0001104659-23-122084.txt : 20231129 0001104659-23-122084.hdr.sgml : 20231129 20231129170654 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-23-122084 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20231129 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20231129 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Hut 8 Corp. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001964789 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FINANCE SERVICES [6199] IRS NUMBER: 922056803 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-275788 FILM NUMBER: 231453159 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1221 BRICKELL AVENUE, SUITE 900 CITY: MIAMI STATE: FL ZIP: 33131 BUSINESS PHONE: 305-224-6427 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1221 BRICKELL AVENUE, SUITE 900 CITY: MIAMI STATE: FL ZIP: 33131 S-8 1 tm2331643d1_s8.htm S-8

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2023

 

Registration No. 333-                     

 

  

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

HUT 8 CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
92-2056803
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
1101 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1500
Miami, Florida
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
33131
(Zip Code)

 

Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)

 

Asher Genoot 

President
Hut 8 Corp.
1101 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1500
Miami, Florida
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(305) 224-6427
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With a copy to:

 

Aniss Amdiss 

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary 

Hut 8 Mining Corp. 

24 Duncan Street, Suite 500 

Toronto, ON M5V 2B8 

(647) 256-1992

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer  x Smaller reporting company ¨
  Emerging growth company x 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. x

 

 

 

 

 

 

explanatory note

 

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is filed by Hut 8 Corp. a Delaware corporation (the “Registrant”), to register up to 6,065,682 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable in connection with the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

On February 6, 2023, Hut 8 Mining Corp., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia (“Hut 8”), U.S. Data Mining Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation, (“USBTC”), and the Registrant entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, Hut 8 and its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, Hut 8 Holdings Inc., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia, will be amalgamated to continue as one British Columbia corporation (“Hut Amalco”) and both Hut Amalco and USBTC will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Registrant (the “Business Combination”).

 

Pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, each Hut 8 stock option (“Hut 8 Option”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination will be disposed of by the holder and cancelled, and as the sole consideration therefor the Registrant shall grant such holder a stock option (a “Hut 8 Replacement Option”) with respect to the Common Stock of the Registrant entitling the holder to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product obtained when the number of common shares of Hut 8 (each, a “Hut 8 Common Share”) subject to the replaced Hut 8 Option immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination is multiplied by 0.2, at an exercise price per share of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained when the exercise price per Hut 8 Common Share under the replaced Hut 8 Option is divided by 0.2. The Hut 8 Replacement Options shall be governed by the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and, other than the exercise price and number and kind of shares that may be purchased, shall otherwise have the same terms and conditions (including vesting, exercisability terms and expiry date) as were applicable to the replaced Hut 8 Options immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination. The aggregate number of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock subject to the Hut 8 Replacement Options is 23,000 shares.

 

In addition, this Registration Statement covers up to 6,042,682 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable in connection with other stock-based awards under the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

 

PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the equity benefit plans covered by this Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

 

PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents, which have been filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

 

(a)The Registrant’s prospectus (the “Prospectus”) dated November 9, 2023, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 originally filed with the Commission on February  13, 2023, as amended (File No. 333-269738);

 

(b)The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock, included under the caption “Description of New Hut Capital Stock” in the Prospectus;

 

(c)Hut 8’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on March 9, 2023;

 

(d)Hut 8’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Hut 8’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, filed with the Commission on November 14, 2023;

 

(e)The audit report of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP, dated March 8, 2023, on the Consolidated Financial Statements of Hut 8 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, included in Hut 8’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on April 18, 2023;

 

(f)Hut 8’s Management Information Circular included in Hut 8’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on June 6, 2022; and

 

(g)The material change report of Hut 8 included in Hut 8’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on November 8, 2023.

 

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information that are related to such items) after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

The validity of the securities registered hereby is being passed upon by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, as legal counsel.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “DGCL”), provides, among other things, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were, are or are threatened to be made parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal.

 

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.

 

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Registrant’s directors and officers shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable, to the fullest extent that the limitation of such liabilities is permitted under the DGCL as in effect at the time such liability is determined.

 

Further, upon closing of the Business Combination, all of the Registrant’s directors and officers will be covered by insurance policies maintained by the Registrant against specified liabilities for actions taken in their capacities as such, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, the Registrant will enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its executive officers providing for the indemnification of such director or executive officer, as applicable, to the extent permissible under applicable law, and the payment of expenses, including counsel fees reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding in which such individual may be involved by reason of such individual being or having been a director or officer of the Registrant. The form of Indemnification Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 originally filed with the Commission on February 13, 2023, as amended (File No. 333-269738).

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit Description

4.1*   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Hut 8 Corp.
     
4.2*   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hut 8 Corp.
     
4.3*   Hut 8 Corp. Omnibus Incentive Plan
     
5.1*   Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
     
23.1*   Consent of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP.
     
23.2*   Consent of RSM US LLP.
     
23.3*   Consent of LJ Soldinger Associates, LLC.
     
23.4*   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
     
24.1*   Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration statement).
     
107*   Filing fee table.

 

*            Filed herewith.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

1. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

2. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Miami, State of Florida, on November 29, 2023.

 

 Hut 8 Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Asher Genoot
    Asher Genoot
    President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

 

Title

 

Date

         

/s/ Asher Genoot

  President and Sole Director     November 29, 2023
Asher Genoot   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         

/s/ Michael Ho

  Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer   November 29, 2023
Michael Ho   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         

 

 

 

EX-4.1 2 tm2331643d1_ex4-1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

HUT 8 CORP.

Hut 8 Corp., a Delaware corporation, does hereby certify as follows:

1.            The name of the corporation is Hut 8 Corp. (the “Corporation”) and the Corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “DGCL”) on January 27, 2023.

2.            This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.

3.            This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation hereby restates, integrates and further amends the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety to read as follows:

FIRST. The name of the corporation is Hut 8 Corp.

SECOND. The address of the corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, County of New Castle, City of Wilmington, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

FOURTH.

1.            Authorized Shares of Capital Stock. The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,025,000,000 shares, which shall be divided into the following classes and numbers of shares thereof: 1,000,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 25,000,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The number of authorized shares of any class or classes of stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote irrespective of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

2.            Common Stock. The powers (including voting powers), if any, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional, special or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of Common Stock are as follows:

a.            Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (including any certificate filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware establishing a series of Preferred Stock) (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and then outstanding, dividends may be declared and paid on Common Stock at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.

b.            Voting. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of one or more outstanding shares of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each outstanding share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote.

c.            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock held by them. None of a merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer, or continuance of the Corporation or a sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets which, in each case, shall not in fact result in the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation and the distribution of its assets, shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 2(c).

3.            Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, powers (including voting powers) of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights 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.

1

 

4.            Stockholder Action. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action in lieu of a meeting of stockholders is hereby specifically denied.

FIFTH.

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

2.            Removal of Directors. Except for those directors, if any, elected solely and exclusively by the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding (collectively, the “Class/Series Directors” and each, a “Class/Series Director”), any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

3.            Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director, shall be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. Any director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

4.            Automatic Increase/Decrease in Total Authorized Number of Directors. During any period when the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding have the right to elect one or more Class/Series Directors, then upon commencement of, and for the duration of, the period during which such right continues: (a) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by the number of such specified Class/Series Director or Class/Series Directors, and the holders of such class or series of capital stock shall be entitled to elect such Class/Series Director or Class/Series Directors; and (b) each such Class/Series Director shall serve until such Class/Series Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, or until such Class/Series Director’s right to hold such office terminates by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever occurs earlier, subject to such Class/Series Director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock then outstanding having the right to elect one or more Class/Series Directors by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation are divested of such right by or pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term of office of each such Class/Series Director elected by the holders of such class or series of capital stock, or elected to fill any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of each such Class/Series Director, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be decreased by such specified number of directors.

5.            No Written Ballot. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

6.            Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. In addition to any affirmative vote required by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, any bylaw that is to be adopted, amended, or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation generally entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.

7.            Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time, but solely and exclusively by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the whole Board of Directors. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders may not be called by any other person or persons. Any special meeting of stockholders may be postponed by action of the Board of Directors or by the person calling such meeting (if other than the Board of Directors) at any time in advance of such meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

2

 

SIXTH. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as amended from time to time, a director or officer of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable. If the DGCL is amended after the effective date of this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. An amendment, repeal or elimination of this Article shall not affect its application with respect to an act or omission by a director or officer occurring before such amendment, repeal or elimination.

SEVENTH. The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change, or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, powers, and preferences, of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors, or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article.

EIGHTH. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising out of or relating to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws, (iv) any action asserting a claim, including a claim in the right of the corporation, as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”), or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, shall in each case be the Court of Chancery or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, any state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to such court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants, except for, as to each of (i) through (v) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and such indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within ten (10) days following such determination). Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article shall not apply to the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article. The existence of any prior written consent by the Corporation to the selection of an alternative forum shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above with respect to any current or future actions or claims.

***

3

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its authorized officer on November 29, 2023.

