such authority, shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Bylaws may require that such advance notice include such information as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate or useful.

 

6.3            No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, from and after the time that Advent and its affiliates collectively, beneficially own (as shall be determined in accordance with Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) less than 50% of the then outstanding shares of the Common Stock, then any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any written consent in lieu of a meeting by such stockholders. For purposes of this Section 6.3, Section 5.3 above and Article X below, “affiliates” shall mean, with respect to a given person, any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified; provided, however, that for the purposes of this definition none of (i) the Corporation, its subsidiaries and any entities (including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies or other persons) in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries hold, directly or indirectly, an ownership interest, on the one hand, or (ii) Advent and its affiliates (excluding the Corporation, its subsidiaries or other entities described in clause (i)), on the other hand, shall be deemed to be “affiliates” of one another.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as applied to any person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

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6.4            Postponement, Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.  Any meeting of stockholders may be postponed by action of the Board of Directors at any time in advance of such meeting.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meetings and management of the affairs of the Corporation as they may deem proper and the power to adjourn any meeting of stockholders without a vote of the stockholders, which powers may be delegated by the Board of Directors to the Chairperson of such meeting in either such rules and regulations or pursuant to the Bylaws.

 

6.5            Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for any purpose or purposes, may be called at any time, but only by or at the direction of a majority of the directors then in office, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

7.1            Limited Liability of Directors.  To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  If the DGCL is amended hereafter to permit the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended, without further action by the Corporation.  Any alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Section 7.1, or adoption of any provision of this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) inconsistent with this Section 7.1, shall not reduce, eliminate or adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such alteration, amendment, addition to, repeal or adoption with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such alteration, amendment, addition to, repeal or adoption.

 

7.2            Indemnification and Advancement. The Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses to and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (Indemnitee) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or her of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Section 7.2. “Enterprise” means the Corporation and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Corporation (or any of their wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

 

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7.3            Change in Rights. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such alteration, amendment, addition to, repeal or adoption.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

8.1            Location of Meetings and Books.  Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide.  The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

9.1            Amendments to Bylaws.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to make, alter, amend, add to or repeal any and all Bylaws by a resolution of the Board of Directors.  In addition to any vote required by this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to make, alter, amend, add to or repeal any or all Bylaws of the Corporation or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

 

ARTICLE X

 

10.1            Section 203 of the DGCL.  The Corporation shall not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL (“Section 203”), and the restrictions contained in Section 203 shall not apply to the Corporation.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)            upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (1) persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

(c)            at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66⅔% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

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10.3            Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions. The restrictions contained in this Article X shall not apply if:

 

(a)            a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three- year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

 

(b)            the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Section 10.3(b) of Article X; (ii) is with or by a person who either was not an interested stockholder during the previous three years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required); (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent (50%) or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock (as defined hereinafter) of the Corporation; or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all interested stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Section 10.3(b) of this Article X.

 

10.4            For purposes of this Article X, references to:

 

(a)            “affiliate” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3 of Article VI of this Certificate.

 

(b)            “associate” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (1) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (2) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (3) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)            any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of the securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this section 3(b)(iii) of this Article X shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

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

 

(v)            any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in section (3)(b)(i)-(iv) above of this Article X) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

(d)            “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as such Rule is in effect as of the date of this Certificate) have control of such entity.

 

(e)            “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term “interested stockholder” shall in no case include or be deemed to include (1) the Investors or their direct or indirect transferees (and such transferees’ current or future affiliates or associates), or (2) any person whose ownership of share in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that such person specified in this clause (2) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include voting stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

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(f)            “Investors” means Advent and any of its current or future affiliates or successors or any group, or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, for so long as they collectively own, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation.

 

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

 

(i)            beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(ii)           has (1) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (2) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(iii)          has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (2) of section (3)(f)(ii) above of this Article X), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(h)          “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association or other entity.

 

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

 

(j)            “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Every reference to a percentage of voting stock in this Article X shall refer to such percentage of votes of such voting stock.

 

10.5         Corporate Opportunities.  To the fullest extent permitted by Section 122(17) of the DGCL and except as may be otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation and Advent, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities, which are from time to time presented to Advent or any of its managers, officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no such person or entity shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person or entity pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or entity or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless, in the case of any such person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.  Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) inconsistent with this Article X, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article X in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article X, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

11.1         Exclusive Forum.

 

(a)          Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, a state court located within the State of Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: any (a) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (b) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by or other wrongdoing by any current or former director, officer, employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders; (c) action asserting a claim arising under any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; or (d) action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This Section 11.1(a) shall not apply in any respect to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any other claim or cause of action for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

(b)          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 action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

12.1         Amendment.  The Corporation reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to alter, amend, add to or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) in any manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights, preferences, privileges and powers of any nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons herein are granted subject to this reservation.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

 

13.1         Severability. If any provision (or any part thereof) of this Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate (including, without limitation, each such containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf on the _____ day of the month of ___________ in the year 2021.

 

  Sovos Brands, Inc.
   
  By:   
    Name: Isobel Jones
    Title:   Secretary

 

[CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SOVOS BRANDS, INC.]