EX-3.1 2 d709190dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC.

Sunnova Energy International Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of this corporation is Sunnova Energy International Inc. The date of the filing of its original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was April 1, 2019.

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates, integrates and further amends the certificate of incorporation of this corporation as heretofore amended and restated, has been declared advisable by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), duly adopted by the corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL and has been adopted by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the corporation, acting by written consent in lieu of a meeting in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.

3. The certificate of incorporation of this corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is “Sunnova Energy International Inc.” (hereinafter called the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

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

ARTICLE III

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 or any applicable successor act thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

(A) Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is              shares, which shall be divided into two classes of stock to be designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is              shares, par value $0.0001 per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is              shares, par value $0.0001 per share. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding)

 

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by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

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

1. Ranking. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.

2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election and removal of directors and for all other purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined below), this “Certificate of Incorporation”) to the contrary, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

3. Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

4. Liquidation. Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary. A liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this Section B(4), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other person or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of its assets.

(C) Preferred Stock.

Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board is hereby authorized to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time for the issuance, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock, without stockholder approval, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (the “Preferred Stock Designation”), setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the number of shares to be included in such series, and fixing the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting power of the shares of such series, and the designations and powers, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

 

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The designations and powers, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following:

1. the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

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

3. the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable or issuable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable or issuable, the preference to or the relation to the payment or issuance of dividends payable or issuable on any other class(es) or series of stock, whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall cumulate, and whether such dividends shall be compounded and if so the rate of such compounding;

4. the dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable;

5. whether the shares of any series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable or issuable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

6. the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

7. the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

8. whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class(es) or series, or any other security or other property, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices, ratio or ratios or rate or rates at which such conversion or exchange may be made, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;

9. restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;

10. whether the series is to have voting powers, full, special or limited, whether generally or upon specified events, or is to be without voting powers, and whether such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate series either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock; and

 

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11. any other designations and powers, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.

ARTICLE V

This Article V is inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.

(A) General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as otherwise provided by law.

(B) Number of Directors; Election of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of the directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies or unfilled seats in previously authorized directorships (provided for the avoidance of doubt that voting power shall be attributed to any such vacancies or unfilled seats).

(C) Classes of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time such classification becomes effective.

(D) Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation hereunder), each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided that each director initially assigned to Class I shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders held following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective; each director initially assigned to Class II shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders held following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective; and each director initially assigned to Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders held following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective; provided further, that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor and be subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. The annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.

 

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(E) Quorum. The greater of (1) a majority of the directors at any time in office and (2) one-third of the number of directors fixed pursuant to Section B of this Article V shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present

(F) Vacancies. Subject to applicable law and the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation hereunder), any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall, in the case of a newly created directorship, hold office for the full term of the class in which the newly created directorship was created or, in the case of a vacancy, hold office for the remaining term of his or her predecessor and in each case until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(G) Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation hereunder), any director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast in the election of directors generally, voting together as a single class and acting at a duly held meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws.

(H) Stockholder Nominations and Introduction of Business. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws.

(I) Preferred Stock Directors. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof or any Preferred Stock Designation, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (1) the then otherwise total number of authorized directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (2) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof or any Preferred Stock Designation, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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ARTICLE VI

Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

ARTICLE VII

To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Article VII shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to the provisions of Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, if the DGCL is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law as so amended. No amendment, alteration, change or repeal of this Article VII or adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation shall apply to or have any adverse effect on any right or protection of, or any limitation of the liability of, a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, alteration, change, repeal or adoption.

ARTICLE VIII

The Corporation may indemnify, and advance expenses to, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that the person 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, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Company to provide indemnification).

ARTICLE IX

Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be taken or otherwise effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders.

ARTICLE X

Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Whole Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and may not be called by another other person or persons. The Board shall fix the date, time and place, if any, of such special meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. The Board may postpone, recess, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.

 

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ARTICLE XI

The Corporation reserves the right at any time from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and any other provisions authorized by the DGCL may be added or inserted, in any manner now or hereafter provided by law; and all rights, preferences and privileges 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 right of the Corporation reserved in this Article XI. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock required by law, by this Certificate of Incorporation or by any Preferred Stock Designation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any of Article V, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X, Article XII, Article XIII, and this sentence of this Certificate of Incorporation, or in each case, the definition of any capitalized terms used therein or any successor provision (including, without limitation, any such article or section as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alteration, change, repeal or adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation). Any amendment, repeal or modification of any of Article VII, Article VIII and this sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any person existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE XII

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board or by written consent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock required by law, by this Certificate of Incorporation or by any Preferred Stock Designation, the Bylaws may also be amended, altered or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

ARTICLE XIII

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this

 

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Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (d) any action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (e) any action governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This Article XIII shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, subject to and contingent upon a final adjudication in the State of Delaware of the enforceability of this provision.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, 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 XIII.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed this     day of                     , 2019.

 

SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:  

 

Name:   William J. Berger
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Incorporation]