HUT 8 CORP.
By:  /s/ Asher Genoot
Name: Asher Genoot
Title: President

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EX-4.2 3 tm2331643d1_ex4-2.htm EXHIBIT 4.2

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

AMENDED & RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

HUT 8 CORP.

a Delaware Corporation

 

ARTICLE 1. STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Hut 8 Corp. (as such name may be changed in accordance with applicable law from time to time, the “Corporation”) from time to time. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that an annual meeting of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner authorized by Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation (including any certificate filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware establishing a series of preferred stock of the Corporation) (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time, but solely and exclusively by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or by the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the whole Board of Directors. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders may not be called by any other person or persons. Any special meeting of stockholders may be postponed by action of the Board of Directors or by the person calling such meeting (if other than the Board of Directors) at any time in advance of such meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a special meeting of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner authorized by Section 211 of the DGCL. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws (as the same may be amended or amended from time to time, these “Bylaws”), the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

Section 1.4 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time and reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.8 of these Bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 1.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of at least 33.3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the meeting, or the holders of a majority of the voting power of shares entitled to vote and present at such meeting (whether present in person or represented by proxy), may adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 1.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. Shares of the Corporation’s stock shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes if such shares belong to(a) the Corporation, (b) another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (c) any other entity, if a majority of the voting power of such other entity is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or if such other entity is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly by the Corporation. Nothing in the foregoing sentence shall be construed as limiting the right of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 1.6 Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, or in his or her absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing individuals by a chairperson designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

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Section 1.7 Voting; Proxies. Except as otherwise required by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors (other than any Class/Series Directors) (as defined below)) at which a quorum is present, a majority of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect; provided, however, that any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors (other than any Class/Series Directors) at which a quorum is present, and one or more stockholders have (a) nominated one or more individuals for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with Section 1.12 of these Bylaws, such that the number of nominees for election to the Board of Directors exceeds the number of open seats, and (b) not withdrawn such Nomination or Nominations (as each is defined below) on or prior to the tenth (10th) day preceding the date the Corporation first gives notice of such meeting to stockholders, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. All other elections, questions, and business presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of votes cast with respect to any such election, question, or business. For purposes of this Section 1.7, a “majority of votes cast” means that the number of votes cast “for” a nominee, question or business exceeds the number of votes cast “against” such nominee, question or business.

Section 1.8 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date: (a) in the case of a determination of stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting and, unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of such meeting shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting; and (b) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (i) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (ii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for the stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.8 at the adjourned meeting.

Section 1.9 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting, and such list shall be open to examination, all to the extent required by and in accordance with applicable law. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 1.10 Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by applicable law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the individual presiding over the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (a) ascertain the number of shares of stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (b) determine the shares of stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares of stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by applicable law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No individual who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

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Section 1.11 Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each election, question, or business upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the individual presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the individual presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting whether or not a quorum is present, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding individual, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the individual presiding over the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other individuals as the individual presiding over the meeting of stockholders shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The Board of Directors or the individual presiding over any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, in each case, shall have the power and duty to determine whether any election, question, or business was or was not properly made, proposed or brought before the meeting of stockholders and therefore shall be disregarded and not be considered or transacted at the meeting, and, if the Board of Directors or the individual presiding over the meeting, as the case may be, determines that such election, question, or business was not properly made, proposed or brought before the meeting of stockholders and shall be disregarded and not be considered or transacted at the meeting, the individual presiding over the meeting shall declare to the meeting that such election, question or business was not properly made, proposed or brought before the meeting and shall be disregarded and not be considered or transacted at the meeting, and any such election, question or business shall not be considered or transacted at the meeting. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the individual presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The Board of Directors may cancel, postpone, or reschedule any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been given to the stockholders.

Section 1.12 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a)Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(i)            Nominations of one or more individuals for election to the Board of Directors by the stockholders generally entitled to vote (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude nominations of one or more individuals for election as Class/Series Directors (as defined below)) (each, a “Nomination,” and more than one, “Nominations”) and the proposal of any question or business other than a Nomination or Nominations to be considered by the stockholders generally entitled to vote (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any question or business other than a Nomination or Nominations required by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation to be voted on solely and exclusively by the holders of any class (voting separately as a class) or series (voting separately as a series) of stock of the Corporation then outstanding) (collectively, “Business”) may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); provided, however, that reference in the Corporation’s notice of meeting to the election of directors or the election of members of the Board of Directors shall not include or be deemed to include a Nomination or Nominations, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.12 is delivered to the Secretary, (y) who is entitled to vote at the meeting and (z) who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12, and, in connection with a Nomination or Nominations, the requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”).

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(ii)            For Nominations or Business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to Section 1.12(a)(i)(C) of these Bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and any proposed Business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each Nomination to be made by such stockholder, (1) all information relating to the individual subject to such Nomination that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, without regard to the application of the Exchange Act to either the Nomination or the Corporation, (2) such individual’s written consent to being named in any proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as director if elected, (3) a description of any direct or indirect compensation or benefit (including, without limitation, indemnification and/or advancement rights) to which the individual subject to such Nomination may be entitled under any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person other than the Corporation (including, without limitation, the amount of any such monetary compensation) in connection with such individual’s nomination or service as a director of the Corporation and (4) a description of any other material relationship or relationships between or among the individual subject to such Nomination and/or such individual’s affiliates and associates, on the one hand, and the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Nomination or Nominations is/are made and/or such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with such stockholder or beneficial owner or their respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such stockholder, beneficial owner, affiliate, associate or other person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the individual subject to such Nomination was a director or officer of such registrant; (B) as to the Business proposed by such stockholder, a brief description of the Business, the text of the proposed Business (including the text of any resolution or resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such Business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment), the reason or reasons for conducting such Business at the meeting and any material interest or interests in such Business of such stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Business is proposed; (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Nomination, Nominations or Business is/are made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, and any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, (2) the class, series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, (3) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such Nomination, Nominations or Business and (4) a representation as to whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the Business or, in the case of a Nomination or Nominations, to holders of at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors and/or (y) to otherwise solicit proxies from such stockholders of the Corporation in support of such Nomination, Nominations or Business; and (D) in connection with a Nomination or Nominations, all other information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that if the Business is otherwise subject to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 14a-8”), the foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present such Business at an annual meeting of stockholders in compliance with Rule 14a-8, and such Business has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting of stockholders. The Corporation may require (1) any individual subject to such Nomination to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such individual subject to such Nomination to serve as a director of the Corporation if elected and (2) the stockholder giving notice to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to demonstrate that any Business is a proper matter for stockholder action at an annual meeting of stockholders.

(iii)            Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors by the stockholders generally entitled to vote (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any Class/Series Directors) at an annual meeting of stockholders is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for election to the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.12 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for election to such additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)            Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such Business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); provided, however, that reference therein to the election of directors or the election of members of the Board of Directors shall not include or be deemed to include Nominations. Nominations may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which one or more directors are to be elected by the stockholders generally entitled to vote (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any Class/Series Directors) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) as aforesaid (provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting) (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.12 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors by the stockholders generally entitled to vote (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any Class/Series Directors), any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election may make a Nomination or Nominations of one or more individuals (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 1.12(b)(iii) of these Bylaws, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1.12(a)(ii) of these Bylaws shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of such special meeting and of the nominee(s) proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such special meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

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(c)General.

(i)            Only individuals subject to a Nomination made in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act shall be eligible for election at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and only such Business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before such meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Board of Directors or the individual presiding over an annual or special meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty to determine whether (A) a Nomination or any Business proposed to be brought before the meeting was or was not made, proposed or brought, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act and (B) any proposed Nomination, Nominations or Business shall be disregarded or that such Nomination, Nominations or Business shall not be considered or transacted at the meeting, including due to any failure to conduct a solicitation in support of a Nomination or Nominations in compliance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders to present a Nomination, Nominations or Business, such Nomination, Nominations or Business shall be disregarded and such Nomination, Nominations or Business shall not be considered or transacted at the meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

(ii)            A stockholder providing notice of a Nomination, Nominations or any Business proposed to be brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders shall further update and supplement such notice, (i) if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual or special meeting of stockholders and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the annual or special meeting of stockholders and (ii) in connection with a Nomination or Nominations, to provide evidence that the stockholder providing notice of a proposed Nomination or Nominations has solicited proxies from holders representing at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the stockholder files a definitive proxy statement in connection with such annual or special meeting of stockholders.

(iii)            For purposes of this Section 1.12, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with or publicly furnished by the Corporation to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 and 15(d) (or any successor thereto) of the Exchange Act.

(iv)            Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any (A) rights or obligations, if any, of stockholders with respect to inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (to the extent the Corporation or such proposals are subject to Rule 14a-8), (B) rights or obligations, if any, of stockholders with respect to the inclusion of a nominee in a universal proxy card pursuant to Rule 14a-19 (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (C) rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as provided for or filed by or pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding to, solely and exclusively, elect one or more directors outstanding (collectively, the “Class/Series Directors” and each, a “Class/Series Director”).

ARTICLE 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.1 Number; Qualifications. Except for any Class/Series Directors, the Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 2.2 Resignation; Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director, shall be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal. Any director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 2.3 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

Section 2.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President, the Secretary, or by any member of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting, (a) if delivered personally by hand, courier or telephone or given by electronic transmission, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the special meeting and (b) if sent by United States mail, deposited in the United States mail at least ninety six (96) hours before the special meeting.

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Section 2.5 Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.6 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the directors then in office, which in no case shall be less than one third (1/3) of the votes of the total authorized directors, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If the Certificate of Incorporation provides that one (1) or more directors shall have more or less than 1 vote per director on any matter, every reference in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors of the Corporation shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors, including for (a) a quorum of the Board of Directors, any committee thereof and any subcommittee of such a committee and (b) actions of the directors, any committee of the Board of Directors or any subcommittee thereof.

Section 2.7 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 2.8 Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, (a) any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and (b) a consent may be documented, signed, and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

ARTICLE 3. COMMITTEES

Section 3.1 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. Subject to such rules and regulations, in the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee or these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

Section 3.2 Meetings and Actions of Committees. A majority of the votes of the directors then serving on a committee of the Board of Directors or on a subcommittee of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee or subcommittee, unless the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors or a resolution of a committee that created the subcommittee requires a greater or lesser number, provided that in no case shall a quorum be less than one third (1/3) of the votes of the directors then serving on the committee or subcommittee. The vote of the majority of the votes of the members of a committee or subcommittee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee or subcommittee, unless the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors or a resolution of a committee that created the subcommittee requires a greater number. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such provision by the Board of Directors or rules made by the committee, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article 2 of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS

Section 4.1 Executive Officers; Election; Qualifications; Term of Office, Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary, and it may, if it so determines, choose a Chairperson of the Board and a Vice Chairperson of the Board from among its members. The Board of Directors may also choose a President, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable. Each such officer shall hold office for such term as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

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Section 4.2 Powers and Duties of Executive Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed in these Bylaws or a resolution by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

Section 4.3 Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board, the President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, for, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed for, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper. Any of the rights set forth in this Section 4.3 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairperson of the Board, the President or any Vice President.

ARTICLE 5. STOCK

Section 5.1 Stock Certificates. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by a certificate, unless and until the Board of Directors adopts a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Every holder of stock of the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two (2) authorized officers of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Each of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel, in addition to any other officers of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, is hereby authorized to sign certificates by, or in the name of, the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation shall not have the power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

Section 5.2 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates or Uncertificated Shares. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. The Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

Section 5.3 Transfers. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.

Section 5.4 Restrictions. If the Corporation issues any shares that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time (the “Securities Act”), and registered or qualified under the applicable state securities laws, such shares may not be transferred without the consent of the Corporation and the certificates evidencing such shares or the notice required by Delaware law, as the case may be, shall contain substantially the following legend (or such other legend adopted by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors):

THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH IN THE CORPORATION’S AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS (AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME) AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE CORPORATION.

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ARTICLE 6. INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1 Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any individual (a “Covered Person”) 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 or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or an individual for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, its participants or beneficiaries, against all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3 of these Bylaws, 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 in the specific case by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.2 Advanced Payment of Expenses. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

Section 6.3 Claims. If (a) a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) under this Article VI is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation or (b) a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within twenty (20) days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, as applicable, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting 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 any such action to enforce a claim for indemnification under this Article VI, neither the failure of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct.

Section 6.4 Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 6.5 Other Sources. 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 corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity.

Section 6.6 Amendment, Repeal, Modification or Elimination. Any amendment, repeal, modification or elimination of this Article VI shall not eliminate or impair any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses hereunder of any Covered Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal, modification or elimination.

Section 6.7 Other Indemnification and Prepayment of Expenses. This Article VI 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 6.8 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VI, (a) references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article 6 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued; (b) references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; (c) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and (d) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

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ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 7.2 Seal. The corporate seal of the Corporation shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.3 Manner of Notice. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or permitted by applicable law, notices to directors or stockholders may be given in writing or by electronic transmission to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Section 7.4 Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Any written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission.

Section 7.5 Form of Records. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases); provided, that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time, and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept comply with applicable law.

Section 7.6 Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and other Bylaws adopted, by the Board of Directors, but the stockholders may adopt other Bylaws and may alter, amend and repeal any Bylaws whether adopted by them or otherwise. In addition to any affirmative vote required by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, any bylaw that is to be made, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE 8. FORUM SELECTION

Section 8.1 Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (iv) any action asserting a claim, including a claim in the right of the Corporation, as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”), or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, shall in each case be the Court of Chancery or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, any state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to such court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants, except for, as to each of (i) through (v) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and such indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within ten (10) days following such determination). Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article shall not apply to the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Exchange Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article. The existence of any prior written consent by the Corporation to the selection of an alternative forum shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above with respect to any current or future actions or claims.

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EX-4.3 4 tm2331643d1_ex4-3.htm EXHIBIT 4.3

Exhibit 4.3

 

HUT 8 CORP.

 

2023 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.Purpose of Plan.

 

The name of the Plan is the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The purposes of the Plan are to provide an additional incentive to selected officers, employees, non-employee directors, independent contractors and consultants of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the business of the Company and its Affiliates, in order to strengthen the commitment of such persons to the Company and its Affiliates, motivate such persons to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and attract and retain competent and dedicated persons whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and its Affiliates. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Stock Units, Stock Bonuses, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards or any combination of the foregoing.

 

2.Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)"Administrator" means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with and subject to Section 3 hereof.

 

(b)"Affiliate" means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified (for purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with") as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such Person through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise).

 

(c)"Annual Board Retainer" means the annual retainer paid by the Company to a director in a calendar year for service on the Board, including Board committee fees, attendance fees and additional fees and retainers to committee chairs; provided that, for greater clarity, "Annual Board Retainer" shall not include any amounts paid as a reimbursement or allowance for expenses.

 

(d)"Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Stock Bonus, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash Award granted under the Plan.

 

(e)"Award Agreement" means any written or electronic agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan. Each Participant who is granted an Award shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion. Award Agreements shall also include notices from the Company and a corresponding credit by means of a bookkeeping entry on the books of the Company.

 

 

 

 

(f)"Base Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(g)"Beneficial Owner" (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

(h)"Black-Out Period" means a period of time when pursuant to any policies of the Company, any securities of the Company may not be traded by certain Persons designated by the Company.

 

(i)"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(j)"Cash Award" means an Award granted pursuant to Section 13 hereof.

 

(k)"Canadian Participant" means a Participant who is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act or who is granted an Award in respect of, or by virtue of, employment services rendered in Canada; provided that, for greater certainty, a Participant may be both a Canadian Participant and a U.S. Participant.

 

(l)"Cause" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement or in any individual employment, service or offer letter agreement ("Individual Agreement") in effect with the Participant or, if there is no such agreement or such Award Agreement or Individual Agreement does not define "Cause," Cause means, as determined by the Administrator (and subject to applicable law), (i) the commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty by the Participant in the course of the Participant's employment or service; (ii) the indictment of, or conviction of, or entering of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by, the Participant for a crime constituting a felony or in respect of any act of fraud or dishonesty; (iii) the commission of an act by the Participant which would make the Participant or the Company (including any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) subject to being enjoined, suspended, barred or otherwise disciplined for violation of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations, including a statutory disqualification; (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the Participant's performance of the Participant's duties with the Company (including any Subsidiary or Affiliate for whom the Participant may be employed by at the time) or the Participant's failure to comply with any of the restrictive covenants to which the Participant is subject; (v) the Participant's willful failure to comply with any material policies or procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time, provided that the Participant received a copy of such policies or notice that they have been posted on a Company website prior to such compliance failure; or (vi) the Participant's failure to perform the material duties in connection with the Participant's position, unless the Participant remedies the failure referenced in this clause (vi) no later than ten (10) days following delivery to the Participant of a written notice from the Company (including any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) describing such failure in reasonable detail (provided that the Participant shall not be given more than one opportunity in the aggregate to remedy failures described in this clause (vi)).

 

 

 

 

(m)"Change in Capitalization" means any (i) merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer, continuance, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares, or (iv) other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof is appropriate.

 

(n)"Change in Control" means an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

 

(i)any Person (or any group of Persons acting together which would constitute a "group" for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (I) of paragraph (iii) below;

 

(ii)the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving on the Board: individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;

 

(iii)there is consummated a merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary, other than (I) a merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance (A) which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving, resulting, converted or domesticated entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving, resulting, converted or domesticated entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance and (B) immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors or governing body of the Company, the entity surviving, resulting, converted or domesticated in such merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance or, if the Company or the entity surviving, resulting, converted or domesticated in such merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (II) a merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or

 

 

 

 

(iv)the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, other than (A) a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, and to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to such Award only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(o)"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

 

(p)"Committee" means any committee or subcommittee the Board may appoint to administer the Plan. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the qualifications of (i) a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and (ii) any other qualifications required by the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee.

 

(q)"Common Stock" means the common shares in the capital of the Company.

 

 

 

 

(r)"Company" means Hut 8 Corp., a Delaware corporation (or any successor company, except for purposes of the definition of Change in Control).

 

(s)"Deferred Stock Unit" means a right, granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof, to receive an amount in cash or Shares (or any combination thereof) equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share, provided that Deferred Stock Units shall only vest, and a Participant is only entitled to settlement or redemption of a Deferred Stock Unit, when the Participant ceases to be any of a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company for any reason, including termination, retirement or death.

 

(t)"Disability" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement or in any Individual Agreement with the Participant or, if any such Award Agreement or Individual Agreement does not define "Disability," Disability means, with respect to any Participant, that such Participant, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, is (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an Affiliate thereof.

 

(u)"Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 21 hereof.

 

(v)"Eligible Recipient" means an officer, employee, non-employee director, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator; provided, however, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, an Eligible Recipient of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right means any such Person with respect to whom the Company is an "eligible issuer of service recipient stock" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(w)"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(x)"Exercise Price" means, with respect to any Option, the per share price at which a holder of such Option may purchase the Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Option.

 

(y)"Fair Market Value" of Common Stock or another security as of a particular date shall mean the fair market value as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, (i) if the Common Stock or other security is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value on any date shall be the closing sale price reported on such date, or if no shares were traded on such date, on the last preceding date for which there was a sale of share of Common Stock or other security on such exchange (or, in the event the Common Stock or other security admitted to trading on more than one national securities exchange, the principal securities exchange on which the majority of the trading in the Common Stock or other security occurs), or (ii) if the Common Stock or other security is then traded in an over-the-counter market, the fair market value on any date shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such share of Common Stock or other security in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such share of Common Stock or other security in such market.

 

 

 

 

(z)"Free Standing Right" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

(aa)"Good Reason" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement or in any Individual Agreement in effect with the Participant or, if there is no such agreement or such Award Agreement or Individual Agreement does not define "Good Reason," Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following events without the Participant's consent (each a "Good Reason Condition"): (i) a material reduction in the Participant's base salary, except pursuant to an across-the-board reduction similarly affecting substantially all similarly situated employees of the Company or (ii) a requirement that (other than for business-related travel normally required as part of the Participant's duties) the Participant work primarily from an office or geographic location that is beyond a fifty (50) mile radius from the office or geographic location at which the Participant primarily works as of the Grant Date (provided that such requirement results in an increase in the Participant's commute); provided that Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred unless (A) the Participant notifies the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason Condition within ninety (90) days of the first occurrence of such condition and the Participant's notice sets forth the facts and circumstances of the alleged Good Reason Condition, (B) the Participant cooperates in good faith with the Company's efforts, for a period of not less than thirty (30) days following such notice (the "Cure Period"), to remedy the Good Reason Condition, (C) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason Condition continues to exist after the end of the Cure Period and (D) the Participant terminates employment within thirty (30) days after the end of the Cure Period. If the Company cures the Good Reason Condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.

 

(bb)"Incentive Stock Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof that is designated, in the applicable Award Agreement, as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements to be an "incentive stock option" set forth in Section 422 of the Code.

 

(cc)"Insider" means a “reporting insider” of the Company as defined in National Instrument 55-104 – Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions and includes associates and affiliates (as such terms are defined in Part 1 of the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual) of such “reporting insider”;

 

(dd)"Nonqualified Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(ee)"Option" means either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option.

 

(ff)"Other Stock-Based Award" means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

 

 

 

 

(gg)"Participant" means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator's authority provided for in Section 3 hereof, to receive grants of Awards, and, upon such Eligible Recipient's death, such Eligible Recipient's successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

 

(hh)Performance Stock Unit” means a right, granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof, to receive an amount in cash or Shares (or any combination thereof) equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share, which right is made subject to vesting conditions that lapse upon the attainment of a performance goal or goals (and which may require continued service for a specified period or periods.

 

(ii)"Person" has the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof.

 

(jj)"Plan" means this Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

(kk)"Plan of Arrangement" means the plan of arrangement implementing the arrangement of Hut 8 Mining Corp. under Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) pursuant to a business combination agreement dated as of February 5, 2023 by and among the Company, Hut 8 Mining Corp. and U.S. Data Mining Group, Inc..

 

(ll)"Related Right" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

(mm)"Replacement Hut Options" has the meaning ascribed to the term "Replacement Options" in the Plan of Arrangement.

 

(nn)"Restricted Stock" means Shares granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period or periods.

 

(oo)"Restricted Stock Unit" means a right, granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof, to receive an amount in cash or Shares (or any combination thereof) equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period or periods.

 

(pp)"Rule 16b-3" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

 

(qq)"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(rr)"Shares" means shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor security (e.g., pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other reorganization).

 

(ss)"Stock Appreciation Right" means the right to receive, upon exercise of the right, the applicable amounts as described in Section 8 hereof.

 

(tt)"Stock Bonus" means a bonus payable in fully vested Shares granted pursuant to Section 12 hereof.

 

 

 

 

(uu)"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such other Person.

 

(vv)"Tax Act" means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder, each as amended from time to time.

 

(ww)"Termination Date" means (i) in the event of a Participant's resignation, the date on which such Participant ceases to be a director, executive officer, employee or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate, (ii) in the event of the termination of the Participant's employment, or position as director, executive or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or for a consultant, the effective date of the termination as specified in the notice of termination provided to the Participant by the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, and (iii) in the event of a Participant's death, on the date of death; provided that, in all cases, in applying the provisions of the Plan to Deferred Stock Units granted to a Canadian Participant, the "Termination Date" shall be the date on which the Participant is neither a director, employee, executive or officer of the Company or of any affiliate of the Company (as determined for the purposes of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Tax Act), subject to the Participant's minimum statutory entitlements, if any, prescribed by applicable employment or labor standards legislation. For the avoidance of doubt, and except as required by applicable employment standards legislation, no period of notice or pay in lieu of notice that is given or that ought to have been given under applicable law in respect of the termination of a Participant's employment, or position as director, executive or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or consultant, that follows or is in respect of a period after the Participant's last day of actual and active service or retention shall be considered as extending the Participant's period of service or retention for the purposes of determining their entitlement under the Plan.

 

(xx)"Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section 19 hereof.

 

(yy)"U.S. Participant" means a Participant who is subject to taxation in the United States in respect of Awards under the Plan; provided that, for greater certainty, a Participant may be both a Canadian Participant and a U.S. Participant.

 

3.Administration.

 

(a)The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator and shall be administered in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act ("Rule 16b-3"), to the extent applicable.

 

(b)Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without limitation:

 

(i)to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants;

 

 

 

 

(ii)to determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted hereunder to Participants;

 

(iii)to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, (ii) the performance criteria and periods applicable to Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price of each Option and the Base Price of each Stock Appreciation Right, (iv) the vesting schedule applicable to each Award, (v) the number of Shares or amount of cash or other property subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable), any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and accelerating or waiving the vesting schedule or other conditions of such Awards);

 

(v)to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Awards;

 

(vi)to determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of the Plan;

 

(vii)to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant's employment or service for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;

 

(viii)to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;

 

(ix)to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to sub-plans or addendums established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws, which rules and regulations may be set forth in an appendix or appendices to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and

 

(x)to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)Notwithstanding Section 3(b), other than for adjustments made pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the Company may not, without first obtaining the approval of the Company's stockholders, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce the Exercise Price or Base Price, as applicable, of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an Exercise Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Exercise Price or Base Price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an Exercise Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is above the current per share stock price, in exchange for cash, property or other securities.

 

 

 

 

(d)The Administrator's determinations under the Plan (including without limitation, the selection of Participants, the form, amount and timing of Awards, the terms and provisions of Awards and the applicable Award Agreements, the modification or amendment of any award and the applicable Award Agreement, and the construction and interpretation of the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award) need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among Eligible Recipients or Participants whether or not such persons are similarly situated.

 

(e)All decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company and the Participants. No member of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof acting on behalf of the Board or the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, omission, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or employee of the Company and of any Subsidiary thereof acting on their behalf shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such action, omission, determination or interpretation.

 

(f)The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, delegate its authority, in whole or in part, under the Plan (including, but not limited to, its authority to grant Awards under the Plan, other than its authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any Participant who is subject to reporting under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) to one or more officers of the Company, subject to the requirements of applicable law or any stock exchange on which the Shares are traded.

 

(g)The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, retain a service provider, at a reasonable expense, to provide administrative agent, registrar, settlement, or similar functions in respect of outstanding Awards and may also delegate such ministerial duties to Company personnel.

 

4.Shares Reserved for Issuance; Certain Limitations; Director Compensation Limitation.

 

(a)The maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 6.85% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, from time to time, calculated on a non-diluted basis and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.

 

(b)Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with the exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right or the payment of any purchase price with respect to any other Award under the Plan, as well as any Shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or any Subsidiary to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award under the Plan, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. In addition, (i) to the extent an Award is denominated in Shares, but paid or settled in cash, the number of Shares with respect to which such payment or settlement is made shall again be available for grants of Awards pursuant to the Plan and (ii) Shares underlying Awards that can only be settled in cash shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(c)No Participant who is a non-employee director of the Company shall be granted Awards during any calendar year that, when aggregated with such non-employee director's cash fees with respect to such calendar year, exceed $750,000 in total value (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for the Company's financial reporting purposes). The Administrator may make exceptions to increase such limit to $1,000,000 for an individual non-employee director in extraordinary circumstances, such as where a non-employee director serves as the non-executive chairman of the Board or lead independent director, or as a member of a special litigation or transactions committee of the Board, as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion, provided that the non-employee director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation involving such non-employee director.

 

(d)With respect to non-employee directors: (i) the Plan will not result at any time in the number of Shares issuable to all non-employee directors exceeding 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at such time; and (ii) the number of Shares issuable to any one non-employee director will be subject to an annual grant limit of C$150,000 worth of Awards (other than Awards granted in lieu of cash fees payable for serving as a non-employee director) and Options, in aggregate, per such non-employee director, of which no more than C$100,000 may be issued in the form of Options.

 

Compliance with the foregoing limits shall be measured based on the grant date fair value of such awards, as computed in the manner utilized for the Company’s financial statements.

 

(e)For so long as the Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Plan (and any other proposed or established security based compensation arrangements of the Company) will not result in (i) a number of Shares issuable to Eligible Recipients who are Insiders, at any time, exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at such time, and (ii) a number of Shares issued to Eligible Recipients who are Insiders, within any one-year period, exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at such time.

 

 

 

 

5.Equitable Adjustments.

 

(a)In the event of any Change in Capitalization or a Change in Control, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made, in each case, in the manner determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, in (i) the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, (ii) the kind and number of securities subject to, and the Exercise Price or Base Price of, any outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares, or the amount of cash or amount or type of other property, subject to outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonuses and Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan or (iv) the performance criteria and performance periods applicable to any Awards granted under the Plan; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

(b)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization or a Change in Control, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares, cash or other property covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or Base Price thereof, if any; provided, however, that (i) if the Exercise Price or Base Price of any outstanding Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares, cash or other property covered by such Award, the Administrator may cancel such Award without the payment of any consideration to the Participant; and (ii) in the case of any Options or other Awards granted to a Canadian Participant that are subject to section 7 of the Tax Act, the consent of such Participant shall be required to settle such Awards in cash or any property other than Shares.

 

(c)The determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to this Section 5 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

6.Eligibility.

 

The Participants under the Plan (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, Participants that are granted Replacement Hut Options under the Plan of Arrangement) shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as Eligible Recipients.

 

7.Options.

 

(a)General. Each Participant who is granted an Option shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, which Award Agreement shall set forth, among other things, the Exercise Price of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, vesting provisions of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a Nonqualified Option). More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, Replacement Hut Options shall have the terms specified in the Plan of Arrangement.

 

 

 

 

(b)Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the related Shares on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of Share issuable under any Replacement Hut Option shall be the exercise price determined in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement for such Replacement Hut Option.

 

(c)Option Term.

 

(i)The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option's term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement.

 

(ii)Should the expiration date for an Option fall within a Black-Out Period or within nine (9) Business Days following the expiration of a Black-Out Period, such expiration date shall be automatically extended without any further act or formality to that date which is the 10th Business Day after the end of the Black-Out Period, such 10th Business Day to be considered the expiration date for such Option for all purposes under the Plan. The 10-Business Day period referred to herein may not be extended by the Administrator. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, (i) Incentive Stock Options shall not be extended as provided in this Section and (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be extended as provided in this Section only if the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Options during the Black-Out Period would violate an applicable federal, state, local or foreign law.

 

(d)Exercisability. Each Option shall be exercisable, subject to applicable Black-Out Periods, at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of performance criteria, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share.

 

(e)Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of whole Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also be made (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise or a broker-assisted cashless exercise program), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already owned by the Participant which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by applicable law or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

 

 

 

 

(f)Incentive Stock Options. The terms and conditions of Incentive Stock Options granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Administrator from time to time in accordance with the Plan. At the discretion of the Administrator, Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to an employee of the Company, its "parent corporation" (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or "subsidiary corporation" (as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code). Up to 6,065,682 (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 hereof) may be granted as Incentive Stock Options.

 

(i)Incentive Stock Option Grants to 10% Stockholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, its "parent corporation" (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or "subsidiary corporation" (as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code), the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such Incentive Stock Option and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.

 

(ii)$100,000 Per Year Limitation For Incentive Stock Options. To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date of grant) of the Shares for which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Stock Options shall constitute Nonqualified Options.

 

(iii)Disqualifying Dispositions. Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a "disqualifying disposition" of any Share acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A "disqualifying disposition" is any disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the Incentive Stock Option and (ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the Shares by exercising the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such Shares.

 

(g)No Liability. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or to any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code.

 

 

 

 

(h)Rights as Stockholder. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement or pursuant to an adjustment pursuant to Section 5, a Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until Shares have been issued with respect to the exercise of the Option.

 

(i)Termination of Employment or Service. In the event of the termination of employment or service by the Company (for any reason other than for Cause) with the Company and all Affiliates thereof of a Participant who has been granted one or more Options, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement granting such Options, the Options held by the Participant shall continue to vest and may be exercised in accordance with its terms at any time, subject to compliance with applicable Black-Out Periods, during the period that terminates on the earlier of:

 

(i)the 30th day after the termination of Participant's Termination Date; and

 

(ii)the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, if the termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the foregoing the expiry date of any Replacement Hut Option, including in connection with the termination of employment or service of the relevant Participant, shall be as specified in the Plan of Arrangement.

 

(j)Extension of Termination Date. An Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the Participant's Termination Date for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state, federal, or provincial securities law or the rules of any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; or (b) the expiration of a period that is 30 days after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements.

 

(k)Other Change in Employment or Service Status. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator, subject to applicable law.

 

8.Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)General. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone ("Free Standing Rights") or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan ("Related Rights"). Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be made, the number of Shares to be awarded, the Base Price, and all other conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to the Option to which it relates. Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(b)Base Price. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted with a base price (above which the Participant is eligible for payment in Shares or cash, subject to the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement for such Stock Appreciation Right (such amount, the "Base Price")) that is not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the related Shares on the date of grant.

 

(c)Rights as Stockholder. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement or pursuant to adjustment under Section 5, a Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares, if any, subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until Shares have been issued in respect of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(d)Exercisability.

 

(i)Stock Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(ii)Stock Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof and this Section 8.

 

(e)Consideration Upon Exercise.

 

(i)Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of whole Shares equal in value to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise over the Base Price per share specified in the Free Standing Right, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised (rounded down to the nearest whole Share).

 

(ii)A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being exercised. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.

 

 

 

 

(iii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of whole Shares and cash).

 

(f)Termination of Employment or Service.

 

(i)In the event of the termination of employment or service by the Company (for any reason other than for Cause) with the Company and all Affiliates thereof of a Participant who has been granted one or more Free Standing Rights, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement granting such Free Standing Rights, the Free Standing Rights held by the Participant may be exercised in accordance with its terms at any time, subject to compliance with applicable Black-Out Periods, during the period that terminates on the earlier of:

 

(A)30th day after the termination of the Participant's Termination Date; and

 

(B)the expiration of the term of the Free Standing Rights as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, if the termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Free Standing Rights (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable.

 

(ii)In the event of the termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates thereof of a Participant who has been granted one or more Related Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the related Options.

 

(g)Term.

 

(i)The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

(ii)The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted (or such shorter period as is applicable to the related Option).

 

(h)Other Change in Employment or Service Status. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

 

 

 

9.Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units.

 

(a)General. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units may be issued under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units shall be made; the number of Shares to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units; the period of time prior to which Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units become vested and free of restrictions on Transfer and/or the performance goals applicable to Performance Share Units (the "Restricted Period"); the applicable performance criteria for Performance Stock Units (if any); and all other conditions of the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units. If the restrictions, performance criteria and/or conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a Participant shall forfeit the Participant's Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the grant, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(i)the date on which a particular Restricted Stock Unit awarded to a Canadian Participant may vest (including if such date is an indeterminate date on which any performance criteria are satisfied) shall in all cases be required to be no later than December 15th of the calendar year which is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and Shares (either in certificated or uncertificated form) or cash, as applicable, shall promptly be issued or paid to the Participant before the end of such calendar year; and

 

(ii)Restricted Stock may not be issued to Canadian Participants unless specifically determined by the Administrator and consented to by the Participant.

 

(b)Awards and Certificates.

 

(i)Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b)(iii) hereof, (i) each Participant who is granted an Award of Restricted Stock may, in the Company's sole discretion, be issued a stock certificate in respect of such Restricted Stock; and (ii) any such certificate so issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to any such Award. The Company may require that the stock certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted Stock granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a stock transfer form, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such award. Certificates for shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company's sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Stock.

 

(ii)With respect to an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units to be settled in Shares, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, stock certificates in respect of the Shares underlying such Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units will be delivered to the Participant, or the Participant's legal representative, in a number equal to the number of Shares underlying the Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units.

 

 

 

 

(iii)Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units to be settled in Shares (at the expiration of the Restricted Period) may, in the Company's sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form.

 

(iv)Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, Shares (either in certificated or uncertificated form) or cash, as applicable, shall promptly be issued to the Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and such issuance or payment shall in any event be made no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the year of vesting or within such other period as is required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(c)Restrictions and Conditions. The Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to Section 409A of the Code where applicable, thereafter:

 

(i)The Award Agreement may provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as set forth in the Award Agreement, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance related goals in the case of Performance Stock Units, the Participant's termination of employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or the Participant's death or Disability. Upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall be subject to Section 14 hereof.

 

(ii)Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Participant shall generally have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares of Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period, including the right to vote such shares and to receive any dividends declared with respect to such shares. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that, subject to Section 409A of the Code, an amount equal to any dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the number of Shares covered by Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units may, to the extent set forth in an Award Agreement, be provided to the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any dividend or dividend equivalent awarded with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units shall, unless otherwise set forth in an applicable Award Agreement, be subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of forfeiture as the underlying Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units.

 

 

 

 

(d)Termination of Employment or Service. The rights of Participants granted Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units upon termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates thereof for any reason during the Restricted Period, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement granting such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, shall terminate on the Participant's Termination Date.

 

(e)Form of Settlement.

 

(i)The Administrator reserves the right in its sole discretion to provide (either at or after the grant thereof) that any Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Stock Unit represents the right to receive the amount of cash per unit that is determined by the Administrator in connection with the Award.

 

(ii)Except as otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement, each Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Stock Units shall automatically, irrespective of Black-Out Periods and without requiring any further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, be settled (A) in the case of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units settled in cash, on the date on which all applicable vesting conditions and, if applicable, all performance criteria (if any) are satisfied, and (B) in the case of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units settled in Shares, on the first Business Day following the date on which all applicable vesting conditions and, if applicable, all performance criteria (if any) are satisfied.

 

(iii)Where the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Stock Unit is made by way of Shares, and tax withholdings and other source deductions are satisfied by withholding and selling a portion of such Shares (the "Withheld Shares") pursuant to Section 18(a)(ii), for Canadian income tax reporting purposes the value of the Shares received by the Participant in settlement of such Restricted Stock Units or Performance Stock Units shall be determined with reference to the average gross proceeds per Share received from the sale of the Withheld Shares pursuant to Section 18(a)(ii), and not with reference to the Fair Market Value.

 

10.Deferred Stock Units

 

(a)General. Deferred Stock Units may be issued under the Plan. The Administrator shall, subject to the requirements of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations to the Tax Act, determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Deferred Stock Units shall be made; the number of Shares to be awarded; the relevant conditions and vesting provisions for such Deferred Stock Units; and all other conditions of the Deferred Stock Units that are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. A Deferred Stock Unit is an Award attributable to a Participant's duties of an office, directorship or employment and that, upon settlement, entitles the recipient Participant to receive one (1) Share, the Cash Equivalent of one (1) Share, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which entitlement shall be expressly set out in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

For greater certainty, the aggregate of all amounts, each of which may be received by or in respect of a Participant in respect of a Deferred Stock Unit, shall depend, at all times, on the Fair Market Value of Shares at a time within the period that commences one year before such Participant's Termination Date and ends at the time the amount is received.

 

 

 

 

For greater certainty, no Participant or any Person with whom such Participant does not deal at arm's length, as determined for the purposes of the Tax Act, shall be entitled, either immediately or in the future, either absolutely or contingently, to receive or obtain any amount or benefit granted or to be granted for the purpose of reducing the impact, in whole or in part, of any reduction in the Fair Market Value of Shares. No Deferred Stock Units shall be granted hereunder for such purpose.

 

(b)Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units.

 

(i)An Eligible Recipient who is a director of the Company may elect (subject to the approval of the Administrator no later than December 31st of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year to which such election is to apply), irrevocably and in advance, by filing an election notice (the "Election Notice"), to have an amount (the "Elected Amount") up to 100% of the value of his or her Annual Board Retainer be satisfied in the form of Deferred Stock Units ("Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units"). In the case of an existing director, the election must be completed, signed and delivered to the Company no later than December 15th of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year to which such election is to apply. In the case of a new director, the election must be completed, signed and delivered to the Company as soon as possible, and, in any event, no later than 30 days, after the director's appointment (subject to the approval of the Administrator within such 30-day period), with such election to be effective for amounts of Annual Board Retainer to be paid after the date of the election for services to be performed subsequent to the date of such Election Notice. For the first year of this Section 10(b) becoming part of the Plan, directors must make such election as soon as possible, and, in any event, no later than 30 days, after adoption of the Plan containing this Section 10(b) and the election shall be effective for amounts of Annual Board Retainer to be paid after the date of the election for services to be performed subsequent to the date of such Election Notice. If no election is validly made or exists in respect of a particular calendar year, the new or existing director will be paid in cash in accordance with the Company's regular practices of paying such cash compensation.

 

(ii)Notwithstanding Section 10(b)(i), if the Board authorizes a resolution that the Eligible Recipients shall be credited with Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units in lieu of all or a minimum amount of the Annual Board Retainer, then the Eligible Recipients shall be obliged to accept such Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units as payment of such amounts otherwise payable to an Eligible Recipient.

 

(iii)The Election Notice shall, subject to any minimum amount that may be required by the Board, from time to time (and in any case no later than December 15th of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year to which the election relates), designate the Elected Amount as a percentage of the Annual Board Retainer for the applicable calendar year that is to be satisfied in the form of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units, with the remaining percentage to be paid in cash in accordance with the Company's regular practices of paying such cash compensation.

 

 

 

 

(iv)In the event that an Elected Amount would result in the granting of a fractional number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units, the number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units that are to be granted in respect of such Elected Amount shall automatically, and without requiring any action on the part of the applicable Eligible Recipient, be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units.

 

(v)Any Election Notice shall, once delivered to the Company, be irrevocable in respect of the calendar year in which it was made.

 

(vi)Each director that has filed a valid Election Notice or who is entitled to receive Deferred Stock Units in accordance with Section 10(b)(ii) shall be credited with a number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units equal to the portion of the Annual Board Retainer corresponding to the Elected Amount divided by the Fair Market Value as of the corresponding Deferred Stock Unit Grant Date. Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units for any calendar year will be credited to each electing director in equal portions on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter during the calendar year to which the applicable director's Elected Amount relates (each such date being a "Deferred Stock Unit Grant Date") without requiring any further action on the part of the applicable director; provided that if the division of such Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units into equal amounts of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units would result in a fractional number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units being credited to a director on any Deferred Stock Unit Grant Date, the number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units that are to be credited to the applicable director on such Deferred Stock Unit Grant Date shall automatically, and without requiring any action on the part of the applicable Eligible Recipient, be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units and the number of Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units that are to be credited to the applicable director on the immediately succeeding Deferred Stock Unit Grant Date shall automatically, and without requiring any action on the part of the applicable Eligible Recipient, be reduced on a corresponding basis.

 

(vii)In the absence of an Eligible Recipient delivering to the Company a new Election Notice, within the time specified in Section 10(b)(i), in respect of the following calendar year, the Eligible Recipient's Election Notice shall remain in effect for subsequent calendar years until terminated or changed by the Eligible Recipient. No Eligible Recipient shall be entitled to file more than one Election Notice for any calendar year unless specifically authorized by resolution of the Board.

 

(viii)Any Board Retainer Deferred Stock Units granted to an Eligible Recipient to satisfy an Elected Amount pursuant to this Section 10(b) or in accordance with a resolution of the Board as set forth in Section 10(b)(ii) shall vest in full upon being credited to the applicable Eligible Recipient but will not become payable until the applicable date specified in the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice delivered, or deemed to have been delivered, by the holder thereof to the Company in accordance with the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(c)Redemption of Deferred Stock Units.

 

(i)Each Participant that holds Deferred Stock Units shall be entitled to redeem his or her Deferred Stock Units on up to two specified dates during the period commencing on the Business Day immediately following his or her Termination Date and ending on December 15th of the first calendar year following such Termination Date, or any shorter redemption period set out in the relevant Award Agreement, by (subject to the appointment of a third party administrator and the implementation of the required procedures of such third party administrator) delivering to the Company a written notice of election (the "Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice"), in advance of the applicable Participant's Termination Date and on a date that is not during a Black-Out Period, indicating (a) the Participant's election to have their Deferred Stock Units redeemed on one or more particular dates, (b) the desired date(s) of settlement, and (c) the number of Deferred Stock Units desired to be settled on such date(s); provided that such desired date(s) of settlement shall not be permitted to be during a Black-Out Period unless the desired date that is during a Black-Out Period is no less than 30 days following the date of the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice delivered by the Participant in question.

 

(ii)Each Deferred Stock Unit shall be settled in the manner set out in the applicable Award Agreement, which manner of settlement shall be: (i) by way of payment of the cash equivalent of the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the date of settlement; (ii) by way of the issuance of one Share issued from treasury; or (iii) by way of payment and issuance, as applicable, of a combination of cash and Shares.

 

(iii)Subject to Section 10(c)(iv), settlement of Deferred Stock Units shall take place as soon as commercially and reasonably possible following the date(s) specified or deemed to be specified in the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice, and in all events prior to December 20th of the calendar year following the calendar year that includes the Participant’s Termination Date.

 

(iv)If in the opinion of the Board, a Participant is in possession of material undisclosed information regarding either or both of the Company and the Shares on the date specified or deemed to be specified in the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice, the settlement of such Participant's Deferred Stock Units shall be postponed until the earliest of the date on which (i) the Board is satisfied the Participant is no longer in possession of any such material undisclosed information, or (ii) December 20th of the year following the year of the Participant's Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Participant receives Shares in satisfaction of an Award during a Black-Out Period, the Company shall advise such Participant of the same in writing and such Participant shall not be entitled to sell or otherwise dispose of such Shares until such Black-Out Period has expired.

 

 

 

 

(v)Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan:

 

(A)no payment shall be made in respect of a Deferred Stock Unit until after the Participant's Termination Date; and

 

(B)all amounts payable to, or in respect of, a Participant hereunder shall be paid on or before December 31st of the calendar year commencing immediately after the Participant's Termination Date.

 

(C)the following provisions apply to U.S. Participants: (i) if a U.S. Participant is to be given an ability to elect the time of settlement of his Deferred Stock Units, such election may only allow the U.S. Participant to choose a time of settlement that complies with Section 409A of the Code, (ii) for purposes of any payments to be made on a U.S. Participant's Termination Date, such Termination Date must be the date of the U.S. Participant's "separation from service" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code ("Separation from Service") and such payments must be made within 60 days of such U.S. Participant's Termination Date, such date during such period determined by the Company in its sole discretion, and (iii) the provisions of Section 10(c)(i) and 10(c)(iv) shall not apply.

 

(D)if the Deferred Stock Units of a U.S. Participant are subject to tax under both the income tax laws of Canada and the income tax laws of the United States, the following special rules regarding forfeiture will apply. For greater clarity, these forfeiture provisions are intended to avoid adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A and/or under paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Tax Act, that may result because of the different requirements as the time of redemption of Deferred Stock Units (and thus the time of taxation) with respect to a U.S. Participant's Separation from Service and the U.S. Participant's Termination Date under Canadian tax law. The intended consequence of this Section 10(c)(v)(D) is that payments to such U.S. Participant in respect of Deferred Stock Units will only occur if such U.S. Participant's cessation of services to the Company or an Affiliate constitutes both a Separation from Service and a Termination Date. If such a U.S. Participant does not experience both a Separation from Service and a Termination Date such Deferred Stock Units shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited.

 

(d)Deemed Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice and Settlement of Deferred Stock Unit Awards.

 

(i)If a Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice is not received by the Company on or before a Participant's Termination Date or the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice does not specify a date or dates within the time period noted in Section 10(c)(i), the Participant shall be deemed to have delivered a Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice specifying the Business Day immediately following his or her Termination Date as the desired date of settlement for all Deferred Stock Units held thereby. For Deferred Stock Units subject to Section 409A of the Code, in the event a Participant has not timely delivered a valid Election Notice, the Participant shall be deemed to have delivered a Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice specifying the Business Day immediately following the date of his or her Separation From Service as of the desired date of settlement for all Deferred Stock Units held thereby.

 

 

 

 

(ii)Each Deferred Stock Unit shall automatically, and without requiring any further action on the part of the holder thereof, be settled on the applicable date specified in the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice delivered, or deemed to have been delivered, by the holder thereof to the Company.

 

(iii)Where the settlement of a Deferred Stock Unit is made by way of cash, the calculation of the amount to which the holder thereof is entitled shall be made as of the date specified or deemed to be specified in the Deferred Stock Unit Redemption Notice. All amounts payable, whether in cash or Shares, shall be net of any applicable withholding taxes or other source deductions.

 

(e)Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreements. Award Agreements in respect of Deferred Stock Units shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the Deferred Stock Unit will comply with any provisions respecting deferred share units in the Tax Act (including such terms and conditions so as to ensure that the Deferred Stock Units granted to Canadian Participants do not constitute a "salary deferral arrangement" as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Tax Act by reason of the exemption in paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations to the Tax Act) or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.

 

(f)Award of Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, be awarded in respect of Deferred Stock Units on the same basis as cash dividends declared and paid on Shares as if the Participant was a shareholder of record of Shares on the relevant record date. Dividend equivalents, if any, will be credited to the Participant in additional Deferred Stock Units, the number of which shall be equal to a fraction where the numerator is the product of (i) the number of Deferred Stock Units of such Participant on the date that dividends are paid multiplied by (ii) the dividend paid per Share and the denominator of which is the Fair Market Value of one Share calculated on the date that dividends are paid. Any additional Deferred Stock Units credited to a Participant as a dividend equivalent pursuant to this Section 10(f) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions, including vesting conditions, and time of payment, as the underlying Deferred Stock Unit Award.

 

11.Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

Subject to the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, other forms of Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including but not limited to dividend equivalents, may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards (other than in connection with Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) under the Plan. Any dividend or dividend equivalent awarded hereunder shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of forfeiture as the underlying Award. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be granted, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock-Based Awards, or the manner in which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled (e.g., in Shares, cash or other property), or the conditions to the vesting and/or payment or settlement of such Other Stock-Based Awards (which may include, but not be limited to, achievement of performance criteria) and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

 

 

 

12.Stock Bonuses.

 

In the event that the Administrator grants a Stock Bonus, the Shares constituting such Stock Bonus shall, as determined by the Administrator, be evidenced in uncertificated form or by a book entry record or a certificate issued in the name of the Participant to whom such grant was made and delivered to such Participant as soon as practicable after the date on which such Stock Bonus is payable.

 

13.Cash Awards.

 

The Administrator may grant Awards that are payable solely in cash, as deemed by the Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, and such Cash Awards shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from time to time. Cash Awards may be granted with value and payment contingent upon the achievement of performance criteria.

 

14.Change in Control Provisions.

 

Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event that (a) a Change in Control occurs and (b) either (x) an outstanding Award is not assumed or substituted in connection therewith or (y) an outstanding Award is assumed or substituted in connection therewith and the Participant's employment or service is terminated by the Company, its successor or an Affiliate thereof without Cause on or after the effective date of the Change in Control but prior to twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, then:

 

(a)any unvested or unexercisable portion of any Award carrying a right to exercise shall become fully vested and exercisable with respect to any purely time-based conditions;

 

(b)the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan shall lapse with respect to any purely time-based conditions and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested with respect to any purely time-based conditions; and

 

(c)any performance conditions imposed with respect to any Award shall be deemed to be achieved at the greater of target and actual performance levels (as determined by the Administrator in its discretion) and any Awards (or portion thereof) that remain unvested or unexercisable shall be forfeited.

 

For purposes of this Section 14, an outstanding Award shall be considered to be assumed or substituted for if, following the Change in Control, the Award remains subject to substantially the same terms and conditions that were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control except that, if the Award related to Shares, the Award instead confers the right to receive common equity of the acquiring entity or its direct or indirect parent (or cash or such other security as may be determined by the Administrator, in its discretion). The provisions of this Section 14 shall also apply in the event of the termination of a Participant's employment for Good Reason on or after the effective date of the Change in Control but prior to twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, but only to the extent specifically provided in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

 

 

 

15.Voting Proxy.

 

The Company reserves the right to require the Participant, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to appoint such Person as shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion as the Participant's proxy with respect to all applicable unvested Awards of Restricted Stock which the Participant may be the record holder of from time to time to (A) attend all meetings of the holders of the shares of Common Stock, with full power to vote and act for the Participant with respect to such Awards in the same manner and extent that the Participant might were the Participant personally present at such meetings, and (B) execute and deliver, on behalf of the Participant, any written consent in lieu of a meeting of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in the same manner and extent that the Participant might but for the proxy granted pursuant to this sentence.

 

16.Amendment and Termination.

 

(a)The Administrator may amend, alter or terminate the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a Participant under any outstanding Award without such Participant's consent. Unless the Board determines otherwise, the Board shall obtain approval of the Company's stockholders for any amendment to the Plan that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other applicable law. The Administrator may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 5 hereof, no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without the Participant's consent; provided that the Administrator may amend the terms of any such Award to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Award to any applicable law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement relating to such Award (including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code), and by accepting an Award under this Plan, the Participant thereby agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 16 to such Award (as determined by the Administrator) without further consideration or action.

 

(b)Notwithstanding Section 16(a), other than for adjustments made pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the Administrator shall be required to obtain stockholder approval to make the following amendments:

 

(i)Any amendment to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan;

 

(ii)Any amendment to the terms of outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements to reduce the Exercise Price or Base Price, as applicable, of such Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements;

 

(iii)Any cancellation of outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements in exchange for Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements with an Exercise Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Exercise Price or Base Price of the original Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements;

 

 

 

 

(iv)Any cancellation of outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or other entitlements with an Exercise Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the related Shares in exchange for cash or Cash Awards;

 

(v)Any amendment that extends the term of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or any other Awards beyond the original expiry;

 

(vi)Any amendments to eligible Participants that may permit the introduction or reintroduction of non-employee directors on a discretionary basis or amendments that increase limits previously imposed on non-employee director participation;

 

(vii)Any amendment which would permit Options and Awards granted under the Plan to be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes; and

 

(viii)Amendments to the plan amendment provisions.

 

17.Unfunded Status of Plan.

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

 

18.Withholding Taxes.

 

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, all distributions, issuances or delivery of Shares or payments to a Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) under the Plan shall be made net of applicable tax withholdings and other source deductions. Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of such Participant for purposes of applicable taxes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding payment of, an amount in respect of such taxes up to the maximum statutory rates in the Participant's applicable jurisdiction with respect to the Award, as determined by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Without limiting the foregoing:

 

(i)Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable withholding tax requirements related thereto as determined by the Company.

 

(ii)Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, subject to compliance with relevant Black-Out Periods and applicable law, if the event giving rise to the withholding obligation involves an issuance or delivery of Shares, then the withholding obligation shall be satisfied by the sale by the Company, the Company's transfer agent and registrar or any administrative agent or trustee appointed by the Company, on behalf of and as agent for the Participant as soon as permissible and practicable, of such number of Shares as would be required for the proceeds of such sale to amount to no less than the sum of the values of the applicable tax required to be withheld and the other source deductions required to be made by the Company, which proceeds shall be delivered to the Company for remittance of the applicable amounts to the appropriate governmental authorities.

 

 

 

 

(iii)The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by law, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Award as determined by the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, in the Company may implement special administrative procedures to withhold additional shares of Common Stock in respect of a Participant’s withholding obligations in instances where the Administrator determines that a “sell-to-cover” arrangement has not yielded sufficient proceeds to satisfy the applicable withholding obligation. Such procedures shall be implemented in a manner intended to constitute exempt dispositions for purposes of any Participant who is subject to reporting under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Any delivery obligations of the Company hereunder may be made subject to such administrative procedures, in the discretion of Administrator and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (but subject to Section 29 hereof).

 

19.Transfer of Awards.

 

Until such time as the Awards are fully vested and/or exercisable in accordance with the Plan or an Award Agreement, no purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any Award or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise (each, a "Transfer") will be valid. Any purported Transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any Person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of any Shares or other property underlying such Award. An Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or, during any period during which the Participant is under a legal disability, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative.

 

20.Continued Employment or Service.

 

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of an Award hereunder shall confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment or service of any of its Eligible Recipients at any time. References in this Plan to "employment", "employees" or similar/related terms or concepts shall be construed to include "partnerships," "partners" or similar/related terms or concepts where an individual's relationship with the Company or its Affiliates is based on their status being that of a partner of a partnership rather than as an employee. Any wording amendments necessary to give effect to such intent shall be implied into this Plan but shall not serve to imply an employment relationship between (i) the Company or its Affiliates; and (ii) an individual, where such an employment relationship did not exist previously.

 

 

 

 

21.Effective Date.

 

The Plan was adopted by the Board on November 27, 2023, and shall become effective without further action as of the date that it is approved by the Company's stockholders (the "Effective Date").

 

22.Term of Plan.

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

23.Securities Matters and Regulations.

 

(a)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Common Stock with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require, as a condition of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such shares make such agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable.

 

(b)Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Administrator determines that the listing, registration or qualification of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Common Stock, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Common Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Administrator.

 

(c)In the event that the disposition of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Common Stock shall be restricted against Transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Administrator may require a Participant receiving Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Common Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Common Stock acquired by such Participant is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.

 

24.No Fractional Shares.

 

No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

 

 

 

25.Beneficiary.

 

A Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation of a beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Administrator and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant's estate shall be deemed to be the Participant's beneficiary.

 

26.Paperless Administration.

 

In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

27.Severability.

 

If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of the Plan shall not be affected but shall be applied as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Plan.

 

28.Clawback.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement). A Participant receiving an Award under the Plan shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed to the application of any such policy or policies.

 

29.Section 409A of the Code.

 

The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and operated in accordance therewith. Any deferral elections made hereunder by U.S. Participants shall be required to be made in a manner which complies with the requirements of Section 409A, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a "separation from service" from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the "short term deferral period" as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or upon the Participant's death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Administrator shall have the sole authority to make any accelerated distributions permissible under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4) to Participants with respect to any deferred amounts, provided that such distributions meets the requirements of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4). The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A of the Code.

 

 

 

 

30.Governing Law.

 

The Plan, and all claims, causes of action, actions, suits, and proceedings (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Plan, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Plan (including any claim, cause of action, action, suit, or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or related to any transaction contemplated by this Plan, any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Plan, or as an inducement to enter into this Plan or accept an Award), shall be governed by, enforced in accordance with, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, including its statutes of limitations, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law of such state that would result in the application of the statute of limitations of any other jurisdiction.

 

31.Titles and Headings.

 

The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

32.Successors.

 

The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer, continuance or other reorganization of the Company.

 

33.Relationship to Other Benefits.

 

No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

 

 

EX-5.1 5 tm2331643d1_ex5-1.htm EXHIBIT 5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp 

One Manhattan West 

New York, NY 10001

 

TEL: (212) 735-3000 

 
 

FAX: (212) 735-2000

www.skadden.com

FIRM/AFFILIATE OFFICES

----------- 

BOSTON 

CHICAGO 

HOUSTON 

LOS ANGELES 

PALO ALTO 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

WILMINGTON 

----------- 

BEIJING 

BRUSSELS 

FRANKFURT 

HONG KONG 

LONDON 

MUNICH 

PARIS 

SÃO PAULO 

SEOUL 

SHANGHAI 

SINGAPORE 

TOKYO 

TORONTO

 

 

November 29, 2023

 

Hut 8 Corp.
1101 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1500
Miami, Florida 33131

 

Re: Hut 8 Corp. —Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special United States counsel to Hut 8 Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) on the date hereof, relating to the registration by the Company of up to 6,065,682 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable pursuant to the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)            the Registration Statement in the form to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof;

 

(b)            copies of the Plan;

 

(c)            an executed copy of the Business Combination Agreement dated February 6, 2023, by and among Hut 8 Mining Corp., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia, U.S. Data Mining Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and the Company;

 

(d)            an executed copy of a certificate of Michael Ho, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

 

 

 

 

Hut 8 Corp. 

November 29, 2023 

Page 2

 

(e)            a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in effect as of the date hereof, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of November 29, 2023, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “Certificate of Incorporation”);

 

(f)            a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws, in effect as of the date hereof, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “By-laws”); and

 

(g)            a copy of the written consent of the sole director and sole stockholder of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, dated as of November 27, 2023, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate.

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below, including the facts and conclusions set forth in the Secretary’s Certificate.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopied copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties and the enforceability thereof against such parties. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.

 

In rendering the opinion stated herein, we have also assumed that: (i) when issued in book-entry form, an appropriate account statement evidencing the Shares credited to the recipient’s account maintained with the Company’s transfer agent has been or will be issued by the Company’s transfer agent; (ii) the issuance of the Shares will be properly recorded in the books and records of the Company; (iii) each award agreement under which options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other awards are granted pursuant to the Plan will be consistent with the Plan and will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (iv) the consideration received by the Company for each of the Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan shall not be less than the per share par value of the Shares; and (v) the issuance of the Shares does not violate or conflict with any agreement or instrument binding on the Company (except that we do not make this assumption with respect to the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or those agreements or instruments expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of New York which are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement).

 

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and, when the Shares are issued to the participants in accordance with the terms and conditions of an applicable Plan and the applicable award agreement for consideration in an amount at least equal to the par value of such Shares, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

 

 

Hut 8 Corp. 

November 29, 2023 

Page 3

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in the applicable laws.

 

 Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
   
RJD  

 

 

 

EX-23.1 6 tm2331643d1_ex23-1.htm EXHIBIT 23.1

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

 

 

 

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP

Suite 2000

National Bank Tower

600 De La Gauchetière Street West

Montréal, Quebec

H3B 4L8

 

T 514-878-2691

 

 

The undersigned hereby consents to the incorporation by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Hut 8 Corp. (the “Form S-8”) being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, of its report dated March 8, 2023, on the consolidated statements of financial position of Hut 8 Mining Corp. as at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), the consolidated statements of changes in equity and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial statements including a summary of significant accounting policies, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which appears in Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed on April 18, 2023.

 

Yours very truly,

 

/s/ Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton  

 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

November 29, 2023

 

 

Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd   rcgt.com

 

 

 

 

EX-23.2 7 tm2331643d1_ex23-2.htm EXHIBIT 23.2

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan of Hut 8 Corp. of our report dated August 24, 2023 relating to the consolidated financial statements of U.S. Data Mining Group, Inc. and subsidiaries, appearing in the prospectus filed by Hut 8 Corp. on November 9, 2023, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-269738).

 

/s/ RSM US LLP

 

Boston, Massachusetts

November 29, 2023

 

 

 

EX-23.3 8 tm2331643d1_ex23-3.htm EXHIBIT 23.3

 

Exhibit 23.3

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Hut 8 Corp. on this Form S-8 for Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, of our report, dated March 29, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of TZRC LLC as of December 31, 2021 and for the period from Inception on November 24, 2021 through December 31, 2021, which appears in the prospectus, dated November 9, 2023, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of the Company (file #333-269738) filed on November 8, 2023.

 

/s/ L J Soldinger Associates, LLC

 

Deer Park, Illinois

United States of America

 

November 29, 2023

 

 

 

EX-FILING FEES 9 tm2331643d1_ex-filingfees.htm EX-FILING FEES

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-8

(Form Type)

 

Hut 8 Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

  Security
Type
Security
Class
 Title
Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward Rule
Amount
Registered(1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Fee Rate Amount of
Registration
Fee
Fees to be Paid Equity Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share Rule 457(h)  23,000(2) $18.25(3) $419,750.00(3) $147.60 per $1,000,000 $61.96
  Equity Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share Rule 457(h) 6,042,682(4) $5.68(5) $34,322,433.80(5) $147.60 per $1,000,000 $5,065.99
  Total Offering Amounts   $34,742,183.80   $5,127.95
  Total Fee Offsets      
  Net Fee Due       $5,127.95

 

(1)In accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the registration statement to which this exhibit relates shall also cover any additional shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) of Hut 8 Corp. (the “Registrant”) that become issuable under the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration that would increase the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.

(2)Represents 23,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock subject to stock options of the Registrant (the “Hut 8 Replacement Options”) issuable under the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan to holders of stock options of Hut 8 Mining Corp., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia (“Hut 8”), in connection with the business combination among Hut 8, U.S. Data Mining Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the Registrant (the “Business Combination”).

(3)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h). The offering price per share of Common Stock and the aggregate offering price are based upon $18.25 (converted from C$25 at an exchange rate of C$1.00 = $0.73, which was the daily average exchange rate reported by the Bank of Canada on November 23, 2023,  a date within 5 business days of filing this Registration Statement), which is the weighted-average exercise price for the Hut 8 Replacement Options that will be outstanding upon consummation of the Business Combination.

(4)Represents an additional 6,042,682 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection with other stock-based awards issuable under the Hut 8 Corp. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

(5)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. Given that there is no proposed maximum offering price per share of Common Stock, the Registrant calculates the proposed maximum aggregate offering price based on the book value of the Common Stock registered in accordance with Rules 457(h)(1) and 457(f)(2), which book value was calculated based on the Registrant’s unaudited pro forma statement of financial position as of June 30, 2023 included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 originally filed with the Commission on February 13, 2023, as amended (File No. 333-269738), relating to the Business Combination. The unaudited combined pro forma statement of financial position gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been consummated on June 30, 2023. Given that the Registrant’s Common Stock is not currently traded on an exchange or over-the-counter, the Registrant did not use the trading prices of its shares of Common Stock in accordance with Rule 457(c).

 

 

 

